Palestinians in Iraq Face a Second Exile

Threatened in Iraq, these refugees have no country to return to.

By Robert S. Eshelman

Within the narrow strip of no man's land separating Iraq and Syria, nearly 400 Palestinian refugees have been forced into an impossible existence at the al-Tanf refugee camp. Aid organizations periodically deliver water, pre-cooked meals and meager supplies of medicine to the marooned inhabitants. Tents are [RETURN TO ARTICLE]

  • Reader Comments

     Page 1 of 1 pages

    It is doubtless the case that the Palestinians in Iraq experience a double stigma. One is that they are Palestinians and live as refugees in Iraq. The other is that they are Sunni Muslims who sided with other Sunnis in their political outlook and at one time supported the regime of Saddam Hussein as well as his ill fated invasion of Kuwait. It is no suprise that the Shi’ites have targeted them for attack. Doubtless, it is the Shi’ite militias have targeted the refugees. This is disgraceful.

    The number of refugees, 34,000, seemed small to begin with and now their numbers have dwindled to about 15,000. They are largely a humanitarian issue and probably can’t much impact the overall political situation. They continue to suffer humanitarian neglect and political persecution. The current situation certainly typifies their six decades long prediciment. No country will take these stateless people. The argument for a viable, independent Palestinian State gets stronger all the time.

    United States Posted by cabdriverinchicago on Aug 14, 2007 at 8:19 PM
     Page 1 of 1 pages

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