By Rima Fawaz
The brutal murder of Lebanese soldiers by Fateh el-Islam factions near the Nahr-el Bared camp three days ago is not only an attack on Lebanese sovereignty, it is an assault on the hopes and aspirations of a young Palestinian generation desperate to live in dignity and respect on Lebanese soil.
In any nation in the world, the army is a symbol for national unity, honor, and glory. If an American soldier is killed in Iraq, every newspaper will tell the tragic story. If two Israeli soldiers are captured across the Lebanese Israeli border, the international community will acquiesce to a war against a whole nation! And innocent Lebanese civilians will bear witness to the tragic story.
Now if 30 Lebanese soldiers are killed by terrorists in less than 72 hours, and two bombs are set off in the heart of Beirut killing innocent civilians, with terrorists publicly threatening to burn the country, who will live to tell the tragic story? The U.S., Israel, Syria or Iran? Fateh el-Islam, Al-Qaeda, or other extremist militants who bring disgrace to the religion of Islam?
Lebanon will pay the price again. Innocent civilians -- Palestinian and Lebanese alike -- will pay the price.
It is time for the Lebanese government to put an end to all armed militias outside the camps, and manage the use of arms inside the camps. The prevalence of Palestinian camps operating outside the rule of law has only served to isolate the Palestinian refugee community in Lebanon.
During the Lebanese-Israeli war last July, many Lebanese took refuge in Palestinian camps. For many Lebanese it was their first time entering the camps and experiencing firsthand the miserable living and humanitarian conditions endured by Palestinian refugees in Lebanon.
On Friday, May 19, the famous award-winning documentary on Palestinian refugees “Frontiers of Dreams and Fears” was played in a Beirut cinema. A discussion with TV producer May Masri and Lebanese youth followed. It became apparent that there is a need for open dialogue between Lebanese and Palestinian youth. The dreams and fears of Palestinian youth remain hidden from the local and international community.
The sounds of gunshots and shelling outside the camp of Nahr el-Bared and others across the region must not stifle the cries of a young Palestinian generation that is only heard in times of crisis. May Masri has exposed the ongoing hardships faced by Palestinian youth, without failing to radiate their innocence spirituality and culture.
“I don’t want to be a butterfly,” said a 14 year old adolescent living in a Palestinian camp in Lebanon. “I have seen people savor the beauty of a butterfly by squashing it inside a book. I want to be a bird so I can have the freedom to fly away…”
After 60 years, Palestinian refugees continue to live in harsh conditions in twelve camps across the country. Many of their children play in gloomy narrow alleys that rarely see daylight.
“What’s the difference between us and animals?” asks an angry adolescent youth. “We have no control of our destiny. Why should I study, if I can not find work? The camp is nothing more than a prison. We have little to no access to water and electricity.”
This is a cry that goes unheard in times of peace. Despite the efforts of the Lebanese government to collaborate with UNRWA to implement critical humanitarian projects, the agency remains in dire need of funds.
As the international community turns a blind eye to the dreams and fears of this resilient and courageous Palestinian youth, they respond by refusing to surrender their fundamental right of return.
Lebanese and Palestinian youth share a common dream. It begins with a national unity government that can bring democracy, peace, and prosperity to our homeland in Lebanon and Palestine, and put an end to corruption, violence and terrorism. Lebanese and Palestinian youth cannot surrender to a future devoid of justice, stability, freedom of expression and religion.
“We want to say to our Palestinian brothers that we have definitely turned the page of war that victimized us all. We want to say to them that only an independent sovereign Lebanon can help them obtain recognition of their national rights.We want to also tell them that the creation of an independent Palestinian state would be an essential factor for the stability of Lebanon. We reject the political exploitation made on account of Palestinian refugees, and demand the protection of their human rights.
But we also insist that the state should, in coordination with the Palestinian authority, exert its full sovereignty on the Palestinian camps in Lebanon.”
(Excerpt from the Beirut Declaration)
The blood of our martyrs of freedom must not be squandered at the hands of terrorists. The dream of a sovereign independent and democratic Lebanon can only become a reality when we acquire the wisdom to learn from the lessons of history.
Rima Fawaz is a human rights activist working with civil society organizations in Lebanon to improve the humanitarian situation of Palestinian refugees.
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Comments (9)
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December 15, 2007 2:59 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on December 15, 2007 14:59
Someday Palestinians will give up their culture of hate (destruction of Israel - death to Jews - nurturing of children to become killers) Only than will peace and a secure homeland in Gaza and the West Bank become possible. Until than they will suffer Allahs wrath for their leaders arrogance and corruption. It is very very sad : (
May 24, 2007 2:21 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on May 24, 2007 14:21
Yes,Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon, Syria, Jordan etc is nothing but a long standing proof of the crime that was committed against the Palestinan people in 1948.It was the crime of the 20th century when a new country with new people was created by military force on the ruins of another country,Palstine.Helpless Palestinans were made homeless and kicked out into these refugee camps outside their homeland to be replaced by migrating jews from all over the world.UN resolution 194 called for the return of all Palestinian refugees home,but Israel still arrogantly refuse all UN resolutions on this issue.
There will never be peace in the Middle East until all Palestinian refugees return home and be fully compensated for the 60 years of misery they had to spend in these refugee camps.
May 24, 2007 11:28 AM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on May 24, 2007 11:28
Hypberbole :"will acquiesce to a war against a whole nation!". Yes, it took place in a nation, against a rogue element - Hezbollah - which did not represent the whole nation, its aspirations ang glory and pride, but rather the single minded desire to destroy one - Israel.
In any event, autonomy should be granted to the palestinian's living outside of the territories.
The arabs actions, directly or indirectly, caused them to lose their original land, so the arab nations should give up some of their land to pay for that. Grant them autonomy, much like Indian reservations in the USA and Canada. Granted, the track record for reservations is not great, but it is a step up from refugee camps nevertheless.
May 23, 2007 10:20 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on May 23, 2007 22:20
I find it funny that some people argue that because the Palestinians have been away for 60 years, they no longer have a right to return to Palestine.
Israel justifies its existence and its massive immigration policies by claiming that these EUROPEAN JEWS are coming home after a THOUSAND YEARS.
Talk about hypocrisy.
May 23, 2007 9:23 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on May 23, 2007 21:23
I read all these articles and see all the news on TV and I say to myself: Whats the point of wasting our time with all this news and stories and heart breaking articles about massacres and riots and wars and unjust actions towards Lebanese people?
Ill tell you why...because we try to get people to feel for those people and to act together in unity and to speak out. Now why isn't that working out too well? Because the US and the rest of the world don't give a dam about that country. If the US wanted to help us or make peace, it would have, a long time ago but why bother since there is no advantage in doing so. They sell arms and weapons to the people that oppose the Lebanese people and they profit remarkably.
I am a born in Lebanon, residing in Canada. I saw first hand what the war has done. I was 5 years old when I saw our building collapse 5 minutes after we evacuated it. Lebanon will never feel peace or serenity. I wish it would but its bound to even fall deeper into crisis just like Iraq.
Even when its people stand up for that country, we still get slapped in the face and we are back to rebuilding the country.
You want to respond or talk about this, I am very willing to: bacvain@gmail.com
May 23, 2007 4:00 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on May 23, 2007 16:00
The beginning of the article was promising, but the idea that, 2 or 3 generations after the creation of Israel, that these 'refugees' (remember, born in Lebanon, whose parents were born there, and were refused citizenship) have a 'right of return' is ludicrous. In the context of the overall mess that is and has been Lebanese politics for at least 30 years, the Palestinians in the camps are marginal within an already fractious society, and thus are particularly vulnerable. However, they're not 'returning' (to places they don't even know about except through stories), as those lands are already spoken for. The best solution would be to integrate them into Lebanon and the other Arab nations of their residence. Maybe the Saudis, with their billions in oil assets, can help,instead of funding Hamas.
May 23, 2007 3:55 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on May 23, 2007 15:55
palestine will never come back
May 23, 2007 2:50 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on May 23, 2007 14:50
Is there some way we can retake the vote and put the republicans back in office since the spineless democrats cant do what we voted them in to do??? We need to get everyone on page one and get us out of Iraq NOW. Why dont the papers and news on tv keep up telling the washington folks of the lie used to put our boys in harms way when all the president had to do was send special forces to take out the one person and we would have never had to go to war. I believe that in Miami there is gang that for a few dollars will take out anyone you want. Why not send them in to do the job instead of leaving our country without a national guard to defend us here?? So many questions and so few answers. You people in the news have your own army of people to find this stuff out--why havent they?? who is stopping or buying them off?? my email is banchs@sbcglobal.net please feel free to contact me.. Many thanks for your time!
May 23, 2007 2:44 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on May 23, 2007 14:44