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Palestinian Refugees of Egypt: What Exit Options Are Left for Them?

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Palestinian Refugees of Egypt: What Exit Options Are Left for Them? Palestinian Refugees of Egypt: What Exit Options Are Left for Them? Oroub El-Abed Abstract des développements politiques, y compris les relations de This paper, based on personal interviews, analysis of Egyp- l’OLP avec les pays d’accueil, les droits concédés aux Pa- tian administrative regulations, and observation of prac- lestiniens dans les pays hôtes arabes ont varié grande- tice of international and regional agreements on refugees, ment au cours des années. considers the effects of displacement on the Palestinians’ Depuis 1978, les Palestiniens qui se trouvent en legal status and hence on the way they have conducted Égypte ne reçoivent plus d’assistance du gouvernement their livelihoods in Egypt. While Arab countries have of- égyptien et n’ont pas accès aux services publics. En plus, fered to provide temporary protection to Palestinian refu- les Palestiniens ne reçoivent aucune assistance ou de pro- gees, as a result of political developments, including tection des organismes onusiens en charge des questions relations between the PLO and the host states, the rights des réfugiés. Les promesses et les accords, tant régionaux afforded to Palestinians in Arab host states have varied qu’internationaux, n’ont pas été respectés. L’ambiguïté greatly over time. du statut légal des Palestiniens a affecté leur capacité de Palestinians in Egypt, since 1978, do not receive assis- gagner leur vie de diverses façons. Elle a rendue leur rési- tance from the government of Egypt and do not have access to dence précaire, souvent même illégale. Cela a affecté leur any of its public services. Palestinians also do not receive any possibilité de trouver de l’emploi et d’avoir accès à l’édu- assistance or protection from UN bodies in charge of refugee cation, ainsi que leur capacité de se déplacer et de s’orga- issues. Both regional and international pledges and agree- niser librement en groupe associatifs. Privés de droits et ments have not been respected. The ambiguous legal status of légalement et économiquement en situation précaire, les Palestinians has affected their livelihoods in many ways. It has Palestiniens d’Égypte se retrouvent dans un état indéter- rendered their residence insecure and in many cases illegal. This has affected employment and education opportunities, as miné. well as freedom of movement and association. The deprivation of rights and the unstable legal and economic conditions of ased on reports of massacres, evidence of villages and Palestinians in Egypt has placed them in a state of “limbo.” towns being cleared of their populations, and a well- Bfounded fear of further persecution from Zionist Résumé guerrilla troops and later the Israeli Defence Forces, Pales- Cet article est fondé sur des interviews personnelles, sur tinians fled their homes in Palestine in 1948 and in 1967 to une analyse des règlements administratives égyptiennes seek shelter in neighbouring countries. Much has been written on the causes of their flight and et sur une observation de la manière dont le droit inter- on their living conditions in what are known as “host national et les accords régionaux sur les réfugiés sont mis countries.”1 Little, however, has been written about those en pratique, et examine l’effet qu’a eu le déplacement sur who fled to Egypt, numbering 13,000 in 1948 and 33,000 in le statut légal des Palestiniens et, par conséquent, sur la 1969.2 This paper is based on research which was conducted façon dont ils ont pu mener et gagner leur vie en Égypte. over two years (2001–2003) under the auspices of the S’il est vrai que les pays arabes ont offert de fournir une Forced Migration and Refugee Studies Programme (FMRS) protection temporaire aux réfugiés palestiniens, à cause of the American University in Cairo (AUC). This paper, 15 Volume 22 Refuge Number 2 based on personal interviews with eighty Palestinian fami- Gaza Strip, many of them could not return to Palestine and lies (401 persons), considers the effects of displacement on have had to remain in Egypt. their legal status and hence on the way they conducted their livelihoods in Egypt. Several factors affected their adjust- Refugees and Displaced Persons ment to the new environment – the personal resources they The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) had to “reconstruct” in their lives and the attitude of the defines a “Palestine refugee” as “any person whose normal host country itself to them and their legal status. place of residence was Palestine during the period June 1, This research approached the “field” from a descriptive 1946 to May 15, 1948 and who lost both home and means perspective based on a qualitative case-study approach. of livelihood as a result of the 1948 conflict.” This definition Statistical sampling and quantitative data collection would was made solely to enable UNRWA to determine eligibility not have been possible given the fact that the exact number for the agency’s assistance programs in its five field opera- of Palestinian refugees in Egypt is not known and the results tions: the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, Syria, Lebanon, and of the census conducted by the government in 1995 are not Jordan.3 available. A snowball method was used in reaching Pales- Of Palestinians who sought refuge in Egypt, some lived tinians dispersed all over the governorates of Egypt. When temporarily in Gaza and registered with UNRWA, while arriving in the area, the research team would ask a shop- others went directly from their homes in Palestine to Egypt keeper for a Palestinian resident. After finding the first so could not register with UNRWA. The majority of Pales- Palestinian household, it would then make referrals to tinians in Egypt are from the latter group. Egypt’s Depart- other households. The research team used an open-ended ment of Nationality and Passports had its own definition of questionnaire which permitted Palestinians to elaborate on them for the purposes of accommodating them in tempo- their answers and to clarify their coping strategies in Egypt. rary refugee camps and providing relief through the Egyp- Research into Palestinians in Egypt has the aim of pro- tian Higher Committee for Palestinian Immigrants. viding an understanding of the difficulties they face and “Palestinian immigrants” were defined as those persons laying the foundation for possible projects or actions to who sought refuge in Egypt from 1948 to 1950.4 benefit this community since it is neither protected nor During the 1967 War, more Palestinians, most of them assisted by any United Nations body. Until Palestinians can registered with UNRWA, fled from Gaza to Jordan and then return to Palestine, these endeavours are intended to ensure Egypt. This displacement included two groups: “refugees- them a decent life while they remain outside Palestine. displaced” and “displaced” coming from Gaza.5 The “refu- Assistance efforts being considered include income-genera- gees-displaced” had been forced to flee Palestine for the tion and educational skills training projects. Calling for an second time, the first time being when they left their homes amelioration of Palestinians’ living conditions in Egypt in Palestine for Gaza and the second time being when they does not mean denying their right of return. On the con- left the territories occupied in 1967, which included Gaza. trary, the objective is to ensure their socio-economic rights The “displaced” are original inhabitants of Gaza who were and an acceptable legal status, wherever they are residing, displaced for the first time by the 1967 War. Despite the fact meanwhile supporting their legal and political right to re- that some were registered with UNRWA, those who arrived turn to their homeland. in Egypt did not receive assistance from any United Nations (UN) agency.6 TheEgyptianAdministrativeOfficeofthe Why Did Palestinians Go to Egypt? Governor of Gaza, initially based in Gaza and later moved Palestinians went to Egypt either fearing persecution in to Cairo, was the only administrative body dealing with Palestine or for socio-economic reasons and were denied Palestinians in Egypt. The office is still in existence. access to Palestine as a result of occupation. The first cate- gory includes 1948 arrivals who are “Palestinian refugees” Socio-Economic Displacement as well as those who fled to Egypt as a result of the Israeli After the Rhodes Armistice was signed in February of 1949 occupation of the West Bank and Gaza in 1967, the so called on the Greek island of Rhodes, Egypt assumed military and “displaced Palestinians.” The second category consists of administrative control of Gaza.7 In 1954, when Gamal Ab- those who were outside Palestine during the 1956 and 1967 del-Nasser became president, work in trade, industry, and wars and would not return to their homes and properties. transport between Gaza and Egypt was permitted.8 At the This category includes those who sought employment and outbreak of the 1967 War, Palestinians who had been in- educational opportunities in Egypt between 1954 and 1967 volved in these activities settled in Egypt because of the social but as a result of the 1967 occupation of the West Bank and and professional networks they had established there. 16 Palestinian Refugees of Egypt In 1962, economic conditions in Gaza were deteriorating who take items from various parts of Egypt to sell in Gaza and unemployment increased. In response, Nasser called but now even this trade has stopped because of the second for Palestinians from Gaza with high school diplomas or Intifada. college degrees to apply to work in public institutions in The situation is better for the employees of the Palestine Egypt and regulations were issued to facilitate their employ- Liberation Organization (PLO), the Palestine Liberation ment. Those who responded were unable to return to Gaza Army, and current and former Egyptian government em- when the 1967 War erupted and Israelis occupied Gaza.
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