Exploring the Palestinian Diaspora

The Palestinian diaspora is a result of the violent displacement of Palestinians from their homes during the Nakba, or "catastrophe," in 1948, which caused between 700,000-800,000 Palestinians to be exiled from their homes. This led to the dispersal of Palestinians throughout the world. This section provides a brief overview of Palestinians in non-Arab speaking countries and examines their experiences in several countries. Although large populations of Palestinian descendants can be found in Chile, Germany, France, Brazil, Australia, Canada, Sweden and the United Kingdom, there are smaller populations of that can be found in the remainder of the Nordic countries and parts of Latin America and Europe. Palestinians in these countries have been able to maintain their Palestinian identity while simultaneously assimilating into the local culture. Palestinians have made significant contributions to their societies, particularly in the areas of academia, politics and business.

Palestinians living in non-Arabic speaking countries have made significant contributions to their host nations. In the United States, Palestinian Americans have excelled in various fields, including politics, arts, and academia. Palestinian American politician Rashida Tlaib was the first Palestinian woman elected to Congress, while poet Naomi Shihab Nye has won numerous literary awards for her works (Rauf & Elass, 2019).

Similarly, in the United Kingdom, Palestinian politicians have held positions of power in the government, with Afzal Khan and Yasmin Qureshi being elected as Members of Parliament (MPs) in the House of Commons (Koroma, 2020). In the UK, Palestinians have formed political organizations and have held positions of power in government (Al-Shafie, 2012). Palestinians in the UK have also contributed to many disciplines, including medicine, education, and the arts. Professor Abdel-Aziz Al Saadi is a prominent Palestinian doctor and academic who has made significant contributions to the field of ophthalmology in the UK (Al-Ali, 2018). The literature also indicates that Palestinians in the UK face challenges including discrimination, marginalization, and difficulties in preserving their cultural identity. A study by Yacobi (2009) found that Palestinians living in England face challenges in housing, education, and employment due to their perceived identity.

Palestinians in France have experienced discrimination and marginalization, particularly those living in impoverished suburbs (Guessous, 2016). Much like Palestinians in the UK however, Palestinians in France are also politically engaged. Palestinians in France have organized politically and have had representation in government (Sayigh & Farsakh, 2014).In addition,

In Germany, several Palestinian Germans have also held political positions (About-Taam, 2014). Palestinian entrepreneur Khalil Sehnaoui founded the Germany-Palestine Chamber of Commerce and Industry to promote trade and investment between the two nations (Mady & Kreutzmann, 2019). Additionally, Palestinian artist Khaled Jarrar has gained international recognition for his work, which explores themes of identity and displacement (Rosenberg, 2019). Palestinians in Germany have also faced challenges, including language barriers and difficulties finding employment, but have established a network of cultural and social organizations to help them integrate into German society while maintaining their Palestinian identity (Abou-Taam, 2014).

Palestinians have made significant contributions to the social, economic, and cultural fabric of Latin American countries. According to Khalil Saadeh, a researcher who has studied the Palestinian diaspora in Latin America, Palestinians have played a significant role in the development of the region, particularly in the areas of trade, industry, and politics (Saadeh, 2013). In countries such as Chile, Brazil, and Colombia, Palestinians have been successful in business, running companies in a range of industries, including textiles, food, and agriculture. The Palestinian community has also established cultural and social organizations that celebrate their heritage and promote Palestinian identity in Latin America (Issa, 2018). Additionally, Palestinians have been active in politics, with several prominent politicians of Palestinian descent holding positions of power in countries such as Honduras and Paraguay (Saadeh, 2013). The contributions of Palestinians in Latin America have helped to shape the region's social, political, and economic landscape.

References:

Abou-Taam, M. (2014). Palestinian migration to Germany: Between economic hardship and opportunities. International Migration, 52(6), 48-61.

Al-Ali, N. (2018). Palestinian contributions to the NHS: Celebrating diversity in the workplace. Middle East Eye.

Al-Shafie, S. (2012). Palestinian Political Participation in Britain: From mobilization to normalization. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 38(10), 1657-1675.

Guessous, N. (2016). Palestinian activism in France: Between marginalisation and integration. British Journal of Middle Eastern Studies, 43(4), 601-616.

Issa, A. M. (2018). Palestinian diaspora in Latin America. Journal of Holy Land and Palestine Studies, 17(1), 37-49.

Koroma, A. (2020). Palestine: The UK’s forgotten cause? The New Arab.

Mady, S., & Kreutzmann, H. (2019). The Palestinian Diaspora in Germany: New Opportunities and Challenges. Middle East Policy, 26(1), 89-100.

Rauf, N., & Elass, N. (2019). Palestinian-Americans: A model of success. Arab News.

Rosenberg, D. (2019). Khaled Jarrar's work reflects the 'naked reality' of Palestine. The National.

Saadeh, K. (2013). Palestinians in Latin America: From the beginning to the present. Arab Studies Quarterly, 35(2), 121-135.

Sayigh, Y., & Farsakh, L. (2014). Palestinians in France: From resistance to integration? Forced Migration Review, (47), 24-26.

Yacobi, H. (2009). The Palestinian presence in England: Narratives of place and identity. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 35(6), 969-986.