Palestinian Chilean

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Among the Chileans of Arab origin (around 600,000), Palestinians make up the largest group. Most of them can trace their origins to four mainly Christian towns: Bethlehem, Beit Jala, Beit Sahour and Beit Safafa (the latter being within Jerusalem city limits since 1980). Chile has the largest Palestinian community outside of the Arab world, consisting of up to 5% of the population. Around 81% of Palestinian immigrants settled in Chile between 1900 and 1930.^{[citation needed]}

During their first years in America, the community opted for endogamous marriages, since there was a hostile environment towards them. However, after some years prosperity and social integration came. For instance, in 1970, 70% of the weddings were with people from outside of the community. During the 1940s came the first political positions, and already in the 1960s some families with Palestinian origins, came to be known as synonymous with wealth.

[edit] Notable Palestinian Chileans

• Carlos Abumohor businessman and investor
• José Said businessman
• Miguel Littin movie director and screenwriter
• Álvaro Saieh businessman
• Raúl Hasbún Roman Catholic priest
• Roberto Bishara soccer player

[edit] See also

• Palestinian diaspora
• Arab diaspora

v • d • e Palestinian people and diaspora Specific countries Australia · Brazil · Canada · Chile · Colombia · Egypt · El Salvador · Iraq · Israel · Jordan · Lebanon · Mexico · Nicaragua · Peru · Syria · United Kingdom · United States · Religious denominations Christians · Jews

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