"A number of politicians and protesters were opposed to setting up the centre, citing a number of reasons, including increased traffic to the area near Beirut's port and health concerns. But there were also sectarian motivations with some of Karantina's Christian population leading objections to housing the displaced, who are predominantly Shia Muslims, citing demographic concerns and using sectarian slogans reminiscent of language used during the 1975-1990 Lebanese Civil War."
"A major source of tension is that Israel has targeted displaced Lebanese, leading many to fear that hosting their compatriots may bring increased danger to their own homes and families. There is also extreme polarisation over the war inside Lebanon."
"Supporters of Hezbollah, the Shia armed group that has been fighting Israel, say it avoided war for 15 months while Israel repeatedly violated a November 2024 ceasefire while its critics accuse it of giving Israel an excuse to invade by launching attacks on Israel on March 2, leading to the forced displacement of 1.2 million people."
In March, a planned displacement centre in Karantina, Beirut, was cancelled due to public opposition, primarily from the Christian population. Concerns included increased traffic and health risks, but sectarian fears were prominent, as the displaced were mainly Shia Muslims. The cancellation reflects deeper sectarian divides reminiscent of the Lebanese Civil War. The ongoing conflict with Israel has heightened fears of violence and potential civil unrest, with Hezbollah's actions contributing to the polarization within Lebanon. A ceasefire is set to begin amid these rising tensions.
Read at www.aljazeera.com
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