First time in 50 years, Palestinian delegation (1948) visits relatives in Syrian camps
Syria-Palestine, Politics, 9/29/2000

For the first time since half a century, a people's delegation of the Palestinians of 1948 arrived in Damascus to visit their relatives in al-Yarmouk and Palestine camps to the south of the capital, Damascus.

Former chairman of the " Palestinian salvation front" Khaled al-Fahoum said that the delegation includes 28 Palestinians of the Arabs of 1948 who stopped to see their families of the refugees in Damascus's camps since 1948. Al-Fahoum stressed the " humanitarian dimension which Syria was careful to highlight " in this visit and " the absence of the political dimension. A matter which is crystal clear in the composition of the delegation which does not include any " Arab member at the Israeli Knesset."

Well-informed sources in Damascus said that Arab member at the Israeli Knesset Azmi Beshara had asked the Syrian foreign minister Farouk al-Shara to permit people's delegations from the Arabs of 1948 to visit their relatives in Syria and that al-Shara responded later after the consent of President Bashar al-Assad on that.

Sources at the " democratic front for the liberation of Palestine " explained that the visit of the delegation marks the beginning of monthly visits carried out by similar delegations to the Syrian capital in order to " communicate with their relatives."

The delegation arrived in Damascus through Jordan, according to documents they received from the Syrian embassy in Amman due to the fact that Syria refuses to receive the delegation, according to Israeli passports, members of the delegation carry.

However, several delegations of Arabs from Israel had visited Damascus for commiseration or condolences, and included Arabs who are members at the Israeli Knesset. This is, however, the first time Damascus permits a people's delegation from the people of 1948.

Previous Stories:
  Palestinian delegation to visit Syria   (7/18/2000)
  Opposition Palestinian forces meet with the Israeli Arabs in Damascus   (6/15/2000)
  Palestinians Arabs of 1948 offer condolences on the death of President al-Assad   (6/15/2000)

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