Reply #58: admittedly this is my own anecdotal experience

[Douglas Carpenter]

And not a scientific study, by any means. However having spent a great deal of my life in the Middle East, I have talked to a lot of Palestinians. I cannot even begin to guess how many. I would say that almost all would agree in principle with a full right of return. However, there is always a difference between what most people believe as a matter of principle and what one believes is realistic and plausible.

For that matter all the world's leading human rights organizations support the right of return. And In spite of efforts to explain it away, UN General Assembly Resolution 194 of December 11, 1948 really is quite clear:

11. Resolves that the refugees wishing to return to their homes and live at peace with their neighbors should be permitted to do so at the earliest practicable date, and that compensation should be paid for the property of those choosing not to return and for loss of or damage to property which, under principles of international law or in equity, should be made good by the Governments or authorities responsible;

http://unispal.un.org/UNISPAL.NSF/0/C758572B78D1CD0085256BCF0077E51A

However Palestinian, at least the vast majority are realist. The ones I have talked to understand full well that a fully implemented full right of return is not plausible. They do understand that compensation, resettlement in third countries for those who need and want such assistance, a certain negotiated number resettled inside of Israel, resettlement of those who wish so inside a new Palestinian state and a public acknowledgment by the State of Israel of the injustice done to them - This is the realistic and pragmatic hope to which most aspire.

There is also an awareness that with international humanitarian law and U.N. General Assembly resolutions on the side of right of return, this is a huge bargaining chip which can be employed to address other issues.

Even the Arab Peace Plan which has been endorsed by all 22 members of the Arab League and 57 members of the Organization of Islamic conference states:

II- Achievement of a just solution to the Palestinian refugee problem to be agreed upon in accordance with U.N. General Assembly Resolution 194.

http://www.al-bab.com/Arab/docs/league/peace02.htm