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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Lebanon: PaleoLeaders seek end to standoff |
| 2007-05-29 |
| Palestinian leaders yesterday tried to end a bloody standoff between the Lebanese army and militants holed up in a refugee camp - the battleground for Lebanon's worst fighting since the civil war. Worried that violence could spill over to other Palestinian camps, the government is giving the Palestinian factions time to try to deal with the Fatah Al Islam group, which has been battling the army around the Nahr Al Bared camp since May 20. Sporadic gunfire continued into the early hours yesterday. The army said in a statement it had opened fire when fired upon and destroyed Fatah Al Islam fortifications, "causing definite casualties in the ranks of the militants". But the already stretched army has been unable to deal the militants a decisive blow from its positions around the camp, which it is banned from entering under a 1969 Arab agreement. The Lebanese government is concerned that more heavy army action could trigger violence at other Palestinian camps in Lebanon, which are autonomous enclaves and home to some 400,000. "What is slowing down the army is the realisation that we could have a nationwide problem," said Timur Goksel, an expert on security affairs in Leb-anon. "This would mainly be a reaction if the Palestinian civilian suffering was heavy." Abu Emad Al Refaie, the Lebanon representative of the Palestinian group Islamic Jihad, said: "The military solution is no longer an option." The Lebanese government has demanded the handing over of Fatah Al Islam militants, many of whom are not Palestinian. "We have not discussed the matter of handing them over," Refaie said. The factions had agreed other points including the formation of a Palestinian committee to shore up security in the camp, he said. Osama Hamdan, the Lebanon representative of Hamas, declined to comment on the progress of the talks. A Fatah Al Islam spokesman said the group would not hand over any of its fighters. "This is impossible," Abu Salim Taha said by telephone from inside the camp. |
| Posted by:Pappy |
| #6 ...which it is banned from entering under a 1969 Arab agreement. So, technically, if you fire a ton of artillery rounds in there I guess you wouldn't be violating this sacred agreement? |
| Posted by: tu3031 2007-05-29 12:05 |
| #5 Ooops. I confess to hitting the submit button twice but the first time I got this message that said the web site had too many connections. Blame it on the vermin. |
| Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305 2007-05-29 11:41 |
| #4 banned from entering under a 1969 Arab agreement Exactly who is going to enforce this agreement? Is Lebanon a soveriegn nation or not? If it is, it has the right to defend itself and if Baby Assad doesn't like it then maybe we could send him a candygram. Once a popular Mediterranean playground That's my point, Zenster. I envision resort hotels, wide sandy beaches, discoteques, surf shops, bikinis and jobs for the locals if they could only stop shooting at each other. What a bunch of morons. |
| Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305 2007-05-29 11:40 |
| #3 banned from entering under a 1969 Arab agreement Exactly who is going to enforce this agreement? Is Lebanon a soveriegn nation or not? If it is, it has the right to defend itself and if Baby Assad doesn't like it then maybe we could send him a candygram. Once a popular Mediterranean playground That's my point, Zenster. I envision resort hotels, wide sandy beaches, discoteques, surf shops, bikinis and jobs for the locals if they could only stop shooting at each other. What a bunch of morons. |
| Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305 2007-05-29 11:33 |
| #2 Carpet bomb ! |
| Posted by: wxjames 2007-05-29 11:13 |
| #1 The Lebanese government has demanded the handing over of Fatah Al Islam militants, many of whom are not Palestinian. A Fatah Al Islam spokesman said the group would not hand over any of its fighters. Looks like push is coming to shove. It's about time for the Palestinians to learn that you can't shit on everyone and everything in sight without people getting riled up. Lebanon really needs to reconsider if continuing autonomy for the camps is in their best interest. Others here have more background on just how far along Muslim displacement has progressed in Lebanon's pluralistic society. Does Lebanon's economy rely upon the huge amounts of UN aid flowing into the camps? Are there any actual economic benefits to perpetuating the camps' role in the "Right to Return" charade, or is it merely a matter of Arab solidarity? Once a popular Mediterranean playground, they need to examine closely just how impoverished their Islamically run neighbors are before letting the situation deteriorate any further. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2007-05-29 02:18 |