Haifa mayor: I agree to refugees' return

In interview to Israeli-Arab newspaper, town's Head Yahav says he does not object to Palestinians going back to Haifa in framework of peace deal between Israel and PA

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3250019,00.html

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"Haifa Mayor Yona Yahav said he does not object to the return of Palestinian refugees to the northern town in the framework of a peace settlement between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.

In an interview to Israeli-Arab newspaper Kul al-Arab, Yahav was asked whether he accepts, "theoretically and in principle," the return to the town of tens of thousands of Palestinians that emigrated from Haifa in 1948.

"Basically," Yahav replied, "I don't see any reason why some of the Palestinian residents should not go back to Haifa in the framework of deal that would be accepted and signed by the Israeli government, and that would put an end to the conflict with the Palestinian people."

Yahav added that he sympathized with the Palestinian exiles' pain. "I'll tell you frankly that I feel deeply for the refugees and their suffering and hope that their problem is solved, as my father has also tasted the bitter taste of loss and exile after he fled Germany," he explained."

I'm sure extremists will howl in protest that he dared sympathise with the pain of the Palestinian refugees, but what he said was very reasonable. Any peace deal that doesn't deal with the refugee issue isn't going to lead to peace or be fair, and the reality is that there will be some refugees allowed to return to Israel in any final agreement....

Violet...

to say no to the refugees right to return. It is a basic human right.
Most of the villages (over 500) that Palestinians fled in 1948 were abandon, and even now are empty (usually the homes were completely destroyed, in an attempt to erase the history of another people in the land).

jews right to return to the arab countries they were driven from since 1947.

think of all the jewish refugees that are currently living in israel that lost everthing when thrown out of their home countries.

Olmert is speaking about imposing a permanent "solution" that will be unjust, that will not only cause pain and suffering.