Summary
In recent years, official Lebanese policy towards Palestinian refugees in Lebanon has undergone major changes. Increasingly, Lebanese officials have voiced their support for improved social and economic conditions for the refugees, while at the same time maintaining staunch opposition to their permanent resettlement (tawteen) in the country.
These policy changes have been marked by the formation of the Lebanese-Palestinian Dialogue Committee (LPDC), by limited policy reforms in areas ranging from employment to the issuance of ID to unregistered refugees, as well as an unparalleled change in the tone of official pronouncements. The government has also been an essential partner with UNRWA in efforts to reconstruct Nahr al-Barid refugee camp (NBC), destroyed in fighting between the Lebanese Armed Forces and the radical Fateh al-Islam jihadist group in 2007. Just as important, LPDC has sought to change the narrative of Lebanese-Palestinian relations in a way that holds out greater promise to all communities.
These changes in policies have profound implications for the humanitarian circumstances of the refugees, as well as the economic and security interests of Lebanon. Improved Lebanese-Palestinian relations could also pay significant dividends for the region and international community too.
The continuation and deepening of the reform process is far from certain, however. It could be derailed by political changes following the recent June 2009 elections, local and regional developments, and limited Lebanese government policy capacity. A failure to deliver on promises of NBC reconstruction (due to insufficient donor support) could prove especially damaging.
The international community has an important role to play in supporting further policy reform by:
- encouraging both the Lebanese government and various Lebanese political groups to continue and deepen the reform process.
- supporting the reconstruction of NBC, as well as UNRWA's Camp Improvement Initiative, and encouraging others to do so.
- encouraging and supporting greater Lebanese policy capacity in this area.
- framing such encouragement in ways that do not raise the spectre of tawteen, or which suggest that changes in Palestinian-Lebanese relations are linked to such other issues as Hizbullah weapons, or relations with Syria or Iran.
- strengthening consultation and coordination within the donor community, and between donors and the Lebanese government.