Lebanon likely to pass 'racist' decision on Palestinian refugee camps

(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - Lebanon is leaning towards passing new ''racist'' decisions affecting the Palestinian refugee camps in the country, Palestinian and Lebanese sources have revealed.

A proposal has been made for an item on the government's agenda to be held next Wednesday against the interests of the Palestinian refugees, Lebanese sources told the Palestinian refugees news network in Lebanon (Laji Net).

The sources added the Council of Ministers is leaning towards deciding on the following:

Prohibiting reconstruction inside the refugee camps without prior permission.

Requesting that the UN Palestinian refugees agency (UNRWA) does not bring in building materials without prior detailed permission.

Closing all of the camps' entrances that were once open to pedestrians, and restricting access to the camps' vehicular entrances. It is said that most of the camps have only one entrance.

Deeming the decision to be in the best interests of the Palestinians.

In statements to Laji Net, official Palestinian sources have condemned the decision and confirmed the information to be correct.

''Slaughter cannot be to the interest of the Palestinians,'' a source said, ridiculing the last item.

The officials said they had been weighing the issue with several ministers over the past three days in a bid to solve the problem. They suggested postponing bringing the topic up at the upcoming session to allow for opening political dialogue between the government under Prime Minister Najib Mikati and the refugees so that the pending issues can be discussed later on in one package.

''We reject opening Palestinian issues in segments,'' the officials declared.

The expected decision has been received with popular unrest inside the camps. There are fears that it could develop into major popular movements.

The sources added that it would be the worst decision to have been made by the new Lebanese government thus far and the worst in the country's history since the work and ownership ban.

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