In 19/12/2008, the minister Tarek Metri opened a workshop to show the result of Palestinians', in the Palestinian gathering and camps, contribution in the Lebanese economy. This occasion was sponsored by Minister Dr. Tarek Metri, and was shared by MP Amar houri representing MP Saad EL Hariri, ambassador of Palestinian in Lebanon Abbas Zaki, lawyer Saad El Deen representing Union of Arab Lawyers, and a number of representatives in Palestinian political parties, civil organizations that are working in Lebanese-Palestinian issues, and Palestinian popular unions. Association Najdeh and coalition of right to work campaign invited them to this occasion. Minister Metri spoke about his old friendship with association Najdeh to insure his appreciation and gratitude to the important work that is done to approach the Palestinian situation in Lebanon. Also, he asked them to see the report (study) of Palestinian refugees' contribution in Lebanese economy according to the language of numbers and not the language of deep emotions, senses, and warm heart to see the reality since the fate of Palestinian and Lebanese people is linked with each other. So, the Palestinian and Lebanese people are facing the overlapping problems. Resolving the problems is not national duty and not pity from anyone, so we must work to resolve these problems since the Palestinian and Lebanese temporary living required a connected, reasonable and careful dialogue negotiation. From Minister Metri's speech: "In Lebanon, there are some persons who look at Palestinian people with a hot mind and cold heart, and that increases the Lebanese division. This negotiation is very essential away from Palestinian political presence in Lebanon. It must be pure Palestinian-Lebanese negotiation". Minister Metri pointed at the seriousness of the recommendations of this study that based on accurate information. Also, he asked the all Lebanese to discuss this study to resolve the problem of right to work to Palestinian refugees who resides in Lebanon in a realistic way far from talking about the heavy burden that caused this issue.
A speech was recited by Ms. Samr El Youser representing Diakonia organization which supports the campaign and the study of Palestinian refugees' contribution in the Lebanese economy. Ms. Samr insures the importance of right to work campaign, and the right to work as one of the cornerstones of human rights as stated in Article 23 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. She referred to the discriminatory laws in the work and its impact on the living conditions of Palestinian refugees. She concluded that we need to remove the right to work from the context of political conflict and deal with right to work on the basis of the values of social justice, and we must use the results of the study in building a reliable base of social knowledge and these results must be the basis of deep national negotiation about Palestinians' right to work in Lebanon.
A speech was recited by the executive director of association Najdeh Leila El Ali representing the coalition of right to work campaign. She dealt with the background and history of the launch of the campaign and the conduct of the study confirming the positive steps initiated by the Lebanese state to the human rights of the Palestinian people in Lebanon. She said that the study serves the destination and provides a positive tool to support the point of the work in the Lebanese government. She stressed that the results of the study pointed that Palestinians in Lebanon are not Parasites but contributors to the Lebanese economy. We can not apply the principle of reciprocity. Also, she stressed the continuation of the work to discuss and deepen the results of the study and its recommendations in Palestinian and Lebanese society.
Dr. Azizah al-Khalidi who supervised the study introduced the results of the study, which took place in the Palestinian camps pointed that 10% (of the sample) was a Palestinian contribution in the Lebanese economy.
Dr. Riad Tabbara, who accompanied and checked the study, recommended opening an economic dialogue at the level of business and economy, and at the level of workers, intellectuals and intellectual activities unions in order to reach a conclusion on the work of the Palestinians in Lebanon. Tabbara insured that the Palestinian labor in Lebanon is not a competition or speculative employment, but complementary employment .
On 3/1/2009, the results of the Palestinian refugees' contribution in Lebanese economy study were presented in Tyre in the Platinum Hotel. This occasion was sponsored by MP Ali Khreis, and representatives of civil institutions in Lebanon and Palestine. The number of attendees was 130 between the institutions and parties of Palestinian / Lebanese.
The attendance was represented by : MP Ali Khreis. Representatives of Municipalities: Majdal Zun and Toura, mayors of: Bourj Shamali, Chbriha and Tyre. And representatives of Lebanese unions: workers, hospital workers in the south and the workers of water company in South, trade unions, Also representative of one international institution, two Lebanese institutions, eleven Palestinian institutions, three Lebanese parties, seven Palestinian parties, and eight independent persons.
Due to emergency conditions on the city of Gaza, it was necessary to stand for minute silent for the souls of our innocent martyrs. Then the word of MP Ali Khreis occurred.
At the beginning, MP for Tyre city spoke about the striving history of Tyre side by side with PL0. Then he talked about the Arab silence of what is happening in Gaza today, as it was said before two days, there was a daily meeting of the Federation of Arab Parliaments. It was reported that the Arab peoples are interacting with our people in Gaza, more than their rulers.
The MP spoke about the right of Palestinian people to return to Palestine and to be its capital, Jerusalem. And from the right of Palestinian people in Lebanon is to realize their rights not only in work but also in property in one condition that is not to give up his or her nationality. The MP promised to support Palestinians' right in working and owning property as Lebanese people through the Lebanese parliament.
The speech of the Lebanese-Palestinian coalition of right to work campaign was recited by lawyer Raeed Attaya, a member in Follow-up Committee (Al Naba association). The lawyer spoke about discharging acampaign since 2005 and about the continuity of it in spite of all the difficult circumstances that we experienced during this time period. Then he spoke about Palestinian people who are temporary guests / refugees and the official systems must deal with them exclusively as if they are not pure foreign. The Palestinians' rights have been lost from UNRWA on the right hand and the Lebanese government, on the other. The Lebanese government considers that UNRWA is responsible for the Palestinians and finding work opportunities for them. UNRWA considers that the Lebanese government is responsible for the civil rights of the Palestinian .
Dr. Azizah al-Khalidi who supervised the study introduced the results of the study, which took place in the Palestinian camps pointed that 10% (of the sample) was a Palestinian contribution in the Lebanese economy.
On 6/1/2009, the results of Palestinian refugees' contribution in Lebanese economy were presented at the Municipal Center in Saida. Total attendance was 120.
MP Osama Saad was presented, also Sidon Municipality Abdel Rahman al-Bizri, and representatives of Union workers, seven Lebanese institutions, fifteen Palestinian institutions, two of Lebanese parties, two of Palestinian parties, and nine independent persons.
MP Osama spoke that Palestinian brothers in Lebanon suffer from severe political, social, and security problems. The power in Lebanon deals with the Palestinian people as if they aren't people of an important case, and there is a racist position against the Palestinians in Lebanon and there are racist laws against the Palestinian in Lebanon. Also, he spoke about his support to Palestinian people to take their political and social rights including the right to work. He confirmed his support for all options for Palestinian to take their civil and humanitarian rights.
Dr. Abdul Rahman Albzri praised the importance of the campaign to take the right to work for access to political rights. He spoke about the right to work that it is the right for every person as it was approved by the law of the United Nations. So, by what right full and able people were deprived from their right to work. They violate the laws in denying the Palestinian right of inheritance.
Then Dr. Azizah al-Khalidi who supervised the study introduced the results of the study, which took place in the Palestinian camps pointed that 10% (of the sample) was a Palestinian contribution in the Lebanese economy.
On 10/1/2009, the results of Palestinian refugees' contribution in Lebanese economy study were presented in Assciation Najdeh in Saadnayel city, and the number of attendees was 40. Saadnayel and Talbaya Mayor was represented and representatives of four Lebanese institutions, six Palestinian institutions, one international institutions, and independent persons.
The Saadnayel Mayor spoke Palestinians' right to work in Lebanon as many Palestinians work in all Arab countries. But, regrettably, the policy of the Lebanese government is trying to keep the Palestinian poverty in order to force him to think about migration. As for the work, the right to work is a legitimate right to Palestinians.
Then Talabaya Mayor demanded the Lebanese government to let Palestinian work as the Lebanese people since Palestinians is persisting people.
On14/1/2009, the results of the study were presented at Safadi center in Tripoli. And the number of attendees was about 70.The member of Tripoli Municipality; Ms. Samira Baghdadi was presented, in addition to representative of civil institutions: Lebanese / Palestinians, and federations of trade unions. The meeting was sponsored by the President of the Federation of Tripoli Workers Union, Mr. Hassan Sheikh Salem. |