Palestinian Chilean
Encyclopedia
The Palestinian community in Chile is believed to be the largest Palestinian
community outside of the Arab world
. Estimates of the number of Palestinian descendants in Chile
range from 350,000 to 500,000. The effects of their migration are widely visible.
; they worked as businessmen and also in agriculture. The climate of Chile
closely resembled that of Palestine
, allowing them to prosper. Other migrants arrived during World War I and later the 1948 Palestine war
. By origin they primarily came from the cities of Beit Jala
, Bethlehem
, and Beit Sahour
. Most of these early migrants were Christians. They typically landed at Argentine ports, and crossed the Andes
by mule into Chile. Aside from these migrants of previous decades, Chile has also taken in some Palestinian refugees in later years, as in April 2008 when they received 117 from the Al-Waleed refugee camp
on the Syria
–Iraq
border near the Al-Tanf crossing. All of those refugees were Sunni Muslims
.
in the diaspora
in Chile alone exceeds the number of those who have remained in their homeland. One early Palestinian church in Santiago
, the Iglesia Ortodoxa San Jorge, was founded in 1917.
have played in the Palestine national football team
.
The situation in the Middle East has caused tensions even thousands of miles away between the Israel
i and Palestinian communities in Chile. For example, the president of the Cámara de Comercio (chamber of commerce) of the Barrio Patronato
, himself a Palestinian descendant, in 2006 organised a protest regarding the 2006 Lebanon War; Lebanese and Palestinian flag
s were widely seen in the neighbourhood's streets at that time. On another occasion, outside the Club Palestino and again in front of the Colegio Árabe, someone wrote on the sidewalk "Árabe=terrorismo" ("Arabs=terrorism") and "Palestina no existe" ("Palestine does not exist").
have featured Palestinian characters and discussed the experience of Palestinian immigrants in the country, such as El viajero de la alfombra mágica by Walter Garib, Los turcos by Roberto Sarah, and Peregrino de ojos brillantes, by Jaime Hales.
Palestinian people
The Palestinian people, also referred to as Palestinians or Palestinian Arabs , are an Arabic-speaking people with origins in Palestine. Despite various wars and exoduses, roughly one third of the world's Palestinian population continues to reside in the area encompassing the West Bank, the Gaza...
community outside of the Arab world
Arab world
The Arab world refers to Arabic-speaking states, territories and populations in North Africa, Western Asia and elsewhere.The standard definition of the Arab world comprises the 22 states and territories of the Arab League stretching from the Atlantic Ocean in the west to the Arabian Sea in the...
. Estimates of the number of Palestinian descendants in Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
range from 350,000 to 500,000. The effects of their migration are widely visible.
Migration history
The earliest Palestinian migrants came in the 1850s during the Crimean WarCrimean War
The Crimean War was a conflict fought between the Russian Empire and an alliance of the French Empire, the British Empire, the Ottoman Empire, and the Kingdom of Sardinia. The war was part of a long-running contest between the major European powers for influence over territories of the declining...
; they worked as businessmen and also in agriculture. The climate of Chile
Climate of Chile
The climate of Chile comprises a wide range of weather conditions across a large geographic scale, extending across 38 degrees in latitude, making generalisations difficult...
closely resembled that of Palestine
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
, allowing them to prosper. Other migrants arrived during World War I and later the 1948 Palestine war
1948 Palestine war
The 1948 Palestine war refers to the events in the British Mandate of Palestine between the United Nations vote on the partition plan on November 30, 1947, to the end of the first Arab-Israeli war on July 20, 1949.The war is divided into two phases:...
. By origin they primarily came from the cities of Beit Jala
Beit Jala
Beit Jala is an Arab Christian town in the Bethlehem Governorate of the West Bank. Beit Jala is located 10 km south of Jerusalem, on the western side of the Hebron road, opposite Bethlehem, at altitude...
, Bethlehem
Bethlehem
Bethlehem is a Palestinian city in the central West Bank of the Jordan River, near Israel and approximately south of Jerusalem, with a population of about 30,000 people. It is the capital of the Bethlehem Governorate of the Palestinian National Authority and a hub of Palestinian culture and tourism...
, and Beit Sahour
Beit Sahour
Beit Sahour is a Palestinian town east of Bethlehem under the administration of the Palestinian National Authority...
. Most of these early migrants were Christians. They typically landed at Argentine ports, and crossed the Andes
Andes
The Andes is the world's longest continental mountain range. It is a continual range of highlands along the western coast of South America. This range is about long, about to wide , and of an average height of about .Along its length, the Andes is split into several ranges, which are separated...
by mule into Chile. Aside from these migrants of previous decades, Chile has also taken in some Palestinian refugees in later years, as in April 2008 when they received 117 from the Al-Waleed refugee camp
Al-Waleed (camp)
Al-Waleed is a makeshift Palestinian refugee camp in Iraq, near the border with Syria and the al-Tanf Crossing. It was set up in 2006 by Palestinian refugees stranded at the Iraqi-Syrian border The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has two field staff stationed in the camp...
on the Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
–Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
border near the Al-Tanf crossing. All of those refugees were Sunni Muslims
Sunni Islam
Sunni Islam is the largest branch of Islam. Sunni Muslims are referred to in Arabic as ʾAhl ūs-Sunnah wa āl-Ǧamāʿah or ʾAhl ūs-Sunnah for short; in English, they are known as Sunni Muslims, Sunnis or Sunnites....
.
Religion
The vast majority of the Palestinian community in Chile follow the Christian religion, and in fact the number of Palestinian ChristiansPalestinian Christians
Palestinian Christians are Arabic-speaking Christians descended from the people of the geographical area of Palestine. Within Palestine, there are churches and believers from many Christian denominations, including Oriental Orthodoxy, Eastern Orthodoxy, Catholic , Protestant, and others...
in the diaspora
Palestinian diaspora
Palestinian diaspora is a term used to describe Palestinians living outside of historic Palestine - an area today known as Israel and the Palestinian territories or the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip...
in Chile alone exceeds the number of those who have remained in their homeland. One early Palestinian church in Santiago
Santiago, Chile
Santiago , also known as Santiago de Chile, is the capital and largest city of Chile, and the center of its largest conurbation . It is located in the country's central valley, at an elevation of above mean sea level...
, the Iglesia Ortodoxa San Jorge, was founded in 1917.
Community organisations
The Club Palestino is one of the most prestigious social clubs in Santiago; it offers swimming, tennis, and dining facilities to its members. There is also a soccer team, C.D. Palestino, whose uniform is in the traditional Palestinian colours red, green, and white. The team has been champion of the Chilean First Division twice. Also, some Chilean football players like Roberto BisharaRoberto Bishara
Roberto Bishara is a naturalized Palestinian football defender. He currently plays for Palestino in the Chilean First Division. In the national team, he usually plays left back although he can also play central back.Bishara is a Palestinian Christian .- External links :*...
have played in the Palestine national football team
Palestine national football team
The Palestine national football team is the national team of the Palestinian Football Association, representing the Palestinian National Authority.The Palestine Football Federation was founded in 1952...
.
The situation in the Middle East has caused tensions even thousands of miles away between the Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i and Palestinian communities in Chile. For example, the president of the Cámara de Comercio (chamber of commerce) of the Barrio Patronato
Barrio Patronato
Barrio Patronato is a traditional neighborhood in Santiago, Chile. It is bounded by Avenida Recoleta from the west, Bellavista Street from the south, Loreto Street from the eatst, and Dominica street from the north. Administratively, it corresponds to Junta de Vecinos no. 34 "Andrés Bello" of...
, himself a Palestinian descendant, in 2006 organised a protest regarding the 2006 Lebanon War; Lebanese and Palestinian flag
Palestinian flag
The Palestinian flag is based on the Flag of the Arab Revolt, and is used to represent the Palestinian people , and the Palestinian Authority.-Description:...
s were widely seen in the neighbourhood's streets at that time. On another occasion, outside the Club Palestino and again in front of the Colegio Árabe, someone wrote on the sidewalk "Árabe=terrorismo" ("Arabs=terrorism") and "Palestina no existe" ("Palestine does not exist").
In literature
A number of Chilean novelsChilean literature
The most famous Chilean literature has come from Nobel Prize poets Pablo Neruda and Gabriela Mistral, whose homes and birthplaces are now museums that attract literary pilgrims to Chile...
have featured Palestinian characters and discussed the experience of Palestinian immigrants in the country, such as El viajero de la alfombra mágica by Walter Garib, Los turcos by Roberto Sarah, and Peregrino de ojos brillantes, by Jaime Hales.
Notable people
- Nicolás MassúNicolás MassúNicolás Alejandro Massú Fried , nicknamed Vampiro , is a Chilean tennis player, a former world number nine in singles, and a two-time Olympic gold medalist...
, tennis player - Edgardo AbdalaEdgardo AbdalaEdgardo Abdala is a Chilean-born Palestinian football midfielder. He currently plays for Santiago Morning. So far, he has 19 caps for Palestinian national team and 1 goal.-External links:*...
, footballer - Carlos AbumohorCarlos AbumohorCarlos Abumohor Touma is a successful Chilean of Palestinian descent, businessman and investor who is involved in a number of financial activities in the development of the Chilean banking, media and real estate sectors....
, businessman and investor - Roberto Bishara AdawiRoberto BisharaRoberto Bishara is a naturalized Palestinian football defender. He currently plays for Palestino in the Chilean First Division. In the national team, he usually plays left back although he can also play central back.Bishara is a Palestinian Christian .- External links :*...
, footballer - Jordi Castell Abusleme, photographer, television presenter
- Fuad Chahin Valenzuela, politician (Representative for District 49)
- Francisco Chahuán, politician
- Luis Dimas, pop singer
- Miguelo Esbir, singer, businessman
- Daud GazaleDaud GazaleDaúd Jared Gazale Álvarez is a Chilean footballer of Palestinian descent, currently playing as a forward for the Chilean club Universidad Católica....
, footballer - Raúl Hasbún, Roman Catholic priest
- Annemarie JacirAnnemarie JacirAnnemarie Jacir was born on January 17, 1974, she is a Palestinian filmmaker and poet.She has been working in independent cinema since 1994 and has written, directed and produced a number of award-winning films including Until When, A Few Crumbs for the Birds, and a Post Oslo History. She was...
, movie director and photographer - Emily JacirEmily JacirEmily Jacir is a Palestinian artist. Born in Bethlehem, Jacir spent her childhood in Saudi Arabia, attending high school in Italy. She divides her time between New York and Ramallah....
artist - Gada Kanaan, dancer
- Roberto Kettlun BesheRoberto KettlunRoberto Karin Kettlun Beshe is a Palestinean international footballer who plays professionally for Italian club Virtus Casarano, as a midfielder.-Career:...
, footballer - Miguel LittinMiguel LittinMiguel Ernesto Littín Cucumides is a Chilean film director, screenwriter, film producer and novelist. He was born to a Palestinian father, Hernán Littin and a Greek mother, Cristina Cucumides....
, movie director and screenwriter - Nicolás MassúNicolás MassúNicolás Alejandro Massú Fried , nicknamed Vampiro , is a Chilean tennis player, a former world number nine in singles, and a two-time Olympic gold medalist...
, tennis player - Luis MusrriLuis MusrriLuis Eduardo Musrri Saravia is a retired Chilean football player.He played mostly for Universidad de Chile as well as one season with Yunnan Hongta ....
, footballer - Teresita Reyes Aleuanlli, actress
- Álvaro SaiehÁlvaro SaiehÁlvaro Saieh Bendeck is a wealthy Chilean businessman of Palestinian ancestry. Since June 18, 1996, he has been First Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors for one of Chile's largest private banking institutions, Corpbanca S.A. He is also the acting Chief Executive Officer for the media...
, businessman - Fernando Solabarrieta ChelechFernando SolabarrietaFernando Javier Solabarrieta Chelech is a Chilean television journalist, known for his participations in sports transmissions on TVN, like "Zoom Deportivo". He is of Basque descent. Is married to the journalist and television presenter Ivette Vergara and they have three children, Nicolás, Iñaki...
, journalist, TV presenter - José Zalaquett DaherJosé ZalaquettJosé "Pepe" Zalaquett Daher is a Chilean lawyer, renowned for his work in the defence of human rights during the de facto regime that governed Chile under General Augusto Pinochet from 1973 to 1990.-The coup d'état and the Pro Paz Committee:...
, lawyer - Pablo Zalaquett, politician
- Leonardo Harum AmaroLeonardo ZamoraLeonardo Harum Zamora Amaro is a Chilean-Palestinian football goalkeeper. He currently plays for Curicó Unido in the Chilean Primera Division B.-International career:...
, footballer - Marko ZarorMarko ZarorMarko Zaror Aguad is a Chilean martial artist, actor, and stuntman, currently living in Los Angeles, California. Zaror has appeared in several Spanish language action films, including Chinango and Kiltro, and acted as stuntman for The Rock in the 2003 film The Rundown...
, martial artist, actor
External links
- Escritores chilenos de origen arabe
- Fundación Palestina Belén 2000-Chile
- Federación Palestina de Chile
- Unión General de Estudiantes Palestinos de Chile
- Comerciante palestino en Patronato, an article from the Corporación del Patrimonio Cultural de Chile