Comments on: “Disposing of the Palestinian predicament in Lebanon” By Johnny Kairouz http://beirutspring.com/blog/2007/05/27/disposing-of-the-palestinian-predicament-in-lebanon-by-johnny-kairouz/ Blogging Lebanon since 2005 Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:47:35 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Concerned American http://beirutspring.com/blog/2007/05/27/disposing-of-the-palestinian-predicament-in-lebanon-by-johnny-kairouz/comment-page-1/#comment-8962 Concerned American Fri, 01 Jun 2007 19:25:57 +0000 http://beirutspring.com/blog/2007/05/27/disposing-of-the-palestinian-predicament-in-lebanon-by-johnny-kairouz/#comment-8962 I read that Kuwait only contributed $30,000 to the UNRWA fund in 2006. If Kuwait gives that little, it's difficult to believe that they are going to accept tens of thousands of super-fertile Palestinian people. Lebanon will have to come up with its own solution to the Palestinian problem. Informative article on UNRWA and the world's only permanent refugees: http://www.azure.org.il/magazine/magazine.asp?id=274 I read that Kuwait only contributed $30,000 to the UNRWA fund in 2006. If Kuwait gives that little, it’s difficult to believe that they are going to accept tens of thousands of super-fertile Palestinian people.

Lebanon will have to come up with its own solution to the Palestinian problem.

Informative article on UNRWA and the world’s only permanent refugees:

http://www.azure.org.il/magazine/magazine.asp?id=274

]]> By: Disposing of the Palestinian predicament in Lebanon at The Ouwet Front: A Lebanese Forces Blog http://beirutspring.com/blog/2007/05/27/disposing-of-the-palestinian-predicament-in-lebanon-by-johnny-kairouz/comment-page-1/#comment-8947 Disposing of the Palestinian predicament in Lebanon at The Ouwet Front: A Lebanese Forces Blog Thu, 31 May 2007 21:07:47 +0000 http://beirutspring.com/blog/2007/05/27/disposing-of-the-palestinian-predicament-in-lebanon-by-johnny-kairouz/#comment-8947 [...] Johnny Kairouz, a Lebanese living in Canada, has contributed this article to The Beirut Spring. [...] [...] Johnny Kairouz, a Lebanese living in Canada, has contributed this article to The Beirut Spring. [...]

]]> By: Shirin http://beirutspring.com/blog/2007/05/27/disposing-of-the-palestinian-predicament-in-lebanon-by-johnny-kairouz/comment-page-1/#comment-8943 Shirin Thu, 31 May 2007 13:28:32 +0000 http://beirutspring.com/blog/2007/05/27/disposing-of-the-palestinian-predicament-in-lebanon-by-johnny-kairouz/#comment-8943 The Palestinian refugee crisis is a problem we have to solve, but if people continue trying to deal with it with their guns and arms it will never come to a solution…. <a href="http://www.shirin-from-lebanon.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">shirin-from-lebanon.blogspot.com</a> The Palestinian refugee crisis is a problem we have to solve, but if people continue trying to deal with it with their guns and arms it will never come to a solution….
shirin-from-lebanon.blogspot.com

]]> By: P.A http://beirutspring.com/blog/2007/05/27/disposing-of-the-palestinian-predicament-in-lebanon-by-johnny-kairouz/comment-page-1/#comment-8934 P.A Wed, 30 May 2007 21:42:35 +0000 http://beirutspring.com/blog/2007/05/27/disposing-of-the-palestinian-predicament-in-lebanon-by-johnny-kairouz/#comment-8934 You are completely right, I think that the arab countries, that "supposedly" and constantly (since 1948) defended the palestinan cause and their right to return to their land, should start thinking of helping the palestinian refugees in Lebanon by hosting them in their countries instead of meddling in our internal affairs and spending their money on either cars, terrorism or irrelevant spending. You are completely right, I think that the arab countries, that “supposedly” and constantly (since 1948) defended the palestinan cause and their right to return to their land, should start thinking of helping the palestinian refugees in Lebanon by hosting them in their countries instead of meddling in our internal affairs and spending their money on either cars, terrorism or irrelevant spending.

]]> By: Patrick http://beirutspring.com/blog/2007/05/27/disposing-of-the-palestinian-predicament-in-lebanon-by-johnny-kairouz/comment-page-1/#comment-8933 Patrick Wed, 30 May 2007 21:40:03 +0000 http://beirutspring.com/blog/2007/05/27/disposing-of-the-palestinian-predicament-in-lebanon-by-johnny-kairouz/#comment-8933 You are completely right, I think that the arab countries, that "supposedly" and constantly (since 1948) defended the palestinan cause and their right to return to their land, should start thinking of helping the palestinian refugees in Lebanon by hosting them in their countries instead of meddling in our internal affairs and spending their money on either cars, terrorism or irrelevant spending. You are completely right, I think that the arab countries, that “supposedly” and constantly (since 1948) defended the palestinan cause and their right to return to their land, should start thinking of helping the palestinian refugees in Lebanon by hosting them in their countries instead of meddling in our internal affairs and spending their money on either cars, terrorism or irrelevant spending.

]]> By: Anonymous http://beirutspring.com/blog/2007/05/27/disposing-of-the-palestinian-predicament-in-lebanon-by-johnny-kairouz/comment-page-1/#comment-8930 Anonymous Wed, 30 May 2007 18:21:55 +0000 http://beirutspring.com/blog/2007/05/27/disposing-of-the-palestinian-predicament-in-lebanon-by-johnny-kairouz/#comment-8930 1)Lebanon should make peace w/Israel, and thus change the Syria paradigme. 2)The refugees should be given citizenship in Lebanon but not allowed to settle as a group in one place.3) The very oil rich Arab countries should be responsible for the bills and help the Palestinians integrate into civil society. The Palestinians have suffered enough and are being abused and constantly, mercilessly punished by their irresponsible leaders and the Arab countries who have used them as pawns........ 1)Lebanon should make peace w/Israel, and thus change the Syria paradigme. 2)The refugees should be given citizenship in Lebanon but not allowed to settle as a group in one place.3) The very oil rich Arab countries should be responsible for the bills and help the Palestinians integrate into civil society. The Palestinians have suffered enough and are being abused and constantly, mercilessly punished by their irresponsible leaders and the Arab countries who have used them as pawns……..

]]> By: The Zionist http://beirutspring.com/blog/2007/05/27/disposing-of-the-palestinian-predicament-in-lebanon-by-johnny-kairouz/comment-page-1/#comment-8928 The Zionist Wed, 30 May 2007 15:28:36 +0000 http://beirutspring.com/blog/2007/05/27/disposing-of-the-palestinian-predicament-in-lebanon-by-johnny-kairouz/#comment-8928 WHAT ALL THE ARABS SEEM NOT TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT ISRAEL IS HOME - THE LAND BELONGS TO THEM THE PHILLISTINES BELONG IN GAZA DOWN TO EGYPT - ALONG THE SEA WHEN THE OTHER ARABS BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND THAT ISRAEL IS HOME - AND WILL GO NUCLEAR BEFORE LEAVING (2000 YEARS IS A LONG TIME TO BE AWAY FROM HOME) AND WELCOME THEM HOME AS FAMILY...THEN WE MAY ACTUALLY HAVE PEACE WHAT ALL THE ARABS SEEM NOT TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT ISRAEL IS HOME – THE LAND BELONGS TO THEM

THE PHILLISTINES BELONG IN GAZA DOWN TO EGYPT – ALONG THE SEA

WHEN THE OTHER ARABS BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND THAT ISRAEL IS HOME – AND WILL GO NUCLEAR BEFORE LEAVING (2000 YEARS IS A LONG TIME TO BE AWAY FROM HOME)

AND WELCOME THEM HOME AS FAMILY…THEN WE MAY ACTUALLY HAVE PEACE

]]> By: The Zionist http://beirutspring.com/blog/2007/05/27/disposing-of-the-palestinian-predicament-in-lebanon-by-johnny-kairouz/comment-page-1/#comment-8927 The Zionist Wed, 30 May 2007 15:27:55 +0000 http://beirutspring.com/blog/2007/05/27/disposing-of-the-palestinian-predicament-in-lebanon-by-johnny-kairouz/#comment-8927 WHAT ALL THE ARABS SEEM NOT TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT ISRAEL IS HOME - THE LAND BELONGS TO THEM THE PHILLISTINES BELONG IN GAZA DOWN TO EGYPT - ALONG THE SEA WHEN THE OTHER ARABS BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND THAT ISRAEL IS HOME - AND WILL GO NUCLEAR BEFORE LEAVING (2000 YEARS IS A LONG TIME TO BE AWAY FROM HOME) AND WELCOME THEM HOME AS FAMILY WHAT ALL THE ARABS SEEM NOT TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT ISRAEL IS HOME – THE LAND BELONGS TO THEM

THE PHILLISTINES BELONG IN GAZA DOWN TO EGYPT – ALONG THE SEA

WHEN THE OTHER ARABS BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND THAT ISRAEL IS HOME – AND WILL GO NUCLEAR BEFORE LEAVING (2000 YEARS IS A LONG TIME TO BE AWAY FROM HOME)

AND WELCOME THEM HOME AS FAMILY

]]> By: Omar http://beirutspring.com/blog/2007/05/27/disposing-of-the-palestinian-predicament-in-lebanon-by-johnny-kairouz/comment-page-1/#comment-8922 Omar Wed, 30 May 2007 09:41:29 +0000 http://beirutspring.com/blog/2007/05/27/disposing-of-the-palestinian-predicament-in-lebanon-by-johnny-kairouz/#comment-8922 I beleive that we should draft a law especially executed to deal with the Palestians . Such Bill of Rights will allow them to live and work freely in Lebanon without the right to vote or to obtain a Lebanese citizenship and to own more than one house and NO Land ownership. And for them to pay taxes and social security just like the lebanese do so that will allow them to join our schools and unis without discrimination. SO a Lebanese Green Card. Shipping them anywhere else is simplistic and naive. If it was that easy they would have left the country ages ago. I beleive that we should draft a law especially executed to deal with the Palestians . Such Bill of Rights will allow them to live and work freely in Lebanon without the right to vote or to obtain a Lebanese citizenship and to own more than one house and NO Land ownership. And for them to pay taxes and social security just like the lebanese do so that will allow them to join our schools and unis without discrimination. SO a Lebanese Green Card. Shipping them anywhere else is simplistic and naive. If it was that easy they would have left the country ages ago.

]]> By: Louis-Noel Harfouch http://beirutspring.com/blog/2007/05/27/disposing-of-the-palestinian-predicament-in-lebanon-by-johnny-kairouz/comment-page-1/#comment-8920 Louis-Noel Harfouch Wed, 30 May 2007 03:54:15 +0000 http://beirutspring.com/blog/2007/05/27/disposing-of-the-palestinian-predicament-in-lebanon-by-johnny-kairouz/#comment-8920 We are not the ones who turned the Palestinians into the Arabs' political football, the Arabs themselves did that, thank you very much! So, why should we be made to bear the brunt of the Arabs' irresponsible and silly games and the Palestinians' demographic explosion (some 600,000 thousand souls already in Lebanon by some estimates.) My humane side would say "settle the poor buggers, naturalize them, and turn them into useful Lebanese citizens..." (afterall, Israel took in and rehabilitated over 1 million Jews who were dispossessed from their homes, businesses, lives, and livelyhoods in Arab lands...) But then again, this is an Arab, not a Lebanese issue; --it is the Arabs who played "population exchanges" with the Israelis, not us! --It was the Arabs who waged silly wars they couldn't win against the Israelis, not us! (In fact, the Arabs have always had the luxury of raining their righteous indignation on us for never having engaged in idiotic armed confrontations with Israel Arabistani-style --ya3né bil hawbara wel 3antariyyéé and empty rhetoric.) --and finally, this is LEBANON (4015 sq. mi) we're talking about folks, not Saudi's al-rub3 el-Khaaly (865,000 sq. mi), not Syria's throbbin' heart of Arabism and the Palestinians prime "champion"--yeah right--in the region (71,500 sq. mi.), not Iraq (169,000 sq. mi.), and not Jordan (aka Palestine, 35,000 sq. mi.) Bottom line, this is not an issue of demography and sectarian equilibriums! This is purely a "space," "overpopulation", "logistics" and "housekeeping" issue. Let those who have been flexing their limp muscles on behalf of the Palestinians, and making empty threats (about razing Israel from the map of the Middle East and other such silly bluster) on behalf of the Palestinians, and screaming until they're blue in the face about the sacredness of their Palestinians etc..., let THOSE fair-weather friends and cowardly "brotherly Arabs" give shelter to, and naturalize, their Palestinians. It's easy for Saudis, Syrians, Iraqis, and others to pontificate about what Lebanon should and should not do for the Palestinians. I say let them direct their indignation at themselves. Lebanon has done more than its share when you factor in its size, demographics, resources, committment (or lack thereof), and time and energy (or lack thereof) for Arab causes. Folks!, YOU take the Palestinians if you don't like the way Lebanon has been treating them! ma bi7ikk jildak illa Difrak, so take them home into YOUR home, and show them some genuine Arabian hospitality in YOUR home, not mine. yalla ciao yamo! We are not the ones who turned the Palestinians into the Arabs’ political football, the Arabs themselves did that, thank you very much! So, why should we be made to bear the brunt of the Arabs’ irresponsible and silly games and the Palestinians’ demographic explosion (some 600,000 thousand souls already in Lebanon by some estimates.)

My humane side would say “settle the poor buggers, naturalize them, and turn them into useful Lebanese citizens…” (afterall, Israel took in and rehabilitated over 1 million Jews who were dispossessed from their homes, businesses, lives, and livelyhoods in Arab lands…) But then again, this is an Arab, not a Lebanese issue;
–it is the Arabs who played “population exchanges” with the Israelis, not us!
–It was the Arabs who waged silly wars they couldn’t win against the Israelis, not us! (In fact, the Arabs have always had the luxury of raining their righteous indignation on us for never having engaged in idiotic armed confrontations with Israel Arabistani-style –ya3né bil hawbara wel 3antariyyéé and empty rhetoric.)
–and finally, this is LEBANON (4015 sq. mi) we’re talking about folks, not Saudi’s al-rub3 el-Khaaly (865,000 sq. mi), not Syria’s throbbin’ heart of Arabism and the Palestinians prime “champion”–yeah right–in the region (71,500 sq. mi.), not Iraq (169,000 sq. mi.), and not Jordan (aka Palestine, 35,000 sq. mi.)

Bottom line, this is not an issue of demography and sectarian equilibriums! This is purely a “space,” “overpopulation”, “logistics” and “housekeeping” issue. Let those who have been flexing their limp muscles on behalf of the Palestinians, and making empty threats (about razing Israel from the map of the Middle East and other such silly bluster) on behalf of the Palestinians, and screaming until they’re blue in the face about the sacredness of their Palestinians etc…, let THOSE fair-weather friends and cowardly “brotherly Arabs” give shelter to, and naturalize, their Palestinians.

It’s easy for Saudis, Syrians, Iraqis, and others to pontificate about what Lebanon should and should not do for the Palestinians. I say let them direct their indignation at themselves. Lebanon has done more than its share when you factor in its size, demographics, resources, committment (or lack thereof), and time and energy (or lack thereof) for Arab causes.

Folks!, YOU take the Palestinians if you don’t like the way Lebanon has been treating them!

ma bi7ikk jildak illa Difrak, so take them home into YOUR home, and show them some genuine Arabian hospitality in YOUR home, not mine.
yalla ciao yamo!

]]> By: Concerned American http://beirutspring.com/blog/2007/05/27/disposing-of-the-palestinian-predicament-in-lebanon-by-johnny-kairouz/comment-page-1/#comment-8917 Concerned American Tue, 29 May 2007 17:03:42 +0000 http://beirutspring.com/blog/2007/05/27/disposing-of-the-palestinian-predicament-in-lebanon-by-johnny-kairouz/#comment-8917 Syria has 1.5 to 2 million Iraqi refugees. Jordan has hundreds of thousands. I don't see either country agreeing to accept any more Palestinians than it already has. The solution has to be multi-faceted. The Gulf States can and should accept more Palis, but Lebanon should let the Palis economically integrate. To not let the Palis economically integrate is self-defeating. Israel is a fait accompli. Sorry. Syria has 1.5 to 2 million Iraqi refugees. Jordan has hundreds of thousands. I don’t see either country agreeing to accept any more Palestinians than it already has.

The solution has to be multi-faceted. The Gulf States can and should accept more Palis, but Lebanon should let the Palis economically integrate. To not let the Palis economically integrate is self-defeating. Israel is a fait accompli. Sorry.

]]> By: JJ http://beirutspring.com/blog/2007/05/27/disposing-of-the-palestinian-predicament-in-lebanon-by-johnny-kairouz/comment-page-1/#comment-8910 JJ Tue, 29 May 2007 01:54:12 +0000 http://beirutspring.com/blog/2007/05/27/disposing-of-the-palestinian-predicament-in-lebanon-by-johnny-kairouz/#comment-8910 Ali, think before you speak and do your homework before you argue. Current Palestinian refugees officially registered with UNRWA: Jordan 1,827,877 refugees Gaza 986,034 refugees West Bank 699,817 refugees Syria 432,048 refugees Lebanon 404,170 refugees Saudi Arabia 240,000 refugees Egypt 70,245 refugees On top of these numbers many Palestinians were granted either citizenship or permanent residency status in countries like Jordan & Syria and are allowed to live and work like humans. What has Lebanon done to those refugees except make their lives more miserable? and now you want to ship them out again? Frankly I think they'd be better off under Israeli occupation. But then again, they are not going anywhere anytime soon, so either learn to live with it, or just exterminate them. Ali, think before you speak and do your homework before you argue.

Current Palestinian refugees officially registered with UNRWA:

Jordan 1,827,877 refugees
Gaza 986,034 refugees
West Bank 699,817 refugees
Syria 432,048 refugees
Lebanon 404,170 refugees
Saudi Arabia 240,000 refugees
Egypt 70,245 refugees

On top of these numbers many Palestinians were granted either citizenship or permanent residency status in countries like Jordan & Syria and are allowed to live and work like humans. What has Lebanon done to those refugees except make their lives more miserable? and now you want to ship them out again? Frankly I think they’d be better off under Israeli occupation. But then again, they are not going anywhere anytime soon, so either learn to live with it, or just exterminate them.

]]> By: ali http://beirutspring.com/blog/2007/05/27/disposing-of-the-palestinian-predicament-in-lebanon-by-johnny-kairouz/comment-page-1/#comment-8909 ali Tue, 29 May 2007 00:07:54 +0000 http://beirutspring.com/blog/2007/05/27/disposing-of-the-palestinian-predicament-in-lebanon-by-johnny-kairouz/#comment-8909 Why should lebanon have to absorb such a number of refugees? This is an arab issue, not just a Lebanese issue. Lebanon took the Palestinians in as good will during the many wars the Arabs and the Isrealis fought. It's time for the other Arab countries to do their part. Absolutely no other option. PERIOD. Why should lebanon have to absorb such a number of refugees? This is an arab issue, not just a Lebanese issue. Lebanon took the Palestinians in as good will during the many wars the Arabs and the Isrealis fought. It’s time for the other Arab countries to do their part. Absolutely no other option. PERIOD.

]]> By: JJ http://beirutspring.com/blog/2007/05/27/disposing-of-the-palestinian-predicament-in-lebanon-by-johnny-kairouz/comment-page-1/#comment-8903 JJ Mon, 28 May 2007 18:34:48 +0000 http://beirutspring.com/blog/2007/05/27/disposing-of-the-palestinian-predicament-in-lebanon-by-johnny-kairouz/#comment-8903 The sooner Lebanon starts treating the Palestinian refugees as human beings and not as trash tucked away in "security isles" and the sooner those refugees are given basic human rights, the closer Lebanon will come to realizing its own humanity (or the lack thereof). Until then, any discussion of exporting the Palestinians to other countries is just a futile attempt to mask the simple fact that those refugees are not going anywhere, not now, not never. Perhaps Lebanon needs to learn to live with this fact. The sooner Lebanon starts treating the Palestinian refugees as human beings and not as trash tucked away in “security isles” and the sooner those refugees are given basic human rights, the closer Lebanon will come to realizing its own humanity (or the lack thereof). Until then, any discussion of exporting the Palestinians to other countries is just a futile attempt to mask the simple fact that those refugees are not going anywhere, not now, not never. Perhaps Lebanon needs to learn to live with this fact.

]]> By: Guy http://beirutspring.com/blog/2007/05/27/disposing-of-the-palestinian-predicament-in-lebanon-by-johnny-kairouz/comment-page-1/#comment-8897 Guy Mon, 28 May 2007 17:07:25 +0000 http://beirutspring.com/blog/2007/05/27/disposing-of-the-palestinian-predicament-in-lebanon-by-johnny-kairouz/#comment-8897 It's ironic when the Lebanese say the Palestinian refugees should not be awarded full rights, lest it disturbs the ethnic/religious balance in Lebanon - all that while saying Israel should take them back (i.e., ignoring exactly the same problem Israelis have). For those of you who don't know: There were about an equal number of Jewish refugees from Arab lands as there have been Arab refugees from Israel. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_exodus_from_Arab_lands So yes, we can talk compensation to all the refugees, from both sides, but I'm afraid it will mean more money flowing to Israel than the other way - the Jews who fled Arab countries were on average better off than the Arabs who fled - and therefore are likely to have had owned more property to be compensated for... It’s ironic when the Lebanese say the Palestinian refugees should not be awarded full rights, lest it disturbs the ethnic/religious balance in Lebanon – all that while saying Israel should take them back (i.e., ignoring exactly the same problem Israelis have).
For those of you who don’t know: There were about an equal number of Jewish refugees from Arab lands as there have been Arab refugees from Israel.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_exodus_from_Arab_lands
So yes, we can talk compensation to all the refugees, from both sides, but I’m afraid it will mean more money flowing to Israel than the other way – the Jews who fled Arab countries were on average better off than the Arabs who fled – and therefore are likely to have had owned more property to be compensated for…

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