Regarding the Palestinian Refugees Right of Return

http://www.imemc.org/article/59785

Erekat: “Statements Of UNRWA's Director, Disappointing”

Friday October 29, 2010 11:12 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

Head of the Negotiations Department at the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), Dr. Saeb Erekat, stated that the statements of UNRWA New York director, Andrew Whitley, regarding the Palestinian Right of Return are disappointing.

Palestinian Refugees on their way to Lebanon, October, 1948 - Palestine Remembered

Whitley said that the Palestinians “should not live under the illusion of achieving the Right of Return”, and added that Arab countries must start procedures for settling them in the Arab world.

Dr. Erekat sent a letter to Whitley expressing the Palestinian rejection to these statements especially since they deny an internationally guaranteed right.

The UNRWA said that the statements of Whitley do not represent its official stance.

Meanwhile, Dr. Erekat said that the Palestinians did not, and will not, abandon their right, and added that in 1948 Israel forced more than 700,000 Palestinians out of their homes and lands.

He added that the refugees, now more than 4.5 million, will not give up their right to return to their homeland, and will remain steadfast especially since their right was approved by the international community and several U.N. resolutions, including resolution number 194.

“Mr. Whitley should have defended the legitimate right of the refugees, instead of accepting the harm inflicted on them”, Erekat added. “Those rights are guaranteed under the international law; they should be achieved, not abandoned or denied”.