"We are guests in Lebanon, temporary guests, and we are subject to Lebanese laws just like everybody else in Lebanon"According to PASSIA, The Palestinian Academic Society for the Study of International Affairs, there were 4.1 Million Palestinian refugees, in which 2.5 million of them reside outside of the West Bank and Gaza in Lebanon, Syria and Jordan.
As you may know, Lebanon has been the latest democracy domino to fall in the Middle East with the exodus of Syrian troops who had occupied the country for nearly 30 years, and controlled every aspect of the Lebanese government.
One of the ugly realities of this conflict is that none of the surrounding Arab countries have or will grant citizenship to a Palestinian. This was done at the request of the PLO who wanted as many refugees as possible in order to bolster their movement against Israel. Immigration really doesn’t take place in despot regimes anyway, in or out. The result is millions of Palestinians living in massively over crowded refugee camps.
However there are two new players in town: The new/reborn Lebanon and Iraq. Immigration policy will no longer be set by dictators supporting Yasar Arafat, but by elected officials who wish to promote peace and prosperity. Elected officials will feel less pressure to refuse citizenship to a Palestinian simply to keep the “right of return” issue prominent. Jordan will feel less pressure as well.
Currently both Iraq and Lebanon are holding the status quo until their government settle.
A future final peace deal must include Lebanon and Jordan at the table, in which a Palestinian Refugee is given four options. Move to The Gaza Strip or West Bank in which they would become Palestinian citizens. Also on a limited, quota based system, they can remain in Jordan/Lebanon or immigrate to Israel, in which citizenship would be granted as well.
