Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's historic visit to Beirut on Wednesday will largely focus on finding a solution to disarming Lebanon's Palestinian refugee camps and bringing them under the control of Lebanese authorities, officials from each side have told The National.
The long-time Palestinian leader will arrive in the Lebanese capital for a three-day visit to meet Lebanese officials, including President Joseph Aoun, and launch a dialogue related to disarming Palestinian factions in the country.
Mr Abbas will also broach the subject of expanded rights for Palestinian refugees in Lebanon, according to Serhan Serhan, the deputy secretary of Fatah in Lebanon – although he denied that Mr Abbas would demand those rights in exchange for disarmament.
"We've prepared several files on refugee rights to be discussed ahead of the President's visit," he said.
The task ahead will be tricky. Lebanon's 12 official Palestinian refugee camps are outside the Lebanese state's control and are governed by an array of Palestinian factions – including those opposed to Mr Abbas.
The camps, which are spread out across Lebanon, are under the authority of different groups including Mr Abbas's Fatah, Hamas and other Palestinian factions. The absence of the state inside the camps has made some a haven for outlaws and Islamist extremists. Weapons are rife and outbreaks of violence are common – some groups are deeply opposed to each other.
According to retired General Security head and veteran negotiator General Abbas Ibrahim, “Abu Mazen [Mahmoud Abbas] will go all the way,” to find a solution. The Palestinian President will arrive with the aim of reaching a peaceful consensus, but Lebanese security sources did not rule out the use of force as a last resort if the disarmament plan is met with resistance.
“Using force will put the Lebanese Armed Forces in a difficult position," he added. "The government has to launch a dialogue with the Palestinians. Nothing good can happen through force."
A Lebanese security source hinted that Mr Abbas may work towards disarming the camps – and bringing them under Lebanese state control – in exchange for wider Palestinian rights.
“We think these meetings will turn into a plan with the Palestinian factions to allow the army to enter the camps. Yesterday there were clashes inside Shatila and we can't even enter. We should be able to enter,” said the security source, referring to one of the Palestinian camps in Beirut where fighting broke out on Monday.
By agreement, the Lebanese army is not allowed to enter the Palestinian camps. “We try not to interfere by taking the weapons by force. We would prefer to reach an agreement through negotiations and discussions,” the security source added.
Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians live in Lebanon, their forebears or they themselves having originally been expelled from their homes in 1948 in the displacement that led to the creation of the state of Israel. They do not have the right to Lebanese citizenship and are therefore unable to access state benefits such as health care and education. They are also restricted in the jobs they can undertake.
Services in the camps, where living conditions are often grim, are instead provided with the support of UNRWA and non-governmental organisations. The arrival of Mr Abbas comes as Lebanon moves forward with the difficult goal of bringing all non-state arms under its control.
Lebanon plans to use Egypt’s military expertise to dismantle and disarm Palestinian militant factions operating within its borders, President Joseph Aoun said during a visit to Cairo on Monday. Mr Aoun was elected in January in the wake of Israel's devastating war on Lebanon last year. He said he wants to bring all weapons under state control as soon as possible, but has stressed this must be done via diplomatic means.
While in recent months the discourse over disarming non-state groups has been chiefly focused on the Lebanese political party and armed group Hezbollah, it has also increasingly included weapons in the Palestinian camps.
The UAE recently lifted a travel ban on its citizens visiting Lebanon, signalling a potential thaw in relations between Lebanon and Gulf states.
President Abbas last visited Lebanon in 2017.
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Three stars
The years Ramadan fell in May
Juliot Vinolia’s checklist for adopting alternate-day fasting
- Don’t do it more than once in three days
- Don’t go under 700 calories on fasting days
- Ensure there is sufficient water intake, as the body can go in dehydration mode
- Ensure there is enough roughage (fibre) in the food on fasting days as well
- Do not binge on processed or fatty foods on non-fasting days
- Complement fasting with plant-based foods, fruits, vegetables, seafood. Cut out processed meats and processed carbohydrates
- Manage your sleep
- People with existing gastric or mental health issues should avoid fasting
- Do not fast for prolonged periods without supervision by a qualified expert
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
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Price, base / as tested: Dh74,900 / Dh85,900
Engine: 937cc
Transmission: Six-speed gearbox
Power: 110hp @ 9,000rpm
Torque: 93Nm @ 6,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 5.9L / 100km
The years Ramadan fell in May
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When is VAR used?
• Goals
• Penalty decisions
• Direct red-card incidents
• Mistaken identity
The five pillars of Islam
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Dr Amal Khalid Alias revealed a recent case of a woman with daughters, who specifically wanted a boy.
A semen analysis of the father showed abnormal sperm so the couple required IVF.
Out of 21 eggs collected, six were unused leaving 15 suitable for IVF.
A specific procedure was used, called intracytoplasmic sperm injection where a single sperm cell is inserted into the egg.
On day three of the process, 14 embryos were biopsied for gender selection.
The next day, a pre-implantation genetic report revealed four normal male embryos, three female and seven abnormal samples.
Day five of the treatment saw two male embryos transferred to the patient.
The woman recorded a positive pregnancy test two weeks later.
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Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 620km / 590km
Price: From Dh250,000 (estimated)
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
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Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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Refuses to go to school
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Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
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1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
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When: Thursday, 9pm Arizona time (Friday UAE, 8am)
Ziina users can donate to relief efforts in Beirut
Ziina users will be able to use the app to help relief efforts in Beirut, which has been left reeling after an August blast caused an estimated $15 billion in damage and left thousands homeless. Ziina has partnered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to raise money for the Lebanese capital, co-founder Faisal Toukan says. “As of October 1, the UNHCR has the first certified badge on Ziina and is automatically part of user's top friends' list during this campaign. Users can now donate any amount to the Beirut relief with two clicks. The money raised will go towards rebuilding houses for the families that were impacted by the explosion.”
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
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FIXTURES
Thu Mar 15 – West Indies v Afghanistan, UAE v Scotland
Fri Mar 16 – Ireland v Zimbabwe
Sun Mar 18 – Ireland v Scotland
Mon Mar 19 – West Indies v Zimbabwe
Tue Mar 20 – UAE v Afghanistan
Wed Mar 21 – West Indies v Scotland
Thu Mar 22 – UAE v Zimbabwe
Fri Mar 23 – Ireland v Afghanistan
The top two teams qualify for the World Cup
Classification matches
The top-placed side out of Papua New Guinea, Hong Kong or Nepal will be granted one-day international status. UAE and Scotland have already won ODI status, having qualified for the Super Six.
Thu Mar 15 – Netherlands v Hong Kong, PNG v Nepal
Sat Mar 17 – 7th-8th place playoff, 9th-10th place play-off
