DEBKAfile - Palestinian Tribulations from Jerusalem’s al Aqsa to Baghdad: "The Palestinians, therefore, are confronted with Mubarak’s rancor, Assad’s willingness to ditch them (he recently told American visitors to Damascus that the Palestinians entered into peace talks in Oslo and launched two uprisings without consulting Syria) and uncertainties in Jerusalem. In post-Saddam Iraq, their situation is tricky.
Some 140,000 Palestinians live in Baghdad along the eastern bank of the Euphrates, most concentrated on Haifa Street. Times were good when Saddam Hussein was in charge, and Palestinians were among his biggest supporters. The former Iraqi leader used them as middlemen for overseas business deals and treated them as a loyal elite.
Now they are paying the price. More and more Iraqis want to deport them and seize their property. Jordan, according to our sources, has spurned approaches to take them in. They are regarded with suspicion by the US civil administration and military commanders.
And now, according to DEBKAfile’s military sources, a Palestinian is found to have taken part in a suicide bombing on December 11 in the city of Ramadi. The bombers gained entry to the headquarters of the US 82nd Airborne Division disguised as deliverymen bringing furniture to the base. A U.S. soldier was killed and 14 wounded in the explosion."
Some 140,000 Palestinians live in Baghdad along the eastern bank of the Euphrates, most concentrated on Haifa Street. Times were good when Saddam Hussein was in charge, and Palestinians were among his biggest supporters. The former Iraqi leader used them as middlemen for overseas business deals and treated them as a loyal elite.
Now they are paying the price. More and more Iraqis want to deport them and seize their property. Jordan, according to our sources, has spurned approaches to take them in. They are regarded with suspicion by the US civil administration and military commanders.
And now, according to DEBKAfile’s military sources, a Palestinian is found to have taken part in a suicide bombing on December 11 in the city of Ramadi. The bombers gained entry to the headquarters of the US 82nd Airborne Division disguised as deliverymen bringing furniture to the base. A U.S. soldier was killed and 14 wounded in the explosion."
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