Project on Middle East Democracy

Project on Middle East Democracy
The POMED Wire


Lebanon: Historic Moment for Palestinian Rights?

June 30th, 2010 by Jennifer

Prime Minister Saad Hariri called yesterday for national unity to afford greater rights to Palestinians in Lebanon, saying, “There are humanitarian, social and ethical duties, and the Lebanese state should assume the responsibility of providing them to the Palestinian brothers… Lebanon will not dodge these duties, which must be crystal-clear, and not be subject to any misinterpretation.” Hariri’s statements were echoed by exiled Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal, who advocated for expanded Palestinian rights and stated, “We will not choose Lebanon over Palestine but it is shameful to keep the Palestinians in Lebanon without rights under the pretext of fear of resettlement.”

Hariri’s comments came at a press conference on the release of a new report by the Palestinian Dialogue Committee (LPDC), an initiative begun by former Premier Fouad Siniora in 2005 that seeks to improve the living conditions of Palestinian refugees. Hariri indicated his commitment to seeking a political agreement on Palestinian rights in exchange for security cooperation from Palestinian factions in charge of Lebanon’s 12 refugee camps.

In a recent commentary in the Daily Star, Rami G. Khouri criticizes endemic racism and ill-treatment of Palestinians in Lebanon, and suggests that the recent breakthrough on the political front in addressing Palestinian refugee rights centers on four factors: new draft legislation in Parliament to give Palestinians full civil and human rights; heated public debate of the issue in the media; a growing peaceful protest movement orchestrated by both Palestinians and Lebanese; and Hariri’s remarks reaffirming the LPDC. Khouri suggests that Lebanon finds itself at a historical moment– similar to the 1960s civil rights movement in the U.S. and the campaign against Apartheid in South Africa –where it has the opportunity to root out discrimination and integrate a marginalized group for the betterment of the society as a whole. If Lebanon succeeds, he argues, “It can also be a shining example to other Arab countries to face their own shameful mistreatment of the foreigners amongst them.”


Posted in Human Rights, Lebanon |

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