Palestinian Presence in Lebanon

20120814

Almost all Palestinian groups and military formations are present in Lebanon and are based in a dozen refugee camps in the country. The main camps are in the regions of Beirut, Tripoli, Saida and Sour. The groups are broadly divided into two political camps:
Those who support the Oslo agreement and those who are opposed to it.
The opposing groups are gathered in Tahaluf al Quwa al Falastiniya or Alliance of Palestinian Forces (AFP). The AFP comprises ten Palestinian factions which include Hamas, Al Saiqah, The Popular front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command, Al Jihad al Islami and the Communist party. Most of these groups have strategic alliances with Syria’s Assad regime. The other camp comprises mainly Fatah Movement let by the Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas. The popular front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) and the Democratic front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) are major political groups but appear to operate independently of the above mentioned camps. In addition there are smaller Islamist groups, such as Usbat al ansar and Usbat al nour but they have no political role.
There are 12 refugee camps in Lebanon from north to south. There are also a few secret training camps, mainly in the Bekaa region on the border with Syria and in Nehme south of Beirut. The number of Palestinian refugees is about 390 000 people registered by the UN and administrated by the UNRWA in addition to some 40 000 unregistered Palestinians. More than 20 000 Palestinians are believed to have been naturalized as Lebanese. The Lebanese governments have always been supporting the right of return to a future Palestine or to Israel. Until that happens the state must be in control of these camps and this is what is not happening today. The Palestinian camps are acting like independent islands inside the Lebanese state and that must stop according to the UN resolution 1559 and the interest of the Lebanese people.