Palestinian Refugees in Lebanon Angered by Israeli ‘Massacres’

Published September 30th, 2000 - 02:00 GMT
Al Bawaba
Al Bawaba

Hundreds of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon demonstrated Saturday to voice their anger over Israeli "massacres" of Palestinians in renewed clashes. 

More than 2,500 protestors roamed the streets of Ain al-Hilweh, the largest of the 12 refugee camps in Lebanon, shouting: "With our soul, with our blood, we shall redeem you, Palestine." 

A group of young men torched an Israeli flag and an effigy of Israeli right wing Likud leader Ariel Sharon whose visit to the al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem on Thursday provoked the clashes. 

"Sharon the murderer of the (1982) Sabra and Shatila camps should be punished," read a banner. 

Sharon was defense minister in 1982 but was forced to resign after an Israeli commission found him partly responsible for the massacres at the two Palestinian refugee camps in Beirut. 

The demonstrators also shouted slogans urging the Arabs to rise up in defense of Islamic holy sites in Jerusalem. 

"O Arabs, Jerusalem is calling you. Jerusalem is the capital of our independent state," they said. 

The protestors carried Palestinian flags, portraits of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and pictures of the al-Aqsa mosque. 

About 367,000 Palestinians live in Lebanon, half of whom live in 12 refugee camps scattered across the country -- SIDON, Lebanon (AFP) 

 

 

 

© 2000 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)

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