Qassem: Don`t mix local, Palestinian issues

Source: Daily Star, 20-4-2007
BEIRUT: Hizbullah`s second in command, Sheikh Naim Qassem, said on Thursday that Lebanese and Palestinian domestic issues "should not to be mixed," as they "are two separate situations and have to be dealt with differently." Speaking during a meeting with a Palestinian delegation, Qassem said that "Hizbullah sees Lebanese and Palestinian concerns differently and [believes they] should be dealt with separately; Palestinian problems should not reflect on the Lebanese scene and vice versa."
The meeting was attended by Hamas representative in Lebanon Osama Hamdan, Hamas spokesperson in Lebanon Ali Barakeh, Abou Imad Barakeh of Islamic Jihad, Abou Imad Ramez of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command, Mohammad Yassine from the Palestinian Liberation Front and Abou Khaled Qaddoura from Fatah al-Intifada.
Qassem said any attempts to have Palestinians settled in their host countries "should be strictly opposed."
"We should all join forces to promote the Palestinians` right of return to their homeland while opposing any scenario for their settlement," he said.
He called on Palestinian factions to control the situation inside Palestinian refugee camps across Lebanon, "so as to prevent the burgeoning of any more crimes likely to harm both Lebanese and Palestinians."
Qassem also urged Palestinians to resolve their internal conflicts "in a peaceful and calm manner," so that the refugee camps do not turn into a "source of violence and riots," and "so that the situation inside the camps does not have negative repercussions on the situation in the host country."
Qassem stressed that the "dire humanitarian" situation inside refugee camps "should be examined carefully and taken care of immediately." He added that Palestinians living in Lebanon should be granted civil rights "because this is their natural right as human beings."
"We have to work together to break the tie between political pressure and strictly humanitarian needs," he added.
Hamdan said that his group was "ready" to support Lebanon in the event that "Israel" decides to launch new attacks against the country, adding that various Palestinian factions "have taken it upon themselves not to interfere in Lebanese domestic issues and to stand neutral regarding the political stalemate currently prevailing in Lebanon.