 A decision by Fatah to round up "unnecessary" weapons inside refugee camps was welcomed by both Lebanese officials and camp residents Monday, according to Fatah chief in Lebanon Sultan Abu al-Aynayn. Abu al-Aynayn had announced late Sunday night that his faction would start rounding up weapons inside the camps in accordance with a decision made at the national dialogue last week. Talking to The Daily Star, Abu al-Aynayn said his decision also was motivated by a desire to regulate the use of weapons inside camps, because it was "about time to do so." But he added that the step was going to need time. "It is not something we can do overnight," he said. "But it is completely our intention to end the presence of all unnecessary weapons," he said.
"How long do you think it'll take?"
"Prob'ly 60, 70 years." |
He refused to describe the step as "disarmament," however.
"We will leave weapons with factions authorized to maintain the security of the camps," he said. Lebanon's top leaders had agreed last week to disarm all Palestinian factions outside Lebanese camps within six month. They also agreed to start discussing ways to regulate the presence of arms inside camps. But Abou al-Aynayn said he was taking the step without any coordination with Lebanese authorities. |