Meeting between Lebanese premier and Palestinian Islamic Jihad delegation
Lebanon, Politics, 11/19/1999

A first meeting of its sort was held on Wednesday at the house of Lebanese Prime Minister Salim al-Hoss between al-Hoss and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement, following stances the movement recently expressed on using the south Lebanese front to make operations against Israel.

The Lebanese premier responded to these statements by rejecting such operations, saying that Lebanon is backing the Lebanese resistance to liberate the Lebanese territories.

The meeting between the two sides was held away from media coverage as reporters and photographers were kept off the place and the entrance to al-Hoss' house.

However, an official statement was circulated about the meeting. It read "that the delegation of the movement included Abu Imad al-Refaee and Abu Tareq al-Nakhal, during which a revision was made for the general situation in Lebanon in light of the continued Israeli aggressions and the Israeli intransigence towards the march of settlement in the region."

The statement added that the delegation "expressed the movement's understanding of the stand taken by al-Hoss and the Lebanese government and readiness to cooperate for the interest of Lebanon and the cause of Palestine and it expressed its respect to the ruling system and the government in Lebanon."

Al-Hoss told the London-based al-Hayat daily that al-Jihad delegation was very positive.

Meanwhile, the Lebanese prime minister briefed the government during the Cabinet's meeting held on Wednesday evening the impact of the statement he made and the results of his meeting with the al-Jihad movement. He said that the understanding he received from the Palestinian al-Jihad delegation ends the page of controversy between the two sides.

In a similar statement to al-Hayat, al-Refaee said, "The file on this issue was closed and that an atmosphere of positiveness and frankness was prevailing during the meeting."

Al-Refaee added, "We have conveyed to al-Hoss the greetings of the movement's secretary general, and we had stressed our appreciation and respect to the stances of the Lebanese government in backing the Lebanese resistance and its continuity to deter the occupation from south Lebanon and the western Bekaa and the right of the Palestinian people to return, with the right of our people to resistance in a way not to contradict with the Lebanese national movement."

He commented, "There are no contradictions nor differences between our stand and the Lebanese stand."

Previous Stories:
  Contacts with Israel to permit Abu al-Einin into Gaza   (11/17/1999)
  Al-Hoss asks Jihad not to attack Israel from south Lebanon   (11/15/1999)
  European concern with the Middle East and the peace process   (11/12/1999)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search