Lebanon’s Ain Al-Hilweh: A microcosm of Arab conflicts

Lebanon’s Ain Al-Hilweh: A microcosm of Arab conflicts

Thick black smoke covered the sky of Ain Al-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp in Sidon, southern Lebanon, a few days ago.

As violent clashes broke out between members of the Fatah movement and Islamic militants, house, shops and cars were set alight.

Despite the smoke having dispersed after the cessation of clashes, it was a serious warning that something is in the air, and the effects of the recent round of fighting are not over yet.

Embers are still lurking under the ashes, despite the optimism of the leaders of the Palestinian factions that the truce will be different this time.

The Palestinian-Palestinian clashes were the most violent in years. The infighting was contained under a cease-fire agreement. However, the agreement remains fragile and is prone to be breached at any moment.

There is no doubt that Fatah is the strongest party militarily and is probably able to resolve the situation in its favor.

But the cost will entail so much blood. The enormous population density of the small area of the camp involved means that any shell or bullet could cause many casualties.

Some members of the Fatah movement did, however, acknowledge the possibility of a military option to resolve the security situation inside the camp.

There is an obsession in the Palestinian camp following the bitter experience sustained at Nahr Al-Bared refugee camp in northern Lebanon, in which the Lebanese Army fought a fierce battle to eliminate the hard-line Fatah Al-Islam group. This led to the deportation of the people of the camp and the destruction of their homes.

A 1 square kilometer area of the refugee camp is home to militias, parties and forces directly linked to wars of the wider region.

Diana Moukalled

The Lebanese Army directs a lot of harsh messages to the camp, under the pretext that it is home to people wanted by the Lebanese state. A number of the wanted people hide within radical Islamic factions inside the camp.

The army intelligence reportedly told the leaders of the Palestinian factions that the “people of the camp will not rest as long as there are wanted (people) inside (the camp) who plan to tamper with the security of Lebanon.”

The Ain Al-Hilweh camp marks the scene of an intensification of all Lebanese and Arab crises. In an area of no more than 1 square kilometer, militias, parties and forces live side-by-side and are directly linked to the conflicts and wars of the wider region.

It is true that the Fatah movement has the strongest presence, but there are groups loyal to the Syrian regime and there are militant groups with cross-border agendas.

In the north of the camp, the Palestinian presence is interlocked with the Lebanese and Syrian influence, in addition to other nationalities. All these contradictions are fenced in and surrounded by the Lebanese Army and its intelligence, with no clear approach on how to manage the situation.

The alarming thing is that Ain Al-Hilweh residents feel that the clashes that took place last week will probably not be the last. A later round is expected, where this place will remain a hostage to complex interactions of not only the camp, but the wider Arab world.

• Diana Moukalled is a veteran journalist with extensive experience in both traditional and new media. She is also a columnist and freelance documentary producer. She can be reached on Twitter @dianamoukalled.

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