Fate of Palestinian Refugees in Iraq
It is hell to be stateless.
From the USG Open Source Center:
' PLO's Al-Agha: Palestinian Killings in Iraq Part of US-Israeli Settlement Conspiracy
Report by Al-Quds correspondent in Gaza: "Dr Al-Agha: It Is a US-Israeli Conspiracy To Force Settlement [of Palestinians]. The Refugees' Department Condemns the Killing of Palestinians in Iraq"
Al-Quds
Friday, June 2, 2006 T20:41:35Z
Dr Zakariyah al-Agha, member of the PLO Executive Committee and head of the PLO Refugees' Department, has condemned the killing of Palestinians residing in Iraq after they had been subjected to threats by armed Iraqi groups and warned to leave immediately Iraq or face death, especially in Al-Hurriyah and Al-Tubji areas.
Dr Al-Agha added that the Refugees' Department in the PLO has informed the Iraqi Government and all concerned parties in Iraq of this issue so that they will adopt measures to protect them, noting that due to these threats, large numbers (of Palestinians), estimated at hundreds of people, are preparing to leave (Iraq) via the Syrian borders.
Dr Al-Agha explained that the assassination attempts and operations have been carried out on daily basis, especially during the past ten days, against Palestinians in Iraq. Last Tuesday, a Palestinian national, Faysal Abd-al-Qadir, was assassinated and scores of others were chased and tortured. Moreover, Al-Agha noted that at dawn yesterday, the US forces arrested three Palestinians in Sahat al-Hurriyat area; they are Jamal Khadr Muhammad, Muhammad Khadr Muhammad, and Khadr Jamal Khadr. Furthermore, last Monday US forces arrested Subhi Abu-Qutaysh and two of his sons.
Al-Agha noted that after the fatwa that was issued by Al-Sistani prohibiting the shedding of Palestinian blood, the killing operations against Palestinians in Iraq have increased. Al-Agha ruled out that these brutal actions are carried out by the sons of the Iraqi people who have hosted Palestinians in their land, guaranteed them an honorable living, and bolstered their steadfastness until they can return to the homes from which they were displaced in 1948, in accordance with UN Resolution 194.
Dr Al-Agha accused foreign and suspicious groups that cooperate with the US occupation of carrying out such attacks, killings, torture, arrests, and acts of intimidation against Palestinian refugees in Iraq. He held the US and British occupation forces responsible for what Palestinians in Iraq are currently facing and for the current chaos and crimes in Iraq.
Dr Al-Agha noted that the targeting of Palestinians in Iraq falls within the US-Israeli plan to pressure and strangulate the Palestinian refugees in a bid to force them to accept the settlement plans that the Americans and the Israelis have presented in the United Nations' corridors as substitute solutions for what has been endorsed by international legitimacy in terms of just and comprehensive solutions for the Palestinian refugees' problem. Moreover, he noted that the ongoing saga of attacks and hunting down of Palestinians in Iraq by these groups falls with the context of this plan.
Dr Al-Agha stressed that (the Refugees' Department has contacted the) United Nations in a bid to alleviate the refugees' suffering, to provide protection for them, and to urge the international community to shoulder its responsibilities and commitments on the basis of the refugees' right to return to their homeland and right to receive (humane) treatment in accordance with human rights and international law. Moreover, in a telephone contact, the Refugees' Department sought clarifications from the refugees' affairs section in the US Embassy in Amman with regard to the arrest campaign that is being carried out by US forces against Palestinians in Iraq. The US Embassy has promised to follow up this issue.
Within the same context and with regard to refugees stuck in Syria, Al-Agha said that following the entry of refugees in Iraq into Syria to Al-Hawl camp in Al-Hasakah, a group of Palestinian refugees, 236 individuals, rushed toward the Syrian borders. They are now stuck in the buffer zone and are suffering from very difficult conditions. He stressed that the Refugees' Department is following their case around the clock in coordination with all concerned parties, foremost of which is the (UN) High Commission for Refugees, because they are encompassed in its mandate in light of the fact that they are not registered on the UNRWA's lists to receive the necessities and relief that would ensure them an honorable and secure living.
(Description of Source: Jerusalem Al-Quds in Arabic -- Independent, largest circulation Palestinian newspaper; supports Palestinian Authority and peace process) '
posted by Juan Cole @ 6/03/2006 12:20:00 AM
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4 Comments:
After Saddam Hussein was ousted from Kuwait, there was a similar ethnic cleansing of Palestinians from Gulf States, albeit not very violent...
I first met Palestinian refugees in Lebanon in 1999 who had lost their livelihood as white-collar professionals in the Gulf States and were stuck in the Lebanese refugee camps... It seems that Palestinians in Iraq are also being similarly ousted by factions who hate them for their links to the Saddam regime...
One of the most famous guests of the Iraqi regime was Sabri al-Banna, who was the head of Fatah in Iraq... In the early 1970s, when it was confirmed that Fatah was secretly negotiating with Israel through Americans, al-Banna broke with Fatah and formed the Abu Nidal Organization, with the express purpose of killing all Palestinians, Israelis and Americans involved in these secret talks...
The ANO was backed by the Iraqi regime, and its most notable action was the attempt on the life of the Israeli ambassador in London in 1982 - a failed attempt that the Israelis cleverly exploited by blaming it on the PLO to defend their invasion of Lebanon...
Anyway, Al-Banna was killed in Baghdad in August 2002 in what is believed to be an attempt by the Iraqis to rid themselves of a "terrorist" liability in the build up of U.S. propaganda before the 2003 invasion... However, there are undoubtedly many other Palestinians in Iraq who are targeted now for their close links to Saddam's Ba'athist regime...
I am not sure how deep the Israeli-U.S. connection runs in the killing of Palestinians in Iraq... From what little I have read in the MSM regarding Israeli presence in Iraq, it seems to be limited to Kurdish areas, although there have been reports of clashes between Shiite militias and "Mossad agents" in the South from time to time...
All in all, Palestinians linked to the Ba'athists are out of luck as neither the current Hamas leadership, nor the old Fatah order seem to be willing to stick their necks out for them...
I think Abhinav Aima hits the nail on the head.
Personally, I find in easy to believe that Iraqi vigilantes would -- wrongly, of course -- target innocent Palestinians as a form of revenge for the PA's longstanding support of Saddam Hussein and his rapacious Ba'athist regime. After all, athletes have been murdered for wearing shorts, students have been slaughtered in the street, etc. Our government has created a hydra-headed monster of insurgents, warlords, terrorist and sectarian gangs with its immoral invasion and occupation of Iraq.
Allegations of Israeli involvement in this brutality are spurious and without any factual foundation. I am surprised Juan would include this post on his website without any follow-up, or corroboration with reliable journalistic or other credible sources. Apparently, if someone has something bad to say about Israel, it's worthy of publication on his web site.
I don't post primary sources like this one because I concur with them in whole or part. I post them because I think they are important primary sources that tell us what people in the Middle East are saying.
I'd also like to point out that the rules of the comment section require civil discourse. I'm glad to have all sorts of views represented, and have often posted op-eds attacking my positions, but a little common politeness is preferable, and I sometimes regret not being able to post something with a valuable insight because it is vituperative.
Some of the palestinians used to buy their refuge in iraq by joining Anti-shiite death squads under Saddam. thats why they are being targetted, not because of PA support for Saddam.
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