Palestinians in Central America: From Temporary Emigrants to a Permanent Diaspora

Abstract

This survey of the understudied topic of the Palestinian diaspora in Central America, based on existing documentation and interviews, focuses mainly on Honduras and El Salvador, the areas of greatest Palestinian concentration. Two waves of immigration are studied: the first and largest, in the early decades of the 20th century, was mainly Christian from the Bethlehem area in search of economic opportunities and intending to return; the second, especially after 1967, came as a permanent diaspora. The article describes the arrival from Palestine, the factors behind their considerable success, the backlash of discrimination, and finally assimilation. Palestinian involvement in Central American politics ( Right and the Left) is also addressed. The article ends with a discussion of identity issues and renewal of ties with Palestine.

La transnacionalización de los grupos empresariales diversificados y el rostro cambiante de las élites económicas centroamericanas

“…Inicialmente los árabes no compraron tierras, pues en aquellos momentos no consideraban que su residencia en la región sería permanente (Foroohar, 2011). A pesar de algunos matrimonios mixtos con familias élites, este grupo permaneció como una élite algo separada, como aparece particularmente bien documentado en el caso de Honduras (Euraque, 2009).…”

Assimilation or Cultural Difference? Palestinian Immigrants in Honduras

“…Family and kinship relations, endogamic marriages and initial seclusion and isolation from the host society all helped to consolidate Palestinian businesses, which focused on retail import and export throughout the North Coast, and to accumulate and concentrate economic capital within the community (González 1992; Euraque 1996 y 1998). The absence of a national oligarchy and a nascent merchant class in Honduras further helped to cement Palestinian merchants' and entrepreneurs' businesses (Foroohar 2011;Torres-Rivas 1993). By the 1920s, Palestinian merchants dominated the urban commercial infrastructure of the North Coast (Euraque 1996).…”

“…Nevertheless, various other studies disagree with this argument. Foroohar (2011) observes a double identity among Palestinian immigrants and their descendants -relating to both the host and the home society-while Pastor (2009) and Amaya (1997) point out that an "Arab" identity which emerged in the early 20th century is still present. Euraque (2006Euraque ( y 2009 argues that cultural difference keeps politicians and elite members of Palestin-ian descent in Central America from overcoming the racial-ethnic national political systems, which are strongly anchored in a mestizo heritage.…”

Crisis Eruptions: A Comparative Analysis of Right-wing Populism in El Salvador and Guatemala

“…to El Salvador's once numerous Chinese minority, operates as a middle strata between 'nativeborn' workers and oligarchs, working as contractors, street vendors, and small businessmen (DeLugan, 2016;Foroohar, 2011). Bukele is not the first Palestinian Salvadoran to run for office, but nonetheless has been able to mobilize an apparent 'outsider' status and association with Palestinian immigrants with entrepreneurialism to his benefit.…”