Mohammed Zaatari
Daily Star correspondent

Political factions in Ain al-Hilweh have agreed on a new security formula in the Sidon-area Palestinian refugee camp to defuse tension and prevent violence stemming from developments in the Occupied Territories.
After the camp’s security committee organized an emergency meeting on Monday at one of the camp’s mosques, the factions agreed to lift the political cover on anyone who breaks the law and to turn over to the Lebanese authorities any offender wanted by the judiciary.
According to a source, participants discussed recent incidents of violence, including a series of bomb attacks targeting camp leaders and residents.
The participants concluded that every measure should be taken to preserve the camp’s security and stability in the light of the recent developments in the Palestinian-ruled territories in the West Bank and Gaza. They decided that only the “Israeli enemy” stood to gain from such developments.
Palestine Liberation Organization factions loyal to Palestinian President Yasser Arafat attended the meeting, as well as representatives of the Alliance of Palestinian Forces (loyal to Syria) and other representatives loyal to Islamic groups, including Esbat al-Ansar.
No representative for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine or the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine attended the meeting, but spokesmen for the two factions said they approved the recommendations adopted.
According to a Palestinian source, the meeting, which lasted for several hours, focused on efforts to distribute the responsibilities of keeping law and order within the camp.
Participants agreed that all attempts to underminr the camp’s stability should be stopped, especially recent bomb attacks and assassination attempts. In the last month alone, Montasser Abdullah Mohammed was murdered, a bomb exploded near a checkpoint next to the camp’s entrance, a hand grenade was tossed at the home of Fatah dissident Mounir Maqdah and a few bombs were detonated near Lebanese Army checkpoints.
During the meeting, the factions adopted a number of recommendations, such as full support for the security committee, which was formed five months ago to arrest all criminals in the camp. They also decided to delegate one or two people from every faction to “support the security committee.”
It was also decided to follow-up on all security incidents.
The Daily Star also learned that another meeting took place Tuesday at the headquarters of the Palestinian group al-Kifah al-Musallah, which controlled the camp’s security before the committee was established.
All official delegates were expected to attend as a prelude to endorsing a set of recommendations and distributing them to the camp’s residents.  It was decided to raid all places where Palestinian law-breakers are based and to arrest all those involved in robberies and murders. No details were announced on how the offenders would be tracked down and apprehended.

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