Resistance Movements- Norman Finkelstein

Palestinians at a Refugee Camp- http://www.tadamon.ca/wp-content/uploads/tadamonwaterpalestinian.jpg

Although there are many talks of the UAE giving aid to Palestinian refugees, but there is still an issue of human rights being violated when dealing with immigration issues. A new partnership was created between UAE and Lebanon in March, 2009. The proposed plan is for improving living conditions for those Palestinians living in refugee Lebanese camps. The UAE Red Crescent (UAERC) plans to donate $6 million to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) under two new agreements. The money will be split with $5 million going to rehabilitate 343 structurally unsound, hazardous and unhygienic structures in Bourj El Shemali camp in South Lebanon. This money is part of the larger Camp Improvement Initiative which was launched by the Lebanese government and UNRWA, passed in 2006. 

Even though these plans sound wonderful, there are people who say the UAE government is shelling out money in order to keep immigrants out. There is opportunity offered in UAE but the government has been acting in a harsh manor toward immigration issues. An Arab Women shares her experiences with this issue through the use of a personal blog,
     "The second time round of trials for immigration I was called in during the holy month of Ramadan to go to Dubai. During the session I was told that if I wanted to stay in the country I would have to take off my veil and give in my Iranian citizenship (since I have both the Lebanese and the Iranian) …I refused of course then I was threatened that I would have to bear the consequence…By that time, I had decided to go back to my country but I was in conflict since I had to honor my contract with the University and my students…During that time, my younger brother’s residential visa was not renewed because he was told he was a Shia (so they came to that realization after being there since 1976)?.........My sister was also interrogated for 4 hrs for no apparent reason and was told that she had to be careful because she would called in at anytime. It was strange news since this took place 3 days after the Lebanese House Speaker visited the Emirates and had signed an agreement that the deportation of the Lebanese Shia would come to a halt! During this final interrogation, I was forced into having my eyes scanned and was asked to sign a paper that I have been deported for security and special reasons …I refused of course and then they became verbally abusive with me and one of the officers attempted to dump me in a cell full of Pilipino, Indian and other Asian convicts. I still refused … I think they gave up on me and ordered me to go to the airport immediately and take the 4 o’clock plane …of which I did!!! I was deported on the 21st of October, 2009.”

The security authorities in the United Arab Emirates, since less than a month have informed thousands of Palestinians holders of Palestinian or Jordanian passports (two-Strip) and Egyptian documents to leave the country.  and probably heard the words “guidance and orders from higher up” and taken the same footprint and pictures of all the criminals and displayed on the screen of black and white for all to see at the headquarters of the Ministry of Interior which in turn canceled his residence and demanded him to leave, and then deprived him also the six Gulf states, “even the Holy Land.”There is no country in the world that accepts the entry of the Palestinian passport or the Egyptian document for Palestinian refugees without a residency, even if they refused to leave the grounds there is no country that would accept …the alternative is a “prison” after he was expected to grant permanent residency or citizenship. This surprising deportation is a violation of all international norms and laws and even morality and humanity. These refugees remain silent as they are being deported after they had spent all their youth in the UAE!”

Norman Finkelstein is organizing a movement which promotes awareness of these atrocities. He has created a website and organizes marches and live broadcast stations to uncover these unjust allegations of threatening the security of the country especially toward people exposed to issues caused by the EAU. There was also an incident in June 09, which occurred where hundreds of Palestinian teachers were terminated from UAE schools and is now referred to as the “Gaza Massacre in the UAE”.