The Palestinian Refugees
One of the consequences of the 1948 Arab-Israeli War was the displacement of the Palestinian Arab population, creating a huge refugee population that still exists. By United Nations estimates, over 700,000 Palestine Arabs fled their homes and were unable to return after the end of the war. Many of the refugees found shelter in camps in the Occupied Territories, or in neighbouring Arab countries. A special branch of the United Nations was established to provide assistance to the refugees.
Blame for the Palestinian refugee situation has been placed on both Arabs and Israelis. Arabs have claimed that the Palestinians were forced from their homes during the war by the Israeli military. Israel, on the other hand, has traditionally claimed that Arab leaders advised the Palestinian Arabs to leave to avoid the imminent fighting, thereby creating the refugee problem.
