Yesterday, Hezbollah presented its new platform. And interestingly enough, CNN’s coverage notes how badly Lebanon treats Palestinian refugees:
Nasrallah also called for Palestinians in Lebanon to "be given basic human rights which at the same time protect their identity and their cause."
Under Lebanese law, Palestinian refugees have no social and civil rights, limited access to public health or educational facilities, and no access to public social services, according to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency.
"The majority rely entirely on UNRWA as the sole provider of education, health and relief and social services," the agency says on its Web site. "Considered as foreigners, Palestine refugees are prohibited by law from working in more than 70 trades and professions. This has led to a very high rate of unemployment amongst the refugee population."
More than 422,000 Palestinian refugees are registered with the agency in Lebanon, the group says.
If only this issue were given significant attention by pro-Palestinian activists. The cruel irony is that Nasrallah’s full of hot air. It’s not in Hezbollah’s interests to see Palestinian refugees integrate into Lebanese society or return to the West Bank.
Unfortunately, the Arab regimes — and Hezbollah's part of "the system" too — have betrayed the refugees.
