Who are the refugees?

誰是難民？

Why, more than 60 years later, is this still an issue?

為什麼，過了六十年了，還在談論這個？

Let’s look at the facts…

讓我們看看事實…

So… how did it all begin?

所以… 是怎麼發生的呢？

In May 1948, the local Arab population was joined by 7 Arab countries in a collective attempt to destroy the newly re-established Jewish state.

在１９４８年的五月，由以色列鄰近的七個阿拉伯國家所聚來的民眾，集結以色列，爲了要消滅剛成立的猶太國家。

Encouraged by Arab leaders, who promised they would return as victors, and later on, as a result of their failed war efforts… an estimated 500,000 Arabs fled to neighboring Arab territories. 

這些人受到阿拉伯領導人鼓動，並承諾他們將榮耀返國，然而由於出師未捷... 估計有五十萬阿拉伯人逃到鄰近的阿拉伯領土。 

But is this the full picture?

但這是完整的情況嗎？

I'd like you to take a look at the refugees in these photos.

我請你看看這些照片中所謂的難民。

Many people assume they are Arab refugees… fleeing Israel.

許多人認為他們是阿拉伯難民… 逃出以色列。

But in fact, they are innocent Jewish refugees… forced out of Arab countries!

但事實上，這些是無辜的猶太難民… 從阿拉伯國家中強制驅離！

THIS map tells the FULL story:

這張地圖完整呈現事實：

There were FAR more Jewish refugees than Arab refugees.

猶太難民的人數遠超過所謂的阿拉伯難民。

Over 850,000 Jews, from ancient Jewish communities predating Islam and the Arab occupation of the Middle East, were forced out of their homes.

有超過85萬猶太人，在伊斯蘭教及阿拉伯人佔領中東前，就於古時世居於此地, 但此刻卻被迫離開家園。

Jews were stripped of their citizenship in many countries and their property was confiscated.

猶太人被取消國民身分，所有財產也被充公沒收。

In contrast, 160,000 Arabs ACCEPTED Israel's offer TO REMAIN, and today there are more than one million Israeli-Arab citizens with full equal-rights, living in Israel.

另一方面，有16萬名阿拉伯人接受留居以色列的提議，而至今有超過一百萬的阿拉伯裔以色列公民，住在以色列境內，享受完全平等的權利與義務。

Now here's a question:

這裡有個問題：

Have you heard of any Jewish refugee camps?

你聽過任何的猶太難民營嗎？

… I didn't think so.

．．．我想沒有。

The Jewish refugees were immediately welcomed and absorbed by Israel or by other nations.

所有的猶太難民都受到歡迎，並且很快地融入以色列或其他國家。

Then why, after more than 60 years, are the Arab-Palestinian- refugees still NOT welcomed and absorbed among their own brethren?

那為何，六十年過去了，這些巴勒斯坦的阿拉伯難民，仍然不被阿拉伯同胞的國家所接受？

And how could their numbers have grown from 500,000 to 4.7 million?

而且他們的人口，如何從50萬成長到如今的470萬？

The sad reality is that the Arab refugees never had a chance.

殘酷的事實是，這些阿拉伯難民從來沒有機會。

Attempts at resettlement were blocked by a variety of discriminatory laws enacted in Arab countries such as:

鄰近的阿拉伯國家實行了一連串的歧視法案，阻饒他們入境定居，例如：

A ban on receiving citizenship –with the exception of Jordan

禁止取得公民身分－除了約旦以外

blocking them FROM ENTERING MANY professions

禁止他們從事許多職業

Restrictions on owning land

限制他們的土地擁有權

Restrictions on movement

限制搬遷權

and a Denial of education and health services.

拒絕他們的受教權以及健康福利。

Sir Alexander Galloway, a former director of the UN refugee agency in Jordan, gave the reason for this discrimination:

亞歷山大・蓋洛韋先生，前聯合國駐約旦的難民收容署署長，對這樣的歧視做了解釋：

quote: "…the Arab nations do not want to solve the Arab refugee problem. They want to keep it as an open sore… as a weapon against Israel."

引述「…這些阿拉伯國家並不想解決阿拉伯難民問題。 他們讓此事保持有如無法痊癒的傷口...用來當做對付以色列的武器。」"

Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser explained the effect of this "weapon"  aimed at overwhelming Israel demographically -with generations of refugees cultivated to hate:

埃及總統 加麥爾·阿卜杜勒·納什 曾解釋這個「武器」的威力，目的是要顛覆以色列的人口數 - 並教育後代的難民憎恨以色列：

quote: “If the refugees return to Israel, Israel will cease to exist.”

引述：「如果這些難民返回以色列，以色列就可以被消滅。」

And what role did the United Nations play? Sadly, they were less than helpful…

而聯合國在此事上的態度呢？ 很不幸的，他們只幫了倒忙…

While all refugees in the world are assisted by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, UNHCR,

全世界所有的難民，都有聯合國難民事務專員(UNHCR)的協助，

…a separate agency –UNRWA- was established specifically for the Palestinians.

…然而一個特別的機構–UNRWA聯合國難民救濟及工程局，卻專門為了巴勒斯坦而成立。

Why can't the Palestinian refugees share an agency with the refugees of Bosnia, Congo or Darfur? To name a few…

為何巴勒斯坦的難民無法與波士尼亞，剛果或是蘇丹的達爾富爾等等的難民，同屬相同機構下管轄呢？…

The answer is, because while the United Nation's central refugee agency- helps refugees resettle, The United Nation's Palestinian refugee agency helps perpetuate their status by applying unique criteria.

答案是， 聯合國的中央難民署機構是為了幫助難民安頓，而聯合國的巴勒斯坦難民署則是為了要永續他們的難民地位，因而建立了一個特別的標準。

For example:

舉例來說：

Refugees lose their status after receiving citizenship from a recognized country –Palestinian refugees do not.

當難民取得一個國家的身分後，就不再是難民了–巴勒斯坦的難民除外。

Refugees cannot transmit their status from generation to generation –Palestinian refugees can.

難民身分不能傳與後代 –但巴勒斯坦的難民卻可以。

Refugees are encouraged to resettle in other countries or integrate in their host countries –UNRWA, avoids such policies

一般難民都被鼓勵前往他國安家立命，融入當地–而 UNRWA， 卻拒絕這種政策。

The United Nations spends on a single Palestinian refugee almost 3 times more than on a non-Palestinian refugee, and employs over 30 times the staff.

聯合國單在巴勒斯坦難民身上砸下的經費，比其他的地方難民多３倍，而且雇員更是多了３０倍

The bottom line is:

結論是：

Throughout the 20th century the UN found durable solutions for tens of millions of refugees, while the Palestinian refugee agency has found… well… none.

綜觀二十世紀，聯合國為數以千萬計的難民找到安身立家之處，而巴勒斯坦的難民機構… 卻是… 一事無成。

Some people may suggest this is hypocrisy…

有些人認為這是偽善…

Let me share something personal…

讓我分享一些個人的經驗…

My father's family was forced out of Algeria…they, and another 600,000 Jews from Arab states, resettled in Israel.

我父輩的家族從阿爾及利亞被驅逐…除了他們，還有另外６０萬來自阿拉伯國家的猶太人，來到以色列重新生活

History has proven that resettlement and integration helped tens of millions of refugees, during the 20th century, reclaim their lives.

歷史已證明，重新定居並融入在地，幫助了數千萬的難民在二十世紀中，展開新生命。

However…the Palestinian refugees are trapped between Arab leaders unwilling to accept their brothers and UN agencies who do not apply equal and universal principals to all refugees.

然而，巴勒斯坦難民...卻卡在拒絕接納同胞的阿拉伯領袖，以及不願給予平等難民權的聯合國機構中，進退不得。

Is this just?

這樣是正義嗎？