The Palestinian armed group, Islamic Jihad, has presented the Lebanese government with a plan aimed at ending in a peaceful manner the weeklong standoff between the Lebanese army and the Al-Qa’ida-affiliated Fatah Al-Islam, the Lebanese online news portal Nahar Net reported.
The plan was revealed over the weekend by Islamic Jihad’s representative Abu ‘Imad Rifa’i, during an interview with the Associated Press. According to the proposed plan, the only armed group which would be allowed to operate inside the camp would be a Palestinian security force, which would be authorized to maintain law and order within the camp. All other armed groups would be barred. The plan also suggested the creation of a mechanism for the departure of Fatah Al-Islam from the camp, Rifa’i said.
The Lebanese government has so far demanded the immediate handover of armed members of Fatah Al-Islam. The organization was established last year as a breakaway of a pro-Syrian group.
Fighting began on May 20 when the Lebanese army stormed a safe house near the camp, searching for suspects of an armed robbery. The situation quickly escalated and more than 70 people were killed, including Lebanese soldiers, Fatah Al-Islam fighters and local camp residents.
The group’s leader, Shakir Al-‘Absi, vowed to fight to the death against "the Jews, the Americans and their loyalists."
If attempts to mediate will not bear fruit by Wednesday, an ultimatum given by Defense Minister Elias Murr will expire and the Lebanese army will enter the camp.
"The repercussions of a military solution are much more serious than [those of] a political solution," Rifa’i said.
He also warned that a military assault on Nahr Al-Barid would trigger violence in Lebanon’s 11 other Palestinian refugee camps.