Incitement, tensions rise over Syrian refugees in Lebanon
Controversial statements by Lebanese authorities point to growing frustration over the presence of more than 1 million Syrian refugees in their country.
BEIRUT — As fierce fighting and bombardments continue across Syria since a fragile pause in hostilities shattered, a resolution has arguably never been further off. And in neighboring Lebanon, the Syrian refugee issue is becoming more and more a source of multiple tensions between communities, politicians and countries.
Clearly, frustrations are growing. Last week, some Lebanese ministers and politicians called for repatriation of Syrian refugees. While the proposal is being heavily criticized and shows little chance of succeeding, it reflects increasing vexation over the presence in Lebanon of an estimated 1.5 million Syrian refugees.
Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil drew early fire for saying Sept. 17 that Syrians and Palestinians who marry Lebanese women should not be conferred Lebanese nationality and adding that Syrians are “threatening our Lebanon." Then-Labor Minister Sejaan Azzi announced a controversial plan to ship refugees back to Syria over a two-year period starting in January.
Speaking at a Sept. 19 press conference, Azzi said his plan would place refugees into one of four groups — pro-President Bashar al-Assad, anti-Assad, neutral and “migrant” — before returning them to a “relatively safe space” back in Syria.
