Palestinian Christians in CHILE By Dr. May Kaileh Ambassador of Palestine in the Republic of Chile

Diaspora , Palestinian Christians

Arabic:

Palestinian Christians in CHILE
paper prepared

for the

9th internacional Conference of the
Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation
Washington DC, USA

26- 29 October 2007
Walking the Path of Peace

By

Dr . May Kaileh
Ambassador of Palestine in the Republic of Chile

A- Palestenían in Diáspora
Population and Demography ([1]revised - 2007)

B- Palestinians in Chile
Palestinians in Chile are one of the oldest Palestinian communities outside the Arab world . Being pushed to immigrate due to the hard living conditions under the Ottoman rule over Palestine, as well as the consequences of hardship life during the I World War.

There is no formal census about the numbers of Palestinians in Chile however it is estimated to be 350.000 Palestinians who are currently residing Chile this is based on a study that was done in 1940 for the Arabs in Chile and by then there was 140.000 of Arabs, as well what is indicated in the above mentioned table was from a study in 1997 by Boyle & Sheen and it is an estimation .Palestinians consists of up to 5% of the Chilean population.

The first Palestinian registered in the official registries of Chile was in 1840 at the fifth region i.e. en Vina del Mar, around 80% of Palestinian immigrants settled in Chile between 1900 and 1930.

The grand majority of the Palestinians in Chile are Christians ( 92-97% ) the rest are Muscleman’s and Druze’s ,and the grand Majority of Palestinian Christians are coming from Bethlehem region i.e. Bethlehem , Beit Jala and Beit Sahour , however there are from other towns and villages as from Rammallah, Birzeit , Taybeh and Jifna .

There is not a single answer for the question why Palestinians from the Bethlehem Area did choose Chile as the place to immigrate, however there are some theories that could help on finding an answer:

1) Chile (mainly its centre side such as Santiago and internal valleys) has the same weather as Palestine (Mediterranean).
2) In Palestine they did not know about Chile or the US, it was all “America”, the “Land of Opportunity”.
3) Chile as well as Argentina and Brazil were in need of immigrants to increase the labour force.
4) Some people say that going to Chile as “pioneers” was a challenge getting to know that this country is the most far away country in the world from Palestine.
5) Palestinians who left by that time they left Palestine using Jaffa , Haifa or Beirut harbours , and were paying for the ship ( called Baboor ) who could take them the earliest to any place outside of Palestine .

C- How First Palestinians reached Chile?

On the beginning of the last century, the trip from Palestine to Chile was only possible by ship: The ports of Jaffa, Haifa and Beirut were those from where young Palestinian Christian men began their journey to Chile and Latin America. On that time it was a three months trip, with stopping over in Europe and getting into the Atlantic South American coast.
After reaching Buenos Aires (Argentina), immigrants had to go across the high and cold Andes Mountains, some of them by train, some others by donkeys or horses: Many of them died in the middle of the mountains or even some were killed by Argentinean and Chilean indigenous.

D- Working Style of the First Palestinian immigrants

Most of the Palestinians that immigrated to Chile on that time were mainly farmers who did not have any idea about other kind of works. In Chile they used to sell manufactures as well as almost “everything people did not have”. That’s why some of the first immigrants got the nickname of “falte” or “what is not available” because the first immigrants used to sell “what you don’t have”.

E- Economic development.

By mid thirties, some Palestinians families in Chile were the first investors in the Textile Industry, giving fortunes to families coming mainly from Bethlehem such as Hanania,Safyeh , Hazboun, Yarur,Said, Kattan and Sumar , Hadweh , Pichara , Khamis , Chahwan from Beit Jala.
The ISI economic model gave the opportunity for those Palestinians families to increase their utilities since foreign textiles were not allowed to invest in Chile without paying huge taxes.
By 1941, just 108 among 2994 Palestinian families used to have professionals, being most of them involved in commerce and industry.

F- Waves of Immigrations :

1 - Today, almost 80% of the Palestinian community in Chile belongs to this first immigration wave ie around the first Wold War .

2- Second Immigration Wave

However, the Zionist immigration into Palestine and the dangerous political situation made some families (not single young men anymore) immigrate to join their earlier settled relatives in Chile.

The second immigration wave in 1948 made the community become stronger. It was also when the sons and daughters from the first wave were already studying in universities, something their parents in most cases were not able to.

By that time the Chilean government was going to support the 181 resolution.
However the first generation of Palestinian students in the prestigious University of Chile forced the government through the Chilean Students Federation and through by then Mr Alejandro Halaseh ( originally from Jordan ) who was a very powerful politician not to support the 181 Resolution as they believed that it would not be a viable state for Palestinians.

3- Third Wave of Immigration
After the six days war of 1967 the Palestinians have a very hardship situation , many of them left the country looking for Education for young people, or families looking for better socio-economical conditions , usually a Palestinian follow his family or relative and this was the case of coming more to Chile

4-Forth Wave of Immigration
Started after the aggressive incursions to the territories starting September 2000 where many families from Beit Jala have to leave for the harsh direct bombing of their houses from Gilo settlement which lies just in front of Beit Jala , and it is built on the territory of Beit Jala

iii- Cases of political forced immigration:

Fuad, a PLO employee who left Palestine with his family in 1965, after losing his house and the surrounding land on the road from Bethlehem to Jerusalem.

Till date , he doesn’t have a passport, other than his UNRWA ID. He doesn’t have a Chilean passport because of the lack of information about his origin, nor does he have a Palestinian passport, for being not considered a “resident of the territories” under the Oslo Agreements.

Fuad has worked for the Palestinian cause (dropping his work and studies aside) and is now recognized as one of the main Palestinian advocates in Chile. Nonetheless, he is still waiting for the opportunity to return to his homeland after more than 40 years of absence.

Another case is that of Nakhle, a former member of the Palestinian Communist Party, his alleged was for his involvement in activities against the occupation Israeli since 1951 , which cost him prison ,torture and exile. He has been unable to return to Beit Jala (from Chile) for more than 50 years.

G- Palestinian and Christian institutions

I – Palestinian Institutions :

1- Saint George Orthodox Church (1917)
The first Arab institution in Chile was the Saint George Orthodox Church (1917), located in the middle of the old “La Chimba” neighbourhood then called “Patronato”, who used to have the highest concentration of Palestinians in Chile.The Catdral was built by Palestinian money and its location was donated by Chahwan Family from Beit Jala . In this Cathedral they pray in both languages Arabic and Spanish.

2- El Club Palestino – Estadio Palestine
From the Orthodox Church ,with a social aim the Palestinian Club was created, A 15 hectares was bought , to establish what is known as one of the best clubs in the country , it has lots of activities social , cultural , educational etc…. .

3- Palestinian Federation:
It is an instititution to coordinate all the political activities of the palestenian community in Chile

4- Palestinian Sports Club El Palestino
The Palestinian Sports Club was also founded, which is now considered as one of the most traditional football teams in the Chilean league.

5- Corporacion De DAMAS Palestinas
Was founded in early 80s and their objective was social projects for Palestine

6- Fundacion Palestina Belen 2000 , founded in the year 2000 made up by successful Palestinian businessmen runs humanitarian aid programs to Palestine as well as their own monthly informative magazine (Al Damir).

II- Arabic / Palestenian Institutions

1- Arabic Club: almost in all big cities there is Arabic Club , but with a majority of Palestinian membership
2- Arab Colleges – 3 Colegio Arabe in Chile , however the Arabic Colege of Saintiago is an elementary y secondary school which was founded in late 1978 it has the Chilean curriculum in addition to a especial obligatory Arabic curriculum currently they have 250 students .
3- Casa de Benificiencia de Ancianos – Arabic Home Care for Elderly which take care of those who do not have family or is neglected by his family currently they have 35 elderly.
4- General Union of Arab Women
5- Arab Moseque Al Salam
6- Chi Mosque

H- Palestinian Christian Institutions Today:

According to the last Chilean census, most of the Palestinians in Chile become Roman Catholic despite the fact that most of them were Greek Orthodox (just about 8000 people considered theirselves as Orthodox).
Today there are :
- 6 Arab Orthodox Churches belonging to the Antioquian and Constantinople Patriarchates.
- In the Roman Catholic Church (where almost 70% of the Chilean population belongs ), there is an important palestinian-christian presence, including the recently appointed assistant archbishop of Santiago Monseñor Fernando Shomali.
- The president of Bethlehem 2000 Foundation in Chile, Mr.Jose Said, is one of the most distinguished members of the Roman Catholic Church in Chile, a key member of the Jesuits “Academia de Humanismo Cristiano” University board (linked with Georgetown University).

I- Inter-Marriage and Assimilation:
Palestinian Christians in Chile are well integrated into Chilean society, which make the community to get along both with their Palestenian and Chilean activities. That also affected marriage: “During their first years in America, the community opted for marrying people from the same origen or region ie Palestenian , Jordanian ,Syrian and Lebanase .
However, after some years some social integration came. For instance, in 1970, almost 30% of the weddings were with people from outside the community

J- Political Presence:

In the political arena, the main developments come during the late sixties with the PLO foundation .

Later on many organizations, social and political, were created such as
- The Palestinian Information Office
- The General Union of Palestinian Students.
- The Palestinian Democratic Committee
- Recently, a Palestinian Committee for the Right of Return was created with
members belonging to almost every Palestinian and Christian organizations.

Palestinian-Chileans are active on Chilean politics there are
- 5 Members of Palestinian origin in Chilean Parliament
- Chilean – Palestinian Parliament Group
- 16 Mayors of Palestinian Origin
- Prominent Political Figures a new generation of prominent figures on the Chilean political arena such as Mr. Gustavo Hazbun (president of Mayor’s Chilean Association), Member of Parlement Mr Eugenio Tuma (president of the Chilean-Palestinian Inter-parliamentarian Group) and MP Francisco Shahwan (known as the most efficient parliamentarian in the current legislative period).

K- Current Challenges:

1-Identity

Palestinian in Chile are very proud of their origin and they were from the first Palestinian communities to establish Palestinian institutions in the Diaspora ; they bear a great Nostalgia for their homeland , I saw a Palestinian who is from the 7th generation and he was the complete paradigm of a Palestinian youngster in Palestine , they maintained contact with their relatives in Palestine.
If you visit a Palestinian family in Chile you feel yourself in Palestine , they offer you the Palestinian food of Mahshi , Masareen , filled leave grape , tabula , falafel , Homos . Baklawah , Hareeseh etc….
The wedding and funeral customs are almost the same .

However there is confusion of defining their identity and this is coming from the Spanish legislature in which they cancel the Spanish identity after two generations of being outside Spain , this is applicable for America Latina where the Spanish were settled as conquistores .Unfortunately this legislature was generalized and all immigrants are taking it for granted .
The Embassy is running a campaign to re-identify this Identity and currently is inscribing Palestinians irregardless of the generational prospect.

2- Language

The newest generation lost the Arabic language. Despite the fact of having an Arab School since 1978, most of Palestinian children in Chile assist to Chilean private or catholic schools.
There are some efforts by the Palestinian Embassy and the Palestinian Instituicions to re gain the Arabic Language and the new generations are anxious to learn the Arabic language.
Including some of them they went by personal initiative to the Palestinian Universities/ mainly Birzeit University or to Damascus University to learn the Arabic language , They consider it as a proud one young Palestinian said to me “ it is a challenge and proud for me to regain the language of my grandfathers “ and he went last summer and studied in Birzeit University with the program of Arabic Language for Foreigners

Since almost 80% of Palestinians in Chile belong to the first immigration wave, they don’t have a fluent contact with the homeland as well with other Palestinian communities in the region: There is a need of building bridges between the Diaspora communities and the homeland as to keep alive culture and national identity.

L- Relation with the Patria Palestine

- Palestinians maintain very good relations with their families in Palestine regardless of their generation years
- Palestinians are very proud of being Palestinian and very well conscious about the political situation in Palestine and the impact of that on the socio-economical status
- Palestinians in Chile are very committed with the PLO leadership and they consider themselves part of the PLO network as well that the PLO is the legitimate and only representative of the Palestinians people
- Palestinians in Chile are very committed on individual level or through their institutions of having an economical support for Palestinians in Palestine , their support goes for educational , health and social well being programmes .

Bibliography

1- Palestinian Central Bureau of statistics PCBS , Projected Population (15/01/2007)
2- Drummond, Dorothy Weitz (2004). Holy Land, Whose Land?: Modern Dilemma, Ancient Roots. Fairhurst Press. ISBN 0974823325
3- a b c d e Drummond, Dorothy Weitz (2004). Holy Land, Whose Land?: Modern Dilemma, Ancient Roots. Fairhurst Press. ISBN 0974823325
4- ^ a b c Table 1.0: Total Registered Refugees per Country per Area. UNRWA
5- ^ Boyle & Sheen, 1997, p. 111.
6- Oral History of the people which was taken by me personally
7- My Owen observations