The defeat of armed militants at Nahr Al-Bared refugee camp in northern Lebanon is, even after three months of fighting, a tremendous boost for the Lebanese Army and the government. With the country’s political integrity under greater threat than at any time since the civil war, Lebanon could not afford for the extremists of Fatah Al-Islam to win this battle. The assessment by Defense Minister Elias Murr that, if unchallenged, Fatah Al-Islam would have spread throughout other Palestinian camps “like a cancer” was undoubtedly right. There would have been another state within. That said, the victory does not mean that Lebanon’s paralysis is over. Far from it. The government’s enemies, at home and abroad, will no doubt be plotting some new outrage that they imagine will bring about its collapse; they know that flush with victory at Nahr Al-Bared, the army and government are now likely to turn their attention to other no-go areas where they aim to make themselves master in their own home.
Palestinian refugees, on the other hand, have already welcomed it. As many as 40,000, for whom Nahr Al-Bared was home, had to flee the fighting there. They lost homes and even worse, members of their families. Around 40 civilians were killed in the fighting, in addition to 160 Lebanese soldiers and 222 militants. Life is tough enough for the 415,000 Palestinian refugees in Lebanon as it is without being caught in the middle between militants and the army. Those who called Nahr Al-Bared home can now go back; the Lebanese government has already promised to rebuild the camp, but in future it will be firmly under Lebanese control.
Palestinian militants have, of course, posed a challenge to Lebanon’s sovereignty for years. Palestinian refugee camps were states within states, no-go areas for the Lebanese police and army as a result of the 1969 agreement giving the camps self-control. But Fatah Al-Islam has been significantly different. It was not interested in the Palestinian national struggle or protecting and maintaining a Palestinian identity. Nor, despite the name, despite the Islamic slogans, had it anything to do with Islam. Its agenda was far more base.
It was out for raw political power. Simply that — and it tried to con Palestinians and others into thinking that it was Islamic in the hope of winning support. Most Palestinians saw through it — another reason why so many are openly joyful at its defeat. The trouble was it had the weapons — was given them — to make mischief. The hijacking of religion for political ends is all too common, not just in the Middle East world but all over the world. Extremists, whether calling themselves Muslim, Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist or whatever have one thing in common. They use their narrow brand of religion to create a power base and maintain control over their followers. All they deliver is death. Extremism is about power. It is not about faith.
In Lebanon, one such group has been smashed and for that, we can be thankful. Sadly it will not end Lebanon’s problems.
