ABSTRACT
The unique events leading to Palestinian dispersion affected the family, settling it in clusters from one end of the diaspora to the other. The ongoing struggle for survival as a family in the diaspora has been further complicated by the extended family having become a cross-national entity, dispersed throughout the Middle East and even, for many, throughout Africa, Asia, and the Western World. It is quite a challenge to maintain solidarity as a family when each subunit is separated geographically, and holds different national citizenship. The chapter presents the case studies which demonstrate the overall demographic pattern. The three case studies: the Qamar family, the Sammur household, and the Abuljubayn family. They show how the arrival of one individual to a country sets the stage for chain migration. They also show the extent of dispersion of each family and describe the citizenship and travel documents they carry.
