Santiago is the capital of Chile, in the center of the country. The city has a sub-tropical climate.
Posted on YouTube: May 20, 2021
Chilestinians (Palestinian-Chileans) came out to protest the Israel-Gaza War of 2021.
Points to remember:
1) Most Chilestinians are Christian, descended from Arab Christians who fled the Muslim Turks.
2) The few Muslims among the Chilestinians are recent arrivals.
3) Chile is on the other side of the world, so it is late autumn there.
4) Chilestinians are very influential in Chile.
Palestinian Christians started arriving in Chile in the 19th Century. In 1938, they founded Club Palestino, with a charter from the British mandate. Today, Club Palestino is one of the more prestigious clubs in Chile.
They are called Chilestinos (almost all are Christian), and have risen to become elites in Chile. The equivalent term in English would be Chilestinians – which is a portmanteau of Chile and Palestine.
The Chilestinos take a pro-Palestinian, anti-Zionist view of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
This is a Chilestinian version of Palestinian history. Yes, it is in Spanish, but there is an option to auto-translate it to English.
Posted on YouTube: December 2, 2020.
The Palestinians in Chile are not a mere curiousity. Chile is a first world country, and the Palestinians are elites. They shape the foreign policy and course of Chile.
The version of history they present will not be agreeable to those who are friendly to Israel. Indeed, many pro-Israel and Jewish groups have expressed concern about the Palestinians in Chile.
Posted on YouTube: August 21, 2020
More on the Centennial of the Palestino Soccer Club in Chile.
Some Israelis try to deny the existence of a Palestinian identity/nationality.
How do they explain that this club was started in 1920 by immigrants and the sons of immigrants to Chile?
I am actually in favor of Israel, but to deny the existence of a Palestinian people is not helpful. The reason the conflict is so vicious is precisely because a Palestinian people do exist.
NOTICE: The video is from from ARABTV in Chile.
Source of image: CD Palestino – Facebook
August 20/21, 2020Ramallah 20 August, 2020
Mr. Jorge Uauy
President of Sports Club PalestinoDear Brother:
Felicitations to [Sports Club] Palestino upon 100 years from its foundation, the celebration of 100 years of historic sport, compromising an identity representing our people in the diaspora.
We are a singular people with teams that have the same name and flag.
My regards, though you, to all the family of Palestine, the Palestinian community of Chile, Latin America, and the rest of the world. We are very proud of your achievements at the national and international level. We hope that soon you will be able to play in Holy Jerusalem, the capital of the state of Palestine, and that you will continue to bring joy and pride to our people.
Mohammed Abbas
President of the State of Palestine
The opinions of the letter belong to President Abbas, and are not mine.
Whether or not you think that Palestinians are a real people or an “invented” one, they obviously consider themselves a nationality — and so do Palestinian-Chileans.
Mohammed Abbas, the dictator of the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah, sent a letter of congratulation to CD (Club Deportivo/Sports Club) Palestino on the occasion of their 100th anniversary.
CD Palestino has an international following, not only in Chile, but also in the Mideast. They are a phenomenom.
This is a big deal among Palestinians in Chile and Latin America, especially Chile.
PS: You can use the Settings (the gear) to get English translations.
Posted on YouTube: August 20, 2020
