President Abbas’ Special Representative Visits Frem at PW Headquarters: Commitment to Weapon Handover, Rejection of Resettlement, and Efforts to Ensure a Decent Life for Palestinian Refugees in Lebanon

A Palestinian delegation composed of the Special Representative of the President of the State of Palestine, Yasser Mahmoud Abbas, and the Palestinian Ambassador to Lebanon, Mohammad Al-Assaad, visited the headquarters of Project Watan, where they met with the Chairman of its Executive Board, MP Neemat Frem, in the presence of the project’s team.

During the meeting, in-depth discussions were held on the overall situation in the region, ways to strengthen Lebanese-Palestinian ties, and support for the rights of the Palestinian people.

Over the course of the extended meeting, the delegation presented the Palestinian Authority’s position on the issue of Palestinian weapons on Lebanese soil, reaffirming the decision to hand them over to the Lebanese state, along with a detailed explanation of the progress achieved in this regard and the operational steps that have been implemented.

In this context, the delegation conveyed a clear position supporting the Lebanese decision to extend state authority over the entirety of its territory, while emphasizing the firm rejection of Palestinian resettlement or naturalization in Lebanon, in line with both Palestinian and Lebanese national principles.

For his part, Frem thanked the delegation for the visit, stressing the importance of frank and responsible dialogue between the two sides. Ideas were exchanged on mechanisms to accelerate the pace of weapon handovers and expand this step to all refugee camps, thereby reinforcing state authority and sovereignty. Frem also praised the initiatives presented by the Palestinian side to Lebanese officials, particularly those concerning the facilitation of the voluntary return of around twenty-five thousand Palestinians who arrived from Syria – a matter that will also be discussed with the Syrian authorities.

The meeting further addressed the importance of the series of Palestinian meetings held with Lebanese religious and political leaders, as well as field visits to various regions, with the aim of addressing painful historical legacies, clearing the shared memory, and opening a new chapter in Lebanese-Palestinian relations.

“Clearing historical memory is a duty for people of goodwill,” Frem stated. “These steps are blessed along the path to rebuilding trust. I can only thank the delegation for bringing a symbolic and meaningful gift from the Palestinian presidency – an icon from Jerusalem containing soil from the Holy Land – which left a deep impression on me.”

The meeting concluded with a reaffirmation of joint efforts to ensure a decent life for Palestinian refugees in Lebanon, with joint committees continuing to work with the Lebanese government to study this file and develop solutions that uphold justice, human dignity, and the rule of law.