Palestinian Refugees in International Law

Francesca P. Albanese, Lex Takkenberg
Paperback, 606 pages
9780198784050

The Palestinian refugee question, resulting from the events surrounding the birth of the state of Israel seventy years ago, remains one of the largest and most protracted refugee crises of the post-WWII era. Numbering over six million in the Middle East alone, Palestinian refugees' status varies considerably according to the state or territory 'hosting' them, the UN agency assisting them and political circumstances surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict these refugees are naturally associated with. Despite being foundational to both the experience of the Palestinian refugees and the resolution of their plight, international law is often side-lined in political discussions concerning their fate.

This compelling new book, building on the seminal contribution of the first edition (1998), offers a clear and comprehensive analysis of various areas of international law (including refugee law, human rights law, humanitarian law, the law relating to stateless persons, principles related to internally displaced persons, as well as notions of international criminal law), and probes their relevance to the provision of international protection for Palestinian refugees and their quest for durable solutions.

Contents
1. Introduction: genesis of the Palestinian refugee issue
2. Palestinian refugees: a distinct international regime
3. Palestinian refugees in UNRWA's area of operations
4. Palestinian Diaspora around the world: status and legal treatment
5. Palestinian refugees in the realm of international law
6. The evolution in international protection of Palestinian refugees: the role of UNRWA, UNHCR, and other multilateral organizations
7. The search for a just and durable solution