Palestinian immigrants to the West Bank and the Gaza Strip are both 1948 refugees and 1967 Displaced Persons. Only the latter thus realize “return” in the historical meaning of the term. For the first category, immigration to the PA administered areas simply represents taking another chance for starting a new life - this time in a Palestinian context. 
Only persons who still have a close relative (parent, spouse, child) in the 1967 occupied territories are able to obtain residency status via regular family reunification (2). Upon their arrival, they are usually supported by their families. Many are integrated into family enterprises (buisnesses, small farms, etc.), although unemployment - as for everybody else - is a major problem. This category includes un- and semiskilled workers, as well as professionals. The latter encounter major difficulties in finding a job in their profession. The situation is similar for returning deportees (5) and “illegal immigrants” (1), although the latter also have to face a permanent  threat of eviction hanging over their heads. Living in Palestine without valid documents makes it almost impossible to move and to find employment. 
Persons obtaining residency status in the areas via approval obtained from Israel by the PA (“national number”) are mainly PLO army personnel, political functionaries and professionals and their families (6,7). They are usually employed in PA institutions and suffer from the low level of PA salaries (US $ 200 - 1,500). They have serious difficulties in finding affordable housing for their families and in obtaining adequate medical services. Their problems are aggravated by the fact that many of them are persons without close family ties in the area; the weak social security and health system established by the PA is still unable to provide support. 
The educational system existing in the West Bank and Gaza Strip is becoming less and less capable of absorbing returnee/immigrant children. Moreover, the situation of overall economic crisis has given rise to social tensions based on the historical distinction between “those from inside” and “those arriving from outside”.