Palestinian Chilean
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Among the Chileans of Arab origin (around 500,000), Palestinians make up the largest group. Most of them can trace their origins to four mainly Christian villages: Bethlehem, Beit Yala, 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 40s came the first political positions, and already in the 60s some families with Palestinian origins such as the Yarur and Sumar, came to be known as synonymous with wealth.
