ChChapter 2: Origins and influences of nationality law
solutions pursued with regard to statelessness do not
seem viable to address their case. The concept of
Palestinian nationality is also inextricably linked to the
larger issue of Palestinian statehood. Furthermore,
the statelessness of the Palestinians has not only had
severe consequences for the lives and communities
affected, but the whole political discourse surrounding
nationality laws in the MENA region – including on the
introduction of norms that would prevent statelessness
more broadly, to the benefit of others individuals
and groups - is heavily dominated by the Palestinian
problem.
The rendering of millions of Palestinians stateless
came at a volatile and tumultuous time in the region.
At the establishment of Israel, two factors are of
critical importance to note: the emphasis that was
adopted by this new State on the Jewish nature of
their country and the large-scale displacement of
Arab populations from the state’s territory. Both of
these were to render millions stateless, both through
their displacement and their inability to obtain
the citizenship of the new State. Furthermore, the
majority of displaced Palestinians eventually found
themselves in the neighbouring countries. Although
many in the first wave of displacement were able to
obtain nationality, mostly as Jordanians, in 1965 the
Arab League attempted to address the stateless
Palestinian refugee issue through the Casablanca
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