More on Lebanon Recognizing Palestinian State
As noted recently, the government of Lebanon has announced plans to officially recognize a “state of Palestine.” The move would establish full diplomatic relations and make the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) in Beirut an embassy. As of yet, however, the decision has not been approved by the cabinet, and no date has been set for its implementation. Lebanon is home to roughly 400,000 Palestinian refugees, who frequently complain of official discrimination by the Lebanese government, including stringent limitations on employment opportunities. Professor Hilal Khashan of the American University of Beirut echoed the sentiment, saying, “The Palestinians are treated as non entities in Lebanon and have no rights whatsoever. I believe there is a deliberate effort by the Lebanese government to keep their situation sub-human so they will never contemplate seeking permanent residency in the country.” This kind of dynamic has led to speculation that the move to recognize a Palestinian state is an attempt to placate and demonstrate support for the PLO authority under Mahmoud Abbas.
Stefanie Demetriades
