UPDATE - Hamas chief to visit Palestinian refugees in Lebanon

UPDATES WITH HANIYEH'S REMARKS, CHANGES LEDE


By Hasan Darweesh
BEIRUT (AA) – Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh on Wednesday expressed his rejection of resettling Palestinian refugees outside their lands.
This came in a press conference he held after his talks with Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament, Nabih Berri, according to the private Lebanese TV channel Al-Mayadeen.
"We reject the resettlement and the Palestinian camps in Lebanon will remain a symbol of stability, security and understanding," Haniyeh said.
“Our people who live in Lebanon are a guest and reject any form of resettlement,” he stressed.
The Hamas leader underlined his group’s rejection of a recent normalization deal between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Israel.
Haniyeh is expected to visit Palestinian refugee camps during his current visit to Lebanon.
“Haniyeh will meet Lebanese officials from the presidency, government, parliament and parties,” Maher Salah, the head of Hamas’ Diaspora Office, said in earlier statements to Anadolu Agency.
He reiterated his movement’s support to the Lebanese people in their current crisis in the wake of the Beirut port blast.
Salah added that Haniyeh will also meet Palestinians in Lebanon and in the refugee camps. “Our people in the camps have a distinguished history in the resistance for the liberation of Palestine,” he said, adding that Haniyeh’s talks in Lebanon will focus on the rights and interests of the Palestinian people.
Palestinian factions are scheduled to hold a meeting on Thursday, with the participation of President Mahmoud Abbas and Haniyeh, to discuss ways of aborting Israeli annexation plans in the occupied West Bank.
Lebanon is home of more than 174,000 Palestinian refugees.*Ahmed Asmar contributed to this report from Ankara