Hiwar 28th May 2007: Lebanese and Palestinians in the Search for Citizenship
Hiwar on Monday 29th May 2007 was held in a new location, at Restaurant Tonga, in Hamra. Even if the streets of Beirut have been empty since the latest wave of violence and threatening events followed by the clashes in Nahr El-Bared Palestinian camp near Tripoli, the cozy Tonga and Na-aM lil Hiwar found its audience.
The topic could not have matched better the current situation: Jimmy Mouawad, researcher from the Lebanese Center for Policy Studies (LCPS) presented his comparative case study on the Lebanese and Palestinian Youth as actors of political reform. The focus of his study is set on the obstacles and challenges that either prevent or permit youth participation.
Mr. Mouawad briefly introduced the concepts of citizenship in the course of centuries, starting from Aristotle and following the development of the citizenship until today. The original Aristotelian definition of citizenship is based on the idea of individuals forming a state (in which slaves and women did not have the equal rights as the so-called “free men”). Since the second part of the 20th century the citizenship has been understood in a larger scale as combining also human rights, democratic participation and social security benefits under its umbrella.
As to Lebanon, "all Lebanese are equal and they have both rights and duties" (Article 7 of the Lebanese Constitution). People considered as “Lebanese citizens” are but only those whose parents (or to be more accurate, father) are Lebanese. Consequently, this law excludes Palestinians resident in Lebanon, even if they were born in Lebanon and in other words, would be second or even third generation residents. The legal status of a Palestinian remains one of a foreigner or a refugee and this affects e.g. the work permit and social benefits, owning any property or rather the lack of all these rights.
Based on Mouawad’s research founding, Palestinian youth are actively trying to advocate and lobby their rights and enhance their situation. They strongly believe in what they are doing but do not find much support from e.g. the Lebanese constitution and the implication of the laws by the Lebanese Government.
According to UNRWA registry, there are around 400,000 Palestinians living in Lebanon, yet, in the reality there are about 280,000 Palestinian due to the issues of the difficulty of getting a work permit and unclarities regarding ownership issues. Running a basic life turns out to be difficult for Palestinians living in Lebanon.
Present in the Hiwar were both Palestinians and Lebanese, who discussed this sensitive issue by taking different perspectives on it. Nationalization, rights, and weapons – all linked to the current situation up north – were discussed and it was agreed among the Hiwar participants that the situation in the camps is already without the current conflict a violation of human rights. Given that Palestinians are not a coherent ethnic group but have both divisions among themselves and opinion differences, they all still do agree on the common goal of having equal human rights. The Palestinian camps, or ghettos, as one might call them, were a creation of the Lebanese Government in the aftermath of the establishment of Israel back in 1948. It was supported by the PLO.
Weapons inside the camps was seen as a huge threat for the both Lebanese and Palestinians and might lead into building the gap between these two nationalities even further. As a recommendation of the Hiwar participants, the integration of the Palestinians in the Lebanese society should be critically enforced by starting with the amendment of the legislation in order to secure Palestinians’ basic rights as citizens of Lebanon.
The topic could not have matched better the current situation: Jimmy Mouawad, researcher from the Lebanese Center for Policy Studies (LCPS) presented his comparative case study on the Lebanese and Palestinian Youth as actors of political reform. The focus of his study is set on the obstacles and challenges that either prevent or permit youth participation.
Mr. Mouawad briefly introduced the concepts of citizenship in the course of centuries, starting from Aristotle and following the development of the citizenship until today. The original Aristotelian definition of citizenship is based on the idea of individuals forming a state (in which slaves and women did not have the equal rights as the so-called “free men”). Since the second part of the 20th century the citizenship has been understood in a larger scale as combining also human rights, democratic participation and social security benefits under its umbrella.
As to Lebanon, "all Lebanese are equal and they have both rights and duties" (Article 7 of the Lebanese Constitution). People considered as “Lebanese citizens” are but only those whose parents (or to be more accurate, father) are Lebanese. Consequently, this law excludes Palestinians resident in Lebanon, even if they were born in Lebanon and in other words, would be second or even third generation residents. The legal status of a Palestinian remains one of a foreigner or a refugee and this affects e.g. the work permit and social benefits, owning any property or rather the lack of all these rights.
Based on Mouawad’s research founding, Palestinian youth are actively trying to advocate and lobby their rights and enhance their situation. They strongly believe in what they are doing but do not find much support from e.g. the Lebanese constitution and the implication of the laws by the Lebanese Government.
According to UNRWA registry, there are around 400,000 Palestinians living in Lebanon, yet, in the reality there are about 280,000 Palestinian due to the issues of the difficulty of getting a work permit and unclarities regarding ownership issues. Running a basic life turns out to be difficult for Palestinians living in Lebanon.
Present in the Hiwar were both Palestinians and Lebanese, who discussed this sensitive issue by taking different perspectives on it. Nationalization, rights, and weapons – all linked to the current situation up north – were discussed and it was agreed among the Hiwar participants that the situation in the camps is already without the current conflict a violation of human rights. Given that Palestinians are not a coherent ethnic group but have both divisions among themselves and opinion differences, they all still do agree on the common goal of having equal human rights. The Palestinian camps, or ghettos, as one might call them, were a creation of the Lebanese Government in the aftermath of the establishment of Israel back in 1948. It was supported by the PLO.
Weapons inside the camps was seen as a huge threat for the both Lebanese and Palestinians and might lead into building the gap between these two nationalities even further. As a recommendation of the Hiwar participants, the integration of the Palestinians in the Lebanese society should be critically enforced by starting with the amendment of the legislation in order to secure Palestinians’ basic rights as citizens of Lebanon.
posted by Nahwa al-Muwatiniya at
1:56 PM
3 Comments:
Is Na-am going to do a project promoting the rights of Palestinians?
Apologies for the delayed answer.. we are currently working on some new projects for 2007-2008. If you have any suggestions on how we could include Palestinians & their rights in the concept of citizenship and democracy, please let's discuss it!
Great Hiwar.
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