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The largest Palestinian diaspora community, approximately
1.3 million, is in Jordan. Many of them still live in the refugee
camps that were established in 1949, although others live in
cities and towns. Lebanon and Syria also have large Palestinian
populations, many of whom still live in refugee camps. Many
Palestinians have moved to Saudi Arabia and other Arab Gulf
countries to work, and some have moved to other parts of the
Middle East or other parts of the world. Jordan is the only
Arab state to grant citizenship to the Palestinians who live
there. Palestinians in Arab states generally do not enjoy the
same rights as the citizens of those states. The situation
of the refugees in Lebanon is especially dire; many Lebanese
blame Palestinians for the civil war that wracked that country
from 1975-91, and demand that they be resettled elsewhere in
order for the Lebanese to maintain peace in their country.
The Christian population of Lebanon is particularly anxious
to rid the country of the mainly Muslim Palestinians because
of a fear that they threaten the delicate balance among the
country's religious groups.
Although many Palestinians still live in refugee
camps and slums, others have become economically successful.
Palestinians now have the highest per capita rate of university
graduates in the Arab world. Their diaspora experience has
contributed to a high level of politicization of all sectors
of the Palestinian people. |
