Negating Israel's existence: Palestinians demand 'full right of return'
Published: 1 June 2005 Briefing Number 142	Click to Print

Summary: Palestinian leaders have used Israel’s Independence day as the occasion on which to restate their demand for a “full right of return” into Israel for all Palestinian refugees (In their calculation, totalling 4 or 5 million people). The demand for a “full right of return” negates Israel’s existence. It is irreconcilable with the concept of Israel as a Jewish state. And it is based on arguments which are legally, historically and ethically flawed (see Briefing 34). It will be impossible for the Israelis and Palestinians to achieve peace and mutual coexistence as long as the Palestinian mindset and imagination are gripped by this demand. The Palestinian leadership need to acknowledge the historic responsibility of the Arab world for creating and exacerbating the refugee problem; and to approach its resolution in a pragmatic way.

Mahmoud Abbas, Palestinian Authority Chairman

On Israel’s Independence day in May 2005, Mahmoud Abbas addressed the Palestinians on Palestinian television, describing the creation of Israel as the day on which “disaster struck the Palestinian people”. He stated:-

“The refugees have a full right to fulfil the right of return. We strongly object to the possibility they would become citizens of the countries they live in… In 1948 our people were uprooted not only from their land and roots, but also from their identity, which was shattered and scattered across the world. The Palestinian people and the international community will not be able to accept this historical injustice…”

Our comment: Abbas completely ignores the degree to which the Arab world and the Palestinians were themselves responsible for creating the refugee problem in 1947-8, and for exacerbating it since then. He perpepuates the Palestinian notion that a full right of return is just and achievable (when it is neither of these – see Briefing 34). And he is taking no steps to prepare his people pragmatically for the future – quite the opposite.

The Palestinian refugee problem was not caused by the creation of Israel in 1948. It was primarily caused by the violent rejection by the Arab world of the creation of Israel.

Leading Palestinian armed “factions”

At an emergency meeting held in Ramallah on 10 May 2005, several armed “factions”, including Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Fatah and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, issued a joint statement to mark Israel’s independence. This too reflects an uncompromising attitude to the ‘right of return’:-

“We call on our masses in the homeland and the diaspora to mark this painful occasion by making it clear to the world and the occupation that the issue of the refugees is the core of the conflict and that there would be no solution without their return home in line with United Nations resolution 194…”

Our comment: In Beyond Images Briefing 34 we explain how UN Resolution 194 has been seriously misrepresented as justifying the demand for a full right of return. It does not.

Note also that these Palestinian rejectionist groups describe the refugee issue as “the core of the conflict”.

They acknowledge that the conflict is not in essence about land, or about Israel’s occupation. Following this argument, even if Israel were to withdraw from every inch of the West Bank, the demand of these groups for a ‘return’ would remain, as would their rejectionist ideology and the violent methods which they use. Their demand is simply impossible to fulfil (even it were justified) without undermining the basis of the State of Israel.

Our conclusion

The demand for a “full right of return” negates Israel’s existence. It is irreconcilable with the concept of Israel as a Jewish state. And it is based on arguments which are legally, historically and ethically flawed (see Briefing 34).

It will be impossible for the Israelis and the Palestinians to achieve peace and mutual coexistence as long as Palestinian society is gripped by this demand, and refuses to compromise. The Palestinian leadership need to acknowledge the historic responsibility of the Arab world for creating and exacerbating the refugee problem; and to approach its resolution in a pragmatic way.

Other Beyond Images resources

The Palestinian ‘Right of Return’ – Briefing 34

Palestinian’s leading cartoonist: Israel should not exist – Briefing 39

“If only Israel would end the occupation….” – Briefing 17