Report: Ain el-Hilweh File Pushed to the Front Burner

Lebanon's army and authorities have conveyed a “strong” message to representatives of the Palestinian factions in the southern refugee camp of Ain el-Hilweh to help in “handing over all the fugitives” taking refuge in the camp, “mainly extremists Bilal Badr and Shadi al-Mawlawi,” and end recurrent tension deviating to areas close to the restive camp, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Tuesday.

“The situation in Ain el-Hilweh camp has been put on the front burner,” a Lebanese security source told the daily on condition of anonymity.

“In the past few days, even during Eid al-Adha holiday, leaders and representatives of the Palestinian factions in the camp have been informed of a strong worded Lebanese message that the situation in this camp will no longer be accepted as a permanent point of tension, a source of sedition and a threat to the security of the Lebanese and Palestinians alike,“ added the source.

He also pointed out that the camp is a “haven for most wanted terrorists.”

The source said that Palestinian factions were requested to help in handing over all the terrorists and fugitives mainly extremist Bilal Badr and Shadi al-Mawlawi.

Lebanon's security and military forces are prepared to put this at the top of priorities in their efforts to combat terrorist cells, assured the source.

“Ain el-Hilweh camp contains the most dangerous terror cells. They must be in the army's and security services' grip in the end,” he added.

For their part, the Palestinian factions assured that they refuse shapes of terrorism inside the camp.

“The ball is now in the court of the camp's residents and Palestinian leaders to prove their credibility. We are waiting for the fugitives to be handed over,” concluded the source.

The restive southern Ain el-Hilweh camp had witnessed a week of deadly clashes last month between the secular Fatah Movement and small Islamist groups led by the militants Bilal Badr and Bilal al-Orqoub.

By longstanding convention, the Lebanese army does not enter Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon, leaving the Palestinian factions themselves to handle security.

Ain el-Hilweh -- the most densely populated Palestinian camp in Lebanon -- is home to some 61,000 Palestinians, including 6,000 who have fled the war in neighboring Syria.

Several armed factions including extremist groups have a foothold in the camp which has been plagued for years by intermittent clashes.