BEIRUT: Lebanese and Palestinian authorities will coordinate to peacefully resolve the issue of fugitives hiding out in refugee camps, ranking Fatah member Azzam al-Ahmad said Friday during a visit to Lebanon.
“There exists a continuous, steady and solid coordination relationship between the Palestinian Liberation Organization, the Fatah Movement, the Future Movement and [sister] Bahia Hariri,” Ahmad said after meeting with the Sidon MP in Majdalyoun, according to remarks carried by the National News Agency.
The meeting was also attended by Palestinian Ambassador to Lebanon Ashraf Dabbour and the commander of the Palestinian National Security Brigade Maj. Gen. Sobhi Abu Arab.
There was consensus to resolve the issue of the wanted suspects inside the camps through a mutual understanding among the national Palestinian and Islamist factions.
Ahmad, who arrived to Lebanon earlier this week, said his prompt visit to Lebanon was decided based on the urgency of the issue of the wanted suspects in Ain al-Hilweh, which is the “talk of the hour” in Lebanon.
“We share a congruent analysis of the current situation in addition to our vision concerning how it is to be dealt with, away from triggering tensions,” Ahmad said, adding that this should be solved politically as opposed to militarily in order to spare the Lebanese people and the Palestinian refugees any more tragedies.
When asked about whether he has received a list of names of wanted suspects in the camp, Ahmad said: “It is not a list but a few names that we haven’t heard of from Lebanese officials until two days ago,” reiterating his commitment not to let the camps be turned into safe havens for militants.
Ahmad earlier this week held meetings with Prime Minister Tammam Salam, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, head of General Security Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim and others to discuss the issue of wanted suspects hiding out in Palestinian camps.
Ahmad’s visit comes at a delicate time when Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon are once again at the center of attention and under much political and media scrutiny.
The timing of the visit is believed to contribute to the strengthening of the position of Fatah and the Palestine Liberation Organization in Lebanon, and in particular in Ain al-Hilweh.
