Palestinians in Lebanon

Lebanese attacks on the Nahr al-Bared camp May 2007

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Attacks on the Palestinian Nahr al-Bared refugee camp

By Andre Oboler, Zionism On The Web special report, May 23rd 2007

With Rami Abdel Rahim, a Palestinain refugee from Lebanon

Background

Nahr al-Bared is a Palestinian refugee camp in the north of Lebanon. Unlike Israel and most western countries, Lebanon refused to grant citizenship to Palestinian refugees who have lived in the country for decades. Neither is citizenship given to their children born in the country - a policy at odds with international norms. The result is a growing refugee problem and over crowded camps where suffering is used for propoganda.

Usually the hate is directed against Israel, but recently a group called Fatah al-Islam has been establishing itself in the camps. Analysts are unclear whether the group is another attempt by Syria to manipulate both the Palestinians and Lebanese, or whether they are radical Islamists, like al-Qaeda, looking to set up a stronghold in the north of Lebanon, much like Hezbollah did in the south.

Current situation

Lebanon, still recovering from the war with Israel caused by Hezbollah last June, does not want yet more terrorists operating in their territory - regardless of who they answer to. On the 21st of May, 2007, the Lebanese cabinet authorised an increased military response to "end the terrorist phenomenon that is alien to the values and nature of the Palestinian people".

Rami Abdel Rahim who spoke with his family in another PAlestinian refugee camp in beirut, said "they know families who fled the Nahr al-Bared camp including the cousins family of my mother... and those families were telling us how the Lebanese army has been targeting civilian houses at random, dozens of civilans have been killed in their houses and in the streets."

Rami's family described appauling conditions, "there is no electricity and the drinking water is finished. Thousands are traped inside the camp and are not able to escape. Dozens of houses are completely destroyed and the children are frightened." The lebanese army has according to witnesses used "excessive force against the camp causing large scale destruction and death." The UN, who were forced out when trying to delive badly needed humanitarian suplies, have so far failed to condem either the Lebanese army for their targetting of civilians in violation of international law, or the terrorists who have been using civilians as human shield - much as Hizbollah did last June.

Future

While Palestinians in the camps have had their rights tampled on by Arab states like Lebanon for decades, in Gaza a renewed attack on Israel has been launched in an attempt to halt the internal factional fighting that again puts civil war just around the corner. For many Palestinian refugees, their dream is still of a Palestinian state, but also a life away from the Middle East and it's conflicts. Ordinary Palestinians have had enough, enough terrorism, enough war and enough bloodshed. In Lebanon, Gaza, and around the world, voices are starting to crying enough.

Articles of interest

The Nahr al-Bared camp massacre By Andre Oboler, with reporting by Rami AbdulRaheem, ZOTW Special, May 23rd, 2007

Palestinian Refugees in the Middle East By Rami AbdulRaheem, from the Palestinian Refugee Camp Borj Al Barajneh in Lebanon, April 13, 2007

Bashar al-Assad's Lebanon Gamble By Prof William Harris, Middle East Quarterly, Summer 2005

Don't Put the Impossible First By Prof Barry Rubin, Gloria Center, March 22, 2007

Copyright 2006 Zionism on the Web