PA-Israel talks may incite clashes

Lebanon has cautioned about new cross-border tension with Israel and clashes in Palestinian refugee camps in the aftermath of talks between the Palestinian Authority and Israel.

“These talks will no doubt cover (Palestinian) refugees, water and oil in the region,” Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri said in a statement on Wednesday.

“All of this may… ignite clashes inside Lebanon’s refugee camps and affect security in the south,” AFP quoted Berri as saying.

The statement marks the first signal from Lebanon which has yet to issue an official reaction to the resumption of the talks in Washington last week.

The Palestinian Authority (PA) joined the direct talks with Israel on September 2 upon an invitation by the US secretary of state who urged the two parties to negotiate without any pre-conditions.

The PA succumbed to the call despite strong opposition from major factions and the Palestinian public, who accused the Ramallah-based Authority of “yielding to US and Israeli pressure.”

The talks marked the first direct negotiations between Ramallah and Tel Aviv in 20 months, following a breakdown after Israel launched a devastating military offensive against the Gaza Strip in December 2008 which killed more than 1,400 Palestinians — mostly civilians.

The UN Agency for Palestinian Refugees estimates Lebanon currently hosts 400,000 Palestinians, but Lebanese officials offer a figure of 300,000.