Zakariyya - زكريا: Right Of Return: A Palestinian Man Returns to His Birthplace in Israeli Territory; ABCNEWS Rides Along to Tell One Side of the Story

By Gillian Findlay from ABC news Z A K A R I A, Israel, Jan. 27 Ibrahim Shaheen has not seen the place where he was born for more than half a century, but he still remembers every house and every tree. Shaheen, who now lives in a refugee camp in Palestinian territory, returned this week to the town of Zakaria for the first time in 52 years. ABCNEWS went along to tell one side of the story. "Zakaria was a paradise," said the Palestinian man through a translator. "If there was a paradise on earth it would be Zakaria." Shaheen lived in Zakaria until 1948 when Israel's war of independence forced thousands of Palestinians to flee their homes. "We left because they were killing people," he said. "You saw people being killed four from my family. We left but we thought we would be back in a week." Fifty-two years later, Shaheen, his two wives, 12 children and more than 50 grandchildren are still refugees and believe there can be no peace with Israel until the refugees are allowed to return to their homes. Shaheen said he is willing to share the land with Israelis. Part of the peace negotiations being worked out by Palestinian and Israeli leaders involve the possible return of refugees such as Shaheen and his family to what were once their homes. A Different City As he went back this week, with ABCNEWS guaranteeing his return, it all seemed familiar to him. "My house was over there," he said. "We'll go to the mosque first." But so much of what Shaheen remembered was gone. Zakaria is now an Israeli village, home to many children and grandchildren of Jewish refugees who left Europe after World War II to escape persecution, and were given homes here when the Palestinians fled. "Don't ask me why I'm crying," Shaheen said as he walked around his former town. "If you were in my position you would cry too. Everyone would." As Shaheen made his way through the town, some Israelis welcomed him. Others did not. Many Israelis argue that if Palestinians are allowed to return to their homes, Israel will no longer be a Jewish state and they will no longer be safe. "I want to ask him please, go home, leave us alone, we don't want a fight," said one local man. Shaheen's presence brought out Israeli police. After a scuffle, he and the ABCNEWS crew that accompanied him were detained for three hours. After being released, Shaheen said his experience shows him that there is little hope for living together with Israelis in peace. "I feel like my heart is being torn apart," he said as rode back to his home in the refugee camp. "They wouldn't even let me see my house. We can't have peace with these people, only war. Either we will get our land back, or we will die trying