Palestinian refugees issue in the Middle East peace process and the international law

Abstract

The Thesis addresses the Middle East Peace Process from Madrid Conference in 1991 to Taba Rounds in 2001. The focus of the analysis will be on the Palestinian Refugees question, by examining the underlying causes for their prolonged refugee status, in a significant violation of fundamental human rights, refugees law and international law conventions. This Thesis explores the factors contributing to the failure of the Middle East Peace process, it will examine the extent to which: the unbalanced power between Israel and the Palestinians; the lack of a binding force by the United Nations and the international community in applying a just solution to the plight of the Palestinian refugees , in which, it contravenes specific provisions of UN Resolution 194; the impact of the "Protection Gap" absence on Palestinian refugees; and finally, Israel's devolution and denial of refugees' right to return . The implications of these factors have been effecting the Palestinian refugees daily lives for 69 years today, both at the structural and personal levels - particularly, those the host countries -. The Thesis assess the effect possible scenarios vis-a-vis the international and humanitarian law that may have on the final outcome of the Peace Process, highlighting the importance of UN Resolution 194, in ameliorating the Palestinian refugees suffering and their extended period of uncertainty. Accordingly, it is argued that the improvement of the Palestinian Refugees living conditions should not be contingent upon a final peace agreement for the ongoing Palestine - Israeli conflict, the Palestinian people aspirations to self-determination, nor should it affect refugees aspirations to return in any future peace agreement.