Palestinians Fleeing Fratricide, Terror

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By Dr. Mitchell G. Bard

Palestinians are fleeing in droves of their own volition. Israel is not forcing any of them to leave.

Today, Palestinians have the opportunity to build the infrastructure of a democratic state in the Palestinian Authority. They control all of the Gaza Strip and the population centers of the West Bank, but have squandered the chance by engaging in fratricide and terror. Palestinians are voting with their feet, however, and tens of thousands have left, or are now trying to emigrate. According to Palestinian sources, as many as 80,000 people have departed the territories since the Palestinian War began in September 2000, and a study by Bir Zeit University found that 32 percent of Palestinians, and 44 percent of young Palestinians, would emigrate if they could. 130

Undoubtedly, Israel's measures to curtail terrorism - roadblocks, military operations, closures - have created hardships for Palestinians, but this does not explain why so many people would abandon their homeland. In fact, many Palestinians have moved to Israel because they would rather live in a democracy than a theocratic mobocracy. This is especially true for Arabs living near Jerusalem who have chosen the "hell in Jerusalem over paradise in the PA." 131

Palestinian officials have become so alarmed that the PA's mufti issued a fatwa [religious decree] forbidding Muslims to leave. 132

Notes

130 Khaled Abu Toameh, "Fatwa forbids PA Muslims to emigrate," Jerusalem Post, (June 10, 2007); Mark Mackinnon, "Heavy-hearted Palestinians taking their chances abroad," The Globe and Mail, (November 20, 2006); Sarah El Deeb, "More Palestinians Flee Homelands," AP, (December 9, 2006).
131 Larry Derfner, "Jerusalem Undivided" U.S.News & World Report, (June 3, 2007).
132 Khaled Abu Toameh, "Fatwa forbids PA Muslims to emigrate," Jerusalem Post, (June 10, 2007).

See also Mitchell Bard's blog: http://blogs.britannica.com/blog/main/author/mbard

Source: Myths & Facts Online - A Guide to the Arab-Israeli Conflict by Mitchell G. Bard.