The right of return revisited

Abstract

This article traces the historical, political, and legal events that have had the greatest impact on the plight of the former citizens of the British mandate of Palestine, resulting in the largest and longest running refugee crisis of the 20th century. Anti-Semitism, Zionism, mass immigration, colonialism, the holocaust, western imperialism, war, and military occupation all played their part. In fact, the events that led to the mass displacement of the citizens of the British mandate of Palestine are still very relevant today even though the events that led to their eviction were over half a century ago. If there is ever to be peace and justice in the Middle East the Palestinian refugee question cannot be ignored.