Palestinians Mulling to Implement Security Plan in Ain el-Hilweh

Palestinian officials in Lebanon agreed to set a security plan to maintain stability in the Palestinian refugee camp of Ain el-Hilweh in southern Lebanon similar to that implemented in the northern city of Tripoli and the Bekaa valley by the Lebanese security forces.

Sobhi Abou Arab, the head of the Palestinian National Security Forces in Lebanon will head on Tuesday a meeting to place a first vision of the security plan.

Hamas' political chief in Lebanon, Ali Baraka said in comments published in al-Akhbar newspaper on Tuesday that the first draft of the plan will be ready within a week.

Baraka said that the plan is expected to be handed over to Lebanese security and political officials before its implementation.

He noted that the matter was discussed recently with General Security chief Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim.

Al-Akhbar pointed out that Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq discussed the issue with high-ranking security officials during a meeting at the Serail of Sidon.

The daily said that Mashnouq inquired officials if the army could enter the refugee camp or security checkpoints could be established inside it.

Sources expressed concern in remarks to al-Akhbar over assassination bids, explosive-rigged vehicles and bomb attacks.

On Saturday, Abbas Ibrahim said that the Lebanese state is currently establishing a security plan to be implemented in the Palestinian refugee camps across Lebanon, similar to the plan enforced in the northern city of Tripoli and the Bekaa valley.

Palestinians living in Arab countries — including the 450,000 in Lebanon — are descendants of the hundreds of thousands who fled or were driven from their homes in the war that followed Israel's creation in 1948. They remain in Lebanon's 12 refugee camps because Israel and the Palestinians have never reached a deal that would enable them to return to their homes that are now in Israel.

H.K.

G.K.