"Both the Palestinian and Lebanese people believe that Palestinian refugees in Lebanon should live inside a Palestinian state," said David Welch US Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, during a US House Foreign Relations committee hearing titled "Israel's disengagement from Gaza".
"I think Palestinians and Lebanese alike see the future of those people inside a Palestinian state," Welch said. "I hope that can be realized, because that would, I believe, also help Lebanon."
He added "I think sometimes when I hear from Lebanese their concern about these folks might be pushed upon them, that presents a lot of issues of insensitivities for Lebanon, particularly at this time." Welch said that getting Lebanon to a better situation is a "very serious enterprise for us." |