Parliament postpones voting on Palestinian rights issue
16 July 2010
(Daily Star) BEIRUT: The Parliament postponed voting on a draft law to improve the civil rights of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon until August 17.
The issue was discussed between MPs from different parliamentary blocs during a session that was held on Thursday, before Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri postponed the voting until next month to help in securing a broad consensus over the issue.
The debate started in June when head of the Progressive Socialist Party (PSP) MP Walid Jumblatt proposed a law granting Palestinian refugees the right to property ownership, social-security benefits and employment in various professions.
Palestinian refugees in Lebanon are now barred from all but menial jobs.
Parliamentary blocs failed to reach a deal over the proposal, with the majority of Christian MPs opposing the amendment for fear it would constitute a prelude to naturalizing Palestinians in Lebanon, a step that would upset Lebanon's delicate sectarian balance.
On the other hand, the bulk of Muslim MPs endorsed passing the draft law.
Speaker Nabih Berri ended the debate of June's parliamentary session by referring the proposal to the Administration and Justice parliamentary committee for examination.
On Wednesday, the committee gave its final say, with its head West Bekaa MP Robert Ghanem urging the Parliament's General Assembly to grant his committee two more months for additional examination of the proposal.
Speaking to reporters following a meeting for the committee in the Parliament, Ghanem said the additional period was necessary for a comprehensive study of the Palestinian issue.
Ghanem said his committee had sent a letter to the UN urging it to cover UNRWA's budget deficit, along with a request that the budget be increased to prevent a deficit of this kind causing troubles in Lebanon.
During Thursday's session, Ghanem reiterated his request to Berri and Parliament for a two-month period.
He said that the matter should be dealt with comprehensively while raising concerns over UNRWA's deficit.
According to Ghanem, the budget of UNRWA in Lebanon was only $70 million.
MP Akram Shehayeb, a PSP official, called for setting up a final date for voting on the issue.
Meanwhile, Sidon MP Bahia Hariri underlined the "inhumane conditions" under which Palestinians in Lebanon were living, stressing that "decent living is important and red lines should not be crossed regarding this matter."
She criticized political bickering over the Palestinian issue, warning that the current situation in the Palestinian camps constituted the suitable circumstances for extremism to thrive.
Premier Saad Hariri called for postponing the voting on the matter for "two months or two months and a half," hoping that approving such a draft law would not constitute "a political gain for one party, it is a gain for all Lebanese and Palestinians."
Hariri urged for a calm discussion on what he called a sensitive matter.
Change and Reform parliamentary bloc MPs Ghassan Mkheiber and Ibrahim Kanaan called for urging the United Nations to assume its responsibilities regarding Palestinian refugees and work on covering UNRWA's budget deficit.
The discussion was ended when Parliament speaker Berri postponed voting on the matter till a parliamentary session that will be held on August 17.
"We will continue to follow up on the issue, and the law will not pass unless if it enjoys consensus among Lebanese parties," said Berri.
Apart from the Palestinian matter, the Parliament approved a law allowing the promotion of officers in the Customs Department.
Just near the Parliament that was witnessing hot debates over the Palestinian issue, a sit-in was held near the UN headquarters in Downtown Beirut to press for passing the proposed draft laws.
Envoys from several Lebanese parties and Palestinian factions, along with Lebanese and Palestinian civil society activists took part in the protest.
Hasbaya MP Qassem Hashem, also a Baath Party official, said the time had come for improving humanitarian rights of Palestinians in Lebanon.
"There is a need for distinguishing between the importance of passing a draft law to improve rights of Palestinians and between rejecting the naturalization [of Palestinians] which Palestinians and Lebanese reject unanimously," said Hashem.
Later on, the protestors headed to the Parliament where they handed out a letter to Berri in which they called for focusing on the humanitarian aspect of Palestinian rights away from sectarian and political polarization.
