(AP-Washington Post) Zeina Karam - The 400,000 Palestinian refugees in Lebanon, many of them born there, are barred by law from any but the most menial professions and are denied many basic rights. Now the Lebanese parliament is debating a new law that would allow Palestinians to work in any profession and own property, as well as give them social security benefits. But the proposal faces stiff resistance. Lebanon's population of 4 million is divided between 18 sects, including Sunni and Shiite Muslims, Christians and Druse, and every community is highly sensitive to anything that could tip the balance of power in the country. Christians and Shiites are particularly worried about any possible permanent settling of the refugees, who are overwhelmingly Sunni Muslim.
2010-08-12 08:38:32Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive