Lebanon permits Palestinians to work; Abbas thanks Lahoud, Miqati
Lebanon-Palestine, Politics, 6/29/2005

The decision taken by the Lebanese minister of labor to permit the Palestinians born in Lebanon to work, was welcomed by the Palestinians towards what is considered a positive step into the right track to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian refugees.

In this regard, the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas made two telephone calls with the Lebanese President Emil Lahoud and Premier Najib Miqati expressing his thanks for the decision taken by Lebanon. Talks dealt with developments in the occupied Palestinian territories.

The Palestinian minister of culture, writer Yahya Yakhlaf described the decision of the Lebanese minister as "courageous'. He said in a press seminar organized by the Arab press club in Paris "we do hope that this decision will be developed to be fair to all Palestinian people in the labor field and to be permitted to work in all professions," stressing that the "Palestinians in Lebanon are but an element for Lebanon's stability." The Lebanese minister of labor Tarrad Hamadeh said that Lebanon alleviated restrictions which prevent resident Palestinian refugees to work in most of the jobs.

He said that "Israel was the one who expelled the Palestinians. They are now in our country, accepting it or not, depriving them from work is a violation of human rights." The decision taken by Hamadeh permits Palestinians who were born in Lebanon to work in private sector jobs, used to be limited for the Lebanese citizens.

The director general of the Lebanese ministry of labor Ratib Saleiba denied any political objective related to settling the Palestinians in Lebanon, to the decision taken by the Lebanese minister permitting the Palestinians who were born in Lebanon and officially registered in the records of the ministry of the interior to work in jobs used to be confined to the Lebanese.

The Arab human rights organization said "it received with great satisfaction" the decision of the Lebanese government to permit the work of the Palestinians in certain professions in Lebanon especially in artisans fields.

The Palestinian groups in Lebanon welcomed the decision but called for more steps to improve living conditions for the Palestinian refugees.

Previous Stories:
  Lahoud: No peace without implementing UN resolutions   (6/16/2005)
  Lebanese premier: peace cannot be established without restoration of occupied lands   (5/17/2005)
  Beirut hosts meeting in solidarity with Palestinian detainees   (4/20/2005)
  Lebanese figures for inter-dialogue, reject intervention   (4/13/2005)
  Bishara stresses Palestinians' legitimate right to return home   (3/19/2005)
  Lahoud expresses concern over settling the Palestinians   (1/15/2005)

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