Washington, D.C., May 23, 2007 - The American Task Force for Lebanon (ATFL) and the American Task Force on Palestine (ATFP) today expressed support for Lebanon and condemned the ?Fatah al-Islam? group in the Nahr el-Bared Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon for their assault on Lebanese sovereignty, stability and security, and for endangering of the lives of the innocent Palestinian camp refugees. ATFL and ATFP also urged that precautions be taken to minimize civilian casualties and to ensure the safety of innocent Lebanese and Palestinians, in line with international humanitarian law.

Fatah al-Islam is a group that does not represent the Palestinians, the Palestinian cause, nor is it supported by the residents of the Nahr el-Bared refugee camp.

There are twelve Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon. ATFL and ATFP stressed that they should not be a source of instability for Lebanon, but rather a secure place for Palestinian refugees until the refugee issue is resolved. Recent plans by the Lebanese government to improve camp living conditions are also critical in alleviating the conditions allowing the flourishing of extremist groups such as Fatah al-Islam. These latest developments illustrate even more the responsibility of the international community to resolve the issue of Palestinian refugees in the context of a two-state solution.