Subscribe to Print Edition | Fri., September 26, 2008 Elul 26, 5768 | | Israel Time: 08:12 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
  Back to Homepage
Haaretz Toolbar
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental
Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (right) reviewing a guard of honor upon his arrival at Beirut airport where he is greeted by Lebanese President Michel Suleiman (left) on Thursday. (Getty Images)
Last update - 22:48 28/08/2008
Abbas: All Palestinians should be given right to return home
By The Associated Press
Tags: Abbas, Palestinian refugees 

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas told reporters in Lebanon on Thursday that all Palestinians should be given the right to return home.

The highly contentious notion of a Palestinian "right of return" is one key issues in negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians for peace agreement.

"The refugees should have the right of return to their homeland and we are negotiating this with the Israelis. I have to say we are not with permanent settlement of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon. We are against permanent resettlement," Abbas told reporters after meeting Lebanese President Michel Suleiman on a visit to Beirut.
Advertisement
Abbas also said he rejects the idea that Palestinian refugees might be forced to stay in Lebanon permanently.

The Palestinian president added that he supports all decisions made by the Lebanese government on how to deal with Palestinian militants outside the refugee camps.

"The camps in Lebanon are part of the Lebanese territories and part of the Lebanese government's responsibility, regarding security and non-security matters," Abbas said. "We are ready to cooperate by all means because we do not see ourselves as being in charge of security inside the camps," he said.

Impoverished and densely packed Palestinian camps have become fertile ground for Palestinian factions vying for control.

About 400,000 Palestinian refugees and their descendants live in twelve refugee camps around Lebanon. The refugee camps were set up for Palestinians displaced during the 1948 War of Independence that led to the creation of the state of Israel.

The fate of millions of Palestinian refugees is one of the most difficult issues in Palestinian-Israeli peace talks. Israel has refused to accept the return of refugees, believing that they should be resettled in a future Palestinian state or the places where they now live.

Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said this week that the right of return is incompatible with the creation of a Palestinian state.

Many Lebanese are opposed the permanent resettlement of Palestinian refugees, fearing they would tip the country's delicate sectarian balance.


Related articles:
  • Vatican cardinal: Palestinians have right to return to homeland
  • The Right of Return of the Jewish People
  • Israeli Arabs seek right to return to villages abandoned in 1948
    • Bookmark to del.icio.us  
     
    Fate of the Palestinians
    Lebanese President tells Bush the future of Palestinian refugees is in their homeland.
    Bill Clinton on Obama
    Ex U.S. President delays campaign for presidential hopeful due to Jewish holidays.
      1.   Whose behind the idea? 16:44  |  Refugee 28/08/08
      2.   Understanding the concept of ?right of return.? 17:04  |  Jean Van Daem 28/08/08
      3.   But the conflict continues 17:34  |  jackie 28/08/08
      4.   # 1 refugee....why should people born in Lebanon 17:51  |  Lynn 28/08/08
      5.   time for the UN to stop this nonsense 17:53  |  Lynn 28/08/08
      6.   #1 Refugee 18:05  |  Robert 28/08/08
      7.   Just another way for abbas to say he is not interested in peace 18:14  |  Arie 28/08/08
      8.   I am sure Israel would allow real refugees to return 18:20  |  zionist forever 28/08/08
      9.   Who is a refugee and for how long ? 18:25  |  Nora 28/08/08
      10.   Of Course They Should Return...to the Pal. State 18:49  |  JP 28/08/08
      11.   How long is one considered a refugee? 19:04  |  T A Sheppard 28/08/08
      12.   a "right?" 19:08  |  Jordan Magill 28/08/08
      13.   The Right of Return is not only for Jews/Israelis 19:11  |  POP 28/08/08
      14.   The right of return is unnegotiable 19:12  |  Palestinian Forever 28/08/08
      15.   Refugees 19:22  |  Hilda 28/08/08
      16.   Palestinian right of return? 19:39  |  David Nigel Braham 28/08/08
      17.   Refugees and Peace 19:41  |  Rachel Carter 28/08/08
      18.   jackie 3 19:48  |  potobac 28/08/08
      19.   #14 - Palestinian Forever - Well then... 19:49  |  WYSIWYG 28/08/08
      20.   Right is Unnegotiable...In fact, its totally off the table. 19:51  |  JP 28/08/08
      21.   Right of Return Is Not Sacrosanct 19:54  |  Brad 28/08/08
      22.   The Right of Return is One Conferred by Israel, Not the UN 19:55  |  JP 28/08/08
      23.   400,000? 20:11  |  Paul Freedman 28/08/08
      24.   From what I understand about half already have citizenship. 20:15  |  David G 28/08/08
      25.   #14 Palestinian forever....nope, not sacrosanct 20:15  |  Lynn 28/08/08
      26.   Right of Return 20:18  |  Tomas 28/08/08
      27.   David G: Financial Burdens of Refugeeship 20:29  |  Brad 28/08/08
      28.   Where there a will... 20:31  |  Joseph 28/08/08
      29.   Right of return 20:34  |  Ben Azai 28/08/08
      30.   #20 Tomas....yes, I leave my country to travel 20:36  |  Lynn 28/08/08
      31.   # 4 Lynn 20:37  |  maoriboy 28/08/08
      32.   # 19 Paul Freedman...Abbas rejected the offer 20:39  |  Lynn 28/08/08
      33.   Abbas, another petty tyrant 20:46  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 28/08/08
      34.   Take back ALL of the Mandate 20:51  |  Jeff 28/08/08
      35.   Why are Palestinians considered such dumb clods of earth? 20:53  |  DavidAK 28/08/08
      36.   I Agree 20:56  |  Leah 28/08/08
      37.   #31 maoriboy.....so, to make sure the politicos 20:56  |  Lynn 28/08/08
      38.   Lynn - why should people born out of Israel.... 20:59  |  Palestinian Brit 28/08/08
      39.   Lynn - and where exactly is your home? 21:05  |  Palestinian Brit 28/08/08
      40.   Thomas - since when did Israel care for any UN resolution? 21:08  |  Palestinian Brit 28/08/08
      41.   Yes, indeed they should!!! 21:12  |  Free Gilad Shalit 28/08/08
      42.   Abbas, not ready for a REAL deal. 21:22  |  SDHD 28/08/08
      43.   25 Lynn the self appointed spokesperson 21:29  |  Palestinian Forever 28/08/08
      44.   Return? 21:31  |  Gregor 28/08/08
      45.   #27 your right but life is not fair 21:32  |  David G 28/08/08
      46.   Way to go Abbas 21:32  |  johnj 28/08/08
      47.   Lebanese Palestinians should be given options... 21:34  |  Smadar 28/08/08
      48.   who really suffers the pal? nobody 21:48  |  guil 28/08/08
      49.   UN GA resolution 194 21:49  |  Anton 28/08/08
      50.   Maoriboy 31 22:01  |  ChanahS 28/08/08
      51.   All Jews and Palestinians should have the right of return 22:10  |  Home 28/08/08
      52.   right of return to where 22:10  |  peter 28/08/08
      53.   brad re right of return 22:25  |  potobac 28/08/08
      54.   # 34 ChanahS 22:26  |  maoriboy 28/08/08
      55.   a state for you, a state for them 22:27  |  dav zee 28/08/08
      56.   UN GA resolutions aren`t laws & aren`t enforcable 22:30  |  JP 28/08/08
      57.   # 5 Lynn 2nd try 22:31  |  maoriboy 28/08/08
      58.   Abbas reminds us why Palestinians will remain stateless 22:32  |  Gina 28/08/08
      59.   Right of Return is a personal and inalienable right 22:49  |  Ben Alofs 28/08/08
      60.   If that`s the case, Palestinian Forever, 22:55  |  Truthteller 28/08/08
      61.   All Palestinians have the right to return home to 22:56  |  Maria 28/08/08
      62.   In principle, Abbas is right. Israel must address principle 23:00  |  Ivar 28/08/08
      63.   No Room For Two 23:10  |  Shimon Cleopas 28/08/08
      64.   SO EVEN IF THEY HAVE A STATE 23:19  |  Jeremy 28/08/08
      65.   Anton # 37 23:19  |  Philippe 28/08/08
      66.   Peter # 40 23:22  |  Philippe 28/08/08
      67.   King David was also a Palestinian. He must be in 23:24  |  Israeli citizen 28/08/08
      68.   Help Palestinians return 2 Egypt Genesis10-13 23:30  |  sam 28/08/08
      69.   Return ? 23:31  |  Shimeon 28/08/08
      70.   what country 23:45  |  alan lee