Lebanon allowing refugees to work

Lebanon’s Parliament passed a law elevating the status of Palestinian refugees to allow them to work.

The law passed last week grants Palestinian refugees the status of “foreign workers,” opening up a wide array of employment opportunities.

The 400,000 Palestinian refugees in Lebanon are considered among the worst treated in the Arab world and have been denied basic employment and inheritance rights.

Lebanon maintains their stateless status in part to facilitate refugee claims against Israel. Rights groups say refugees deserve full citizenship. — jta