Rehabilitation costs of the refugees
The rehabilitation of refugees in host countries demands many resources. The creation of the rehabilitation process in host countries must include large scale, costly infrastructure projects in order to dramatically improve the refugees' lives, provide employment, education, and free hundreds of thousands from their dependence on UNRWA (this primarily relates to life in refugee camps).
In the case of emigration to other lands, there is no need for major infrastructure projects but there is a need to grant each family a substantial amount of money. This will enable them to make the transformation from refugees to immigrants and will help them to successfully integrate into society and contribute to that society.
It is complicated to determine the cost of rehabilitation. It is a process that demands careful and weighty analysis of many factors. A group of professionals must be specifically designated to carry out this task. Roughly speaking, we may be talking about $12 billion to rehabilitate all the refugees currently residing in refugee camps in the Gaza Strip, Lebanon, Jordan, Judea, Samaria and Syria. A similar amount might be needed for the other refugees, who do not reside in refugee camps. In total, $25 billion would have to be put aside on a one-time basis for this purpose.
This arrangement would encompass the monies granted to UNRWA and the Palestinian Authority. UNRWA's annual budget from contributing countries currently stands at $5 billion. The international community's assistance granted to the Palestinian Authority is currently estimated at $6 billion. Add to this the supplemental monies that were recently promised by the donor countries (December 2007) and the total amount comes to more than $7 billion spent on the Palestinian refugees per year.
Rehabilitation in a third country
Another form of rehabilitation is the absorption of refugees in another country (not one from which they fled and not one where they found temporary refuge) where they can become citizens. The success of this process is dependent on the willingness of the designated country, on the economic possibilities that exist for refugees in that country and on the country's cultural compatibility with the refugees.
Most refugees who are absorbed into new countries are lacking in everything and therefore become a strain on their host country. The few countries willing to absorb refugees are among the richer ones and have established an ethic to absorb a limited number of refugees each year. Naturally, those countries (Australia, New Zealand, Canada, USA, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Ireland, Denmark, Holland and Switzerland) are willing to participate in the absorption of Palestinian refugees. Similarly, we should include other countries that have exhibited a willingness to absorb refugees in specific circumstances (e.g. Germany, Greece, Slovakia and France have already absorbed the bulk of the Iraqi refugees who arrived in Europe during recent years.)
Since rehabilitation in a third country involves compensation for the refugees, every Palestinian refugee family that requests to be absorbed by a third country will do so, if there is an economic base that will enable them to begin a new life. As such, even developed countries that are not necessarily 'rich' can be involved in the absorption of refugees and serve as a viable option for their emigration and rehabilitation.
Palestinians are among the most educated and talented members of Arab society and Arab countries beyond Israel's borders could very well be encouraged to absorb these educated and talented refugees who could contribute economically and enjoy a reasonably facile integration into their Muslim-Arab societies.
The rehabilitation authority
The rehabilitation process will not take place on its own. Solving the Palestinian refugee problem demands an integrated and concentrated effort on the part of the international community. The resolution of this problem deserves a concerted effort considering its influence on the stability of the Middle East and the peace of the entire world. An international body comprising Israel, Jordan, the United States of America and other countries should be created to serve alongside representatives of the refugees. This will provide a way to resolve the cycle of refugee status, complete the rehabilitation process of all the refugees and find appropriate arrangements for the refugees over a period of ten years. This body cannot be established until UNRWA is dismantled and the issue of the refugees is properly lifted in importance before the international community.
To ensure that such a body will not work against Israel's interests, it is imperative that Israel be the primary force behind its establishment. This initiative is not a lost cause or a last chance, but rather a historical mission.
Creating the right conditions
For many years, the resolution of the refugee problem has been delayed simply for the sake of convenience. The Arab countries and the terrorist organizations have wanted to keep the refugee situation alive in order to undermine Israel. Successive Israeli governments have feared raising the issue and therefore have not questioned UNRWA’s status.
Today, there is a window of opportunity to stop this devastating cycle of refugees and terror. Arab countries are fearful of the Iranian-Hamas axis and prefer compromise with Israel over strengthening radical Muslims. Palestinians, Israelis and the world understand that a "Palestinian State" will not bring either peace or prosperity and it will most certainly not provide a solution to the refugee problem. Israel is strong enough to deal with the refugee question and to bear some of the cost.
Surveys conducted over the years indicate the willingness and desire of refugees to rehabilitate themselves, even if this means emigration. Many economic and political obstacles obstruct this path for the refugees. These barriers must be broken down within the framework of a rehabilitation process.