Fateh Al Islam & the Camps

Let us dot the i's and cross the t's first. The Palestinian camps have had autonomous security handled by Palestinian forces under the command of the current Palestinian government. The Lebanese Armed forces have respected that autonomous condition since the end of the war, and the preservation of the Palestinian arms inside the camps has always been covered under the pretext of withholding the camp's security.

The beginning of this conflict started with a bank robbery. These terrorists robbed a bank, and retreated into the camp's surrounding area. When the Lebanese security forces followed them and tried to capture them, they did not know to which side or party they belonged. They were only doing their duty in perusing criminals. These terrorists opened fire, and as it is apparent now, it was not an individual incident, this bank robbery, it was meditated on the highest level of this terrorist organization. The fact that this group has become so powerful and has even bullied the Palestinian security forces, raises questions about the validity and effectiveness of the Palestinian arms inside these camps.

So what is the purpose of the Palestinian arms in the camp of Nahr el Bared, or any of the other camps in Lebanon. They have not fired one shot towards Israel for decades. So what is the validity of an autonomous security outside the boundaries of Lebanese Security forces, if they are not willing, and I am no saying here capable, because they are capable for sure, if they are unwilling to control terrorist groups that threaten the security of the Lebanese citizens?

The bigger question becomes: "What should happen to the situation of the arms in the Palestinian camps?"