No matter what, Palestinians are refugees who have a right to return

A number of dubious claims were made by Desmond Fitzgerald in an attempt to bypass international law (Letters, October 2).

He began by erroneously claiming that United Nations General Assembly Resolution 194 ‘provided for the creation of a Jewish and a Palestinian state’. It was General Assembly Resolution 181 which made this recommendation - and it was a recommendation only - on November 29 , 1947.

Mr. Fitzgerald went on to demonise all Palestinian men and to insinuate that support for international law automatically makes one a supporter of Hamas. He ignored the fact that while Sharia law applies in Gaza (where it is much more liberally interpreted than in Western ally Saudi Arabia), it plays no part in the West Bank or indeed inside Israel, where roughly 1.2 million Palestinians live among Jews.

I repeat my assertion that Israel and its supporters continually blame others for the protracted plight of Palestinian refugees. Mr. Fitzgerald asserts that ‘Palestinian people were told by their political and religious leaders from 1948 onwards that it is better to live your life in a squalid refugee camp’, a fanciful claim for which he provides not a shred of evidence.

Whether they are being supported by UNRWA or living in a mansion, these Palestinians are still refugees who have a right to return to their homeland under Resolution 194. Israel has denied them that right.

Jack O’Neill

Cul Ard

Carrigtwohill

Co. Cork