Resolution 194 and The "Right" of Return

Submitted by Rochelle Michaels (Canada), Jan 14, 2008 at 11:34

The "Right" of Return

http://domino.un.org/unispal.nsf/0/c758572b78d1cd0085256bcf0077e51a?OpenDocument

"UN General Assembly Resolution 194 deals with the issue of refugees in one small paragraph. Nowhere does it mention a "right of return" nor does it "enshrine" such a right. Indeed, the word "right" never appears. The resolution states only that those wishing to return should be "permitted" to do so if they are willing to live in peace or accept compensation. But when Resolution 194 was passed in December 1948, the Arabs were engaged in a war to destroy the nascent Jewish state."

The resolution does not specify the nationality of the refugees; Palestinian Arab refugees, who voluntarily left Israel at the urging of their leaders, are approximately equal in number to the Jews who fled persecution from Arab countries.

Approximately 760,000 Jews were expelled from Arab countries between 1945 and 1956 with an estimated amount of $1 billion in confiscated property.

Israel voted in favour of Resolution 194 while Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Yemen voted against Resolution 194.

http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/images/refs.gif

Arab/Muslim land. http://www.najsa.org/source/map.jpg

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