 |
 |
 |
|
|
Dr. Khalil Shikaki was pelted with eggs and his office was ransacked when he prepared to announce the results of a survey of Palestinian refugees. (AP)
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
07/14
Jerusalem Post |
|
07/14
New York Times |
|
|
| By Ellis Shuman July 14, 2003 |
|
| |
A mob of furious Palestinians stormed the Ramallah offices of the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research (PSR) on Sunday when they learned that the results of a survey would show that most Palestinian refugees were willing to abandon claims of a "right of return" to Israel.
PSR director Dr. Khalil Shikaki was due to announce that although the vast majority of Palestinian refugees were unwilling to give up their "right of return" in principle, the "vast majority" was willing to accept monetary compensation and a new life in the Palestinian state in practice.
Just before Shikaki convened the press conference to disclose the results of the survey, conducted over the last year among Palestinian refugee populations in Lebanon, Jordan and the Palestinian territories, dozens of Palestinian youths stormed the PSR offices, where they overturned furniture, smashed windows and pelted Shikaki with eggs.
"This is a message for everyone not to tamper with our rights," one angry refugee said.
The angry Palestinians distributed a leaflet stating that the "'right of return' is a sacred right that cannot be annulled, or even discussed in public opinion polls."
"They are trying to send a message that the right of return is sacred, and that you who are negotiating are on notice," Shikai said, mopping eggs off his face.
Shikaki said the protestors did not even know the results of the survey in advance and charged that someone had provoked them to riot. Palestinian Authority policemen arrived at the scene, but too late to stop the rioters.
In the survey, Shikaki questioned 4,500 Palestinian refugee families and presented them with five options, including financial compensation and moving to an independent Palestinian state.
Only 10 percent of those surveyed demanded to return to Israel, while just over half (54 percent) said they would accept compensation and homes in the West Bank and Gaza. Others said they would stay in their host countries while some rejected any deal altogether.
Two-thirds of the refugees in Lebanon and Jordan would prefer to stay in their present homes, the survey said. According to the survey, some 784,000 Palestinians would want to move to a newly established Palestinian state, while 373,000 asked to move to Israel. Refugees demanding compensation for their former homes asked for at least $100,000, Maariv reported.
"The refugees who didn't choose to return to 1948 lands... know that life in Israel means Israeli citizenship, Israeli laws, and an Israeli social environment," Shikaki said.
Shikaki, whose brother founded Islamic Jihad and was killed, apparently by Israeli agents, in Malta in 1995, has rejected violence, the New York Times reported. Due to his independent views, Shikaki has been threatened by both Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat and the Hamas terrorist organization.
|
|
 
|
|
|
|
Click on the blue headline to read a Talkback comment and respond to it. Click on the  icon to send a private email to the talkback writer. The icon appears only if the writer has decided to be contacted. If no popup window appears, please make sure your popup blocker allows israelinsider.com.
|
|
| |
|
|
