The Lebanese newspaper, Daily Star reported this past week that the head of the Syrian Social Nationalist Party expressed worry over the possibility that Palestinians living in Lebanon might be allowed to become citizens of their host country. The party head, Gebran Araiji, met with the Maronite Christian leader Cardinal Nasrallah Butros Sfeir and had only ?one topic to discuss with the Maronite patriarch: the repatriation of Palestinians.? Araiji said, ?This is a legitimate right and the confrontation will continue until all the rights are restored to the Palestinians.?
The SSNP leadership also met with 11 Palestinian factions and refugee representatives from the Lebanese camps, reports the Star. According to the statement issued by the Syrian party and the Palestinian leaders, ?the Palestinians themselves were at the forefront of opposition to such schemes? to settle Palestinians in their host countries.
Similarly, reports the Lebanese newspaper, Lebanon?s National Coordination Committee said that ?the settlement of Palestinian refugees, who are largely Muslims, would tip the fragile demographic balance in the country and ?lead to a new strife, which Lebanon would not be able to withstand.?? The NCC is made up of ?supporters of former army commander, General Michel Aoun, the National Liberal Party and the banned Lebanese Forces,? according to the Daily Star. Furthermore, the NCC called on the Lebanese judiciary to examine a controversial 1994 naturalization decree, so as to make sure that Palestinians were explicitly excluded from it.
The Hizbullah leader Hassan Nasrallah is also reported as having urged Lebanon ?to pre-empt a looming scheme to settle Palestinians ?before it becomes a fait accompli.??
The SSNP leadership also met with 11 Palestinian factions and refugee representatives from the Lebanese camps, reports the Star. According to the statement issued by the Syrian party and the Palestinian leaders, ?the Palestinians themselves were at the forefront of opposition to such schemes? to settle Palestinians in their host countries.
Similarly, reports the Lebanese newspaper, Lebanon?s National Coordination Committee said that ?the settlement of Palestinian refugees, who are largely Muslims, would tip the fragile demographic balance in the country and ?lead to a new strife, which Lebanon would not be able to withstand.?? The NCC is made up of ?supporters of former army commander, General Michel Aoun, the National Liberal Party and the banned Lebanese Forces,? according to the Daily Star. Furthermore, the NCC called on the Lebanese judiciary to examine a controversial 1994 naturalization decree, so as to make sure that Palestinians were explicitly excluded from it.
The Hizbullah leader Hassan Nasrallah is also reported as having urged Lebanon ?to pre-empt a looming scheme to settle Palestinians ?before it becomes a fait accompli.??