Lebanese government talks to Hamas over disarmament plan
Hamas’ representative in Lebanon Ahmed Abdel Hadi has met at the Grand Serail with the head of the Lebanese-Palestinian Dialogue Committee, Ramez Dimashqiyeh, to discuss the Palestinian situation in Lebanon, particularly the disarmament plan that has started to be implemented in the Beirut and Sour refugee camps.
Al-Akhbar newspaper reported Wednesday that Prime Minister Nawaf Salam had instructed Dimashqiyeh to open channels of communication with Hamas and other factions, with the aim of involving them in the disarmament process, which has so far been limited to the Fatah Movement.
Dimashqiyeh is expected to hold a broader meeting with various Palestinian factions to coordinate with them on the issue.
Hamas sources told the newspaper that during the meeting, the delegation presented its vision for addressing the disarmament issue, along with broader issues concerning Palestinian refugees.
“It conveyed Hamas' demand for a comprehensive meeting involving all relevant factions and forces, to reach a unified position, given that weapons symbolize the right of return and are linked to the continuation of armed struggle against the enemy until a just and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian issue is reached," the sources added, noting that “both sides agreed to continue the meetings in the coming period.”
Sources following up on the Palestinian disarmament plan meanwhile said that "the focus of pressure in the coming phase will be on persuading the various factions to participate in disarming, after Fatah took the initiative, in an attempt to corner Hamas, paving the way for dealing with it unilaterally and by force if it refuses to cooperate, both inside and outside the camps."
The sources added that Yasser Abbas, the son of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, conveyed a clear message from his father to Lebanese leaders during his recent visit to Beirut, stating that "the Palestinian Authority agrees to the Lebanese government using force against any side that refuses to comply with the decision to disarm Palestinian factions, including an army military intervention inside the camps if necessary."
| Copyright © 2012 Naharnet.com. All Rights Reserved. | https://prod.naharnet.com/stories/en/315180 |