Editing Palestinian refugees (section)

==The Oslo Accords==
Upon signing the [[Oslo Accords]] in 1993, Israel, the EU and the US recognized PLO as the legitimate representative of the Palestinian people. In return, [[Yasser Arafat]] recognized the State of Israel and renounced terrorism. At the time, the accords were celebrated as a historic breakthrough. In accordance with these agreements, the Palestinian refugees began to be governed by an autonomous [[Palestinian National Authority|Palestinian Authority]], and the parties agreed to negotiate the permanent status of the refugees, as early as 1996. However, events have halted the phasing process and made the likelihood of a future sovereign Palestinian state uncertain.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/middle_east/israel_and_the_palestinians/key_documents/1682727.stm|title=Text: 1993 Declaration of Principles|date=29 November 2001|website=news.bbc.co.uk}}</ref> In another development, a rift developed between Fatah in the West-Bank and Hamas in Gaza after [[Hamas]] won the [[2006 Palestinian legislative election|2006 elections]]. Among other differences, Fatah officially recognizes the Oslo Accords with Israel, whereas Hamas does not.

===United States===
As of May 2012, the [[United States Senate]] Appropriations Committee approved a definition of a Palestine refugee to include only those original Palestine refugees who were actually displaced between June 1946 and May 1948, resulting in an estimated number of 30,000.<ref name="unrwa30">"According to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency – the main body tasked with providing assistance to Palestinian refugees – there are more than 5 million refugees at present. However, the number of Palestinians alive who were personally displaced during the [[1948 Arab–Israeli War]]  is estimated to be around 30,000."[http://www.timesofisrael.com/us-senate-dramatically-redefines-definition-of-palestinian-refugees/ US Senate dramatically scales down definition of Palestinian 'refugees']</ref>