Israel Matzav

IDF strikes largest 'Palestinian refugee camp' in Lebanon

For the first time in this war, the IDF has struck the largest 'Palestinian refugee camp' in Lebanon, destroying the home of a Hezbullah commander. According to 'Palestinian' and Lebanese officials, two people were killed and three were injured by shelling from navy gunboats at the Ein-el-Hilweh 'refugee camp' near Sidon. According to the officials, the gunboats fired two shells. One landed in the Ein el-Hilweh camp, located on the outskirts of the southern port city of Sidon, and the other hit the city's amusement park. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.

The IDF said that the camp was hit by an airstrike and not by a naval attack.

The Jerusalem Post tells us a bit of the 'refugee camp's' history:

The strike was the first time IDF forces attacked the camp since the fighting with Hizbullah began more than four weeks ago.

Local officials said the casualties in Ein el-Hilweh were caused when the shell crashed into a location manned by camp's Fatah militia headed by Brid. Mounier Makdah, who used to train guerrillas in the camp.

Ein el-Hilweh is the largest of Lebanon's 12 Palestinian refugee camps and has witnessed years of bombings, assassinations and shootings as rival factions in the camp vie for control. The camp also is believed to be a hide-out for many fugitives wanted by Lebanese authorities and is a haven for terror groups.

The Lebanese army does not enter the camp, but maintains positions at the camp's entrances to keep the guerrillas in check. [And you thought they only had a "see no evil, hear no evil, speak no attitude towards Hezbullah. CiJ]

The camp is home to about 75,000 Palestinian refugees who were displaced by the 1948 Arab-Israeli war and their descendants. Some 350,000 Palestinians live in refugee camps in Lebanon that have developed over the years into shanty towns. [Find me another population in the world that has increased by over 400% in less than sixty years - I don't believe that number. CiJ]

For those of you who are new to this conflict and are wondering how it could be that there are still 'refugees' from a war that took place in 1948, I challenge you to find any other war in history where people remained 'refugees' for so long. These people are 'refugees' because the Arab states refuse to absorb them, and instead hold them hostage to the Arab-Islamic bloc dream to drive the Jews into the sea. This is why I told you the other day that this conflict is not about borders - it's about Israel's existence.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 8:06 AM