It has been over two years since the SOAS lecture on which the first edition of this booklet was based. The passage of 50 years after al Nakba (Catastrophe) was an occasion for remembrance of the past and determination that the future will bring the right of return. There has been tremendous upsurge, especially among young people, in al Nakba and ways and means to reverse its destructive impact on the Palestinian people and to restore normalcy to their shattered lives. The Palestinian life of destitution in the diaspora, while waves of Russian and other new immigrants are admitted freely to their homes, has become increasingly intolerable to them. The Oslo Agreement fiasco and what is perceived as Israeli deception and US double standards has made the situation much worse.
The interest in the subject, shown by conferences, meetings and publications, including those of the PRC, prompted me to update and revise many sections of the booklet. All sections have been expanded and new sections on war crimes, the value of Palestinian property, the status of Palestinian land, resettlement schemes and the establishment of Palestine Land Society have been added. The demographic study has been updated and several new tables and references added.
Together with al Nakba Register and the map of Palestine 1948, also distributed by the PRC, this booklet should provide a concise description of the refugees issue. It should be clear by now to all concerned that there can be no peace in the Middle East without the return of the refugees to their homes.
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