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| Israel-Palestine-Jordan |
| Nativity Church deportee speaks of 8 years in exile |
| 2010-05-11 |
| [Ma'an] A Palestinian resistance fighter deported to Ireland in 2002 following Israel's siege of the Nativity Church in Bethlehem marked eight years in exile in April. Speaking to Ma'an, Jihda Ja'ara appeared more optimistic about the situation following Palestinian Authority intervention. Ja'ara, the spokesman for the 13 Palestinians deported to Europe, said deportees faced dire circumstances throughout their eight years in exile, but a recent PA decision to provide them with living accommodation has helped. The eighth anniversary, he said, was more poignant than the past, following the recent death of fellow deportee Abdullah Dawood. "We hoped he could return to his family in Palestine by foot, but he returned in a coffin. We believe this is part of our destiny as Palestinian fighters who struggle for our people's freedom." Dawood, who died in Algeria, was repatriated to his family for burial in Nablus in March. Ja'ara applauded the PA's efforts in attempting to secure their return, thanking President Mahmoud Abbas, Prime Minister Salam Fayyad and chief PLO negotiator Saeb Erekat. "They telephone deportees regularly and the PA never abandoned us," he said, adding that they have been promised that their case will be brought up during talks with Israel. "Dr Erekat telephones us all the time assuring that our case is a top priority. However, the main obstacle is the Israeli occupation who refuses to give the Palestinian people their rights and their freedom," he said. Fellow deportees, he said, have adapted to life in Europe, learning the languages of their host countries. In April 2002, 26 Palestinians were exiled to Gaza while 13 were deported to European countries following the siege of Bethlehem's Nativity Church during Operation Defensive Shield, undertaken by Israel to seek out Palestinians deemed "wanted." Many took refuge in the church, before negotiations ended in their deportation. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #3 Boo frickin' hoo. Tell ya what, pal - you can go home after you take a dump in a corner of the Holy Mosque in Makka. |
| Posted by: mojo 2010-05-11 13:11 |
| #2 And the main reason to make sure they are repatriated for burial is so the graves can eventually be desecrated... |
| Posted by: M. Murcek 2010-05-11 12:25 |
| #1 "We hoped he could return to his family in Palestine by foot, but he returned in a coffin. We believe this is part of our destiny as Palestinian fighters who struggle for our people's freedom." Fine with me. Return them all in coffins. |
| Posted by: tu3031 2010-05-11 09:52 |