A survey conducted by Powart Marx in Al-Jalazon
refugee camp near Ramallah city, which was published in 1994 by novelist Najeh
Jarrar in his book entitled “Palestinian Refugees”, revealed that the
Palestinian refugee is working arduously to emancipate himself from the miserable
living conditions inside the camps and to eliminate the title “refugees”. In spite
of his unfortunate condition, the Palestinian refugee refused all forms
of rehabilitation programs sponsored by UNRWA.
This rejection emanates from
his adamant belief in keeping the relief card since it stands as the only proof
to his real identity and consequently his right of return to his own country.
Field studies prepared by the Palestinian Academic Society for International
Affairs at two refugee camps in Balata and El-Far’ai near Nablus city resulted
in the same conclusions. In comparing their pre - 1948 status, the majority of
Palestinian refugees were land owners.
At that time, 84.8 percent of the
refugees were land owners, 64.4 percent raised cattle, 18.2 percent had real
estate properties, and only 7.6 percent were non-owners, presently about 76.8
percent of the refugees do not posses any property, 0.7 percent have
agricultural lands, and 13.8 percent run small shops inside the camps. This
comparison highlights the plight of the refugee to insist on his right of
return.
Jerry Afinson published a comprehensive study in 1992 about Palestinian
refugees in the West Bank. The writer stated, “the economic conditions of
Palestinian refugees living in the West Bank is worse than the other segments of
society in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. About 60% of the refugees at these
camps are below the poverty line”. The monthly income for a family bread winner
in the camp averaged from the zero point to 200 dinars. This means that over 53%
of the Palestinian in these camps are living below the poverty line.
Figures
indicate that the economic situation for the refugees living in these camps is
much worse when compared to other Palestinians living not far away from the
area. This may be attributed to their big loss in the 1948 and the 1967 wars.
Field surveys also revealed that 32.6 percent of the population of Balata and El
Far’a camps prefer to abandon these camps while 38.4 percent voted to stay there
in spite of their miserable conditions.
A separate study indicated that 31.9
percent refused to leave camps even if their economic situation considerably
improved. About 21.7 percent gave no reply. It is clearly evident that 58% want
to stay in refugee camps for purely nationalist reasons. They conceive that the
extension of their camps implies the end of their national cause. Hence, any
workable solution for the problem of refugees should take into account the
national factor. This conclusion reflects the commitment of the refugees to
deepen their roots in Palestine and confirms that their presence inside camps in
the West Bank, Gaza, Jordan, and Syria is temporary.
Regarding their
attitudes towards a peaceful solution to their problem, about 31.6 percent advocate the return of all Palestinian lands, and 4.6
percent favors the return
of refugees. However, 8.6 percent support a fair compensation for the refugees
and 3.4 percent call for improving the standard of living inside the camps.
However 48.3 percent favor the establishment of a Palestinian State in the West
Bank and Gaza Strip. Those who favor the settlement of Palestinians in Arab
countries as a solution to the problem of refugees constituted only 0.6 percent
.
In view of the above facts and figures it is now apparent that the Palestinian refugee is deeply rooted to his land, a land he was forced to abandon, to a life of living in camps. The lack of land ownership has made feel inferior to inhabitants of nearby cities and towns. The Palestinian refugee expresses the love and longing for his nation through his positive contribution in the socio-political arena. The Palestinian refugee has demonstrated through more four decades of Israeli occupation his unshakable conviction in achieving his legitimate rights. The solid resistance of the Palestinian refugee has prompted the Israeli military authorities to diversify their techniques of encountering resistance , including the perpetration of mass massacres against Palestinians at Sabra and Shatilla refugee camps in Lebanon in Sept. 1982.