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https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/h...-refugees-to-create-crisis-with-europe-801247
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah said on May 13 that Lebanon should open its maritime borders so that Syrians who live in Lebanon can board boats heading to Europe. The comments have been greeted with controversy and condemnation in Israel’s northern neighbor, as it appears Hezbollah is now trying to use Syrian refugees to create a crisis with Europe, Al-Ain media in the UAE reported.
According to reports, Nasrallah made the comments after the European Union had promised $1 billion in aid for Lebanon, money that is supposed to prevent illegal migration from the country. In essence, the EU is doing what it did with Turkey: trying to pay a foreign country to keep refugees from leaving toward Europe.
European countries have done the same in North Africa with varying degrees of success. What these deals generally mean is that migrants face abuses and restrictions. In this case, it appears that Hezbollah is trying to exploit the crisis by calling for Lebanon to basically encourage Syrians to leave via a dangerous maritime route. This could then result in a crisis that would lead to more funding for the country, which Hezbollah apparently could then divert for its own needs.
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah said on May 13 that Lebanon should open its maritime borders so that Syrians who live in Lebanon can board boats heading to Europe. The comments have been greeted with controversy and condemnation in Israel’s northern neighbor, as it appears Hezbollah is now trying to use Syrian refugees to create a crisis with Europe, Al-Ain media in the UAE reported.
According to reports, Nasrallah made the comments after the European Union had promised $1 billion in aid for Lebanon, money that is supposed to prevent illegal migration from the country. In essence, the EU is doing what it did with Turkey: trying to pay a foreign country to keep refugees from leaving toward Europe.
European countries have done the same in North Africa with varying degrees of success. What these deals generally mean is that migrants face abuses and restrictions. In this case, it appears that Hezbollah is trying to exploit the crisis by calling for Lebanon to basically encourage Syrians to leave via a dangerous maritime route. This could then result in a crisis that would lead to more funding for the country, which Hezbollah apparently could then divert for its own needs.