Maqdah: Palestinian Force to be Boosted in Ain el-Hilweh, to Deploy at Beirut Camps

The head of the joint Palestinian force, Maj. Gen. Munir Maqdah, has revealed that the elite force's numbers at the southern refugee camp of Ain el-Hilweh would be bolstered.

Maqdah, a senior Fatah official, told pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat on Wednesday that the 150-member force, which deployed in Ain el-Hilweh last year, will increase in numbers in cooperation with the Lebanese army and security forces.

Maqdah said a similar force will deploy in the camps of Shatila and Bourj al-Barajneh in the capital Beirut.

On Tuesday, A 50-member Palestinian joint security force deployed at the camp of Miyeh Miyeh in the southern city of Sidon.

Maqdah told the newspaper that Fatah is covering 70 percent of the expenses of the force while Islamic Jihad Movement and Hamas are in charge of the remaining payments.

By long-standing convention the Lebanese army does not enter the camps, leaving security inside to the Palestinians themselves.

There have been several reports that the camps have become a safe haven for extremists.

Several wanted terrorists, including Shadi al-Mawlawi and Osama Mansour, are allegedly hiding in Ain el-Hilweh.

G.K.

H.K.