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Lebanon Crisis.. The Regime and the "Emergency" Card: Between Improving Its Image and Ensnaring Returnees
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Observers fear that the alleged facilitations are merely a pretext to return Syrians fleeing from oppression, without real guarantees for their safety or addressing the root causes of their escape
The pro-regime Syrian newspaper "Al-Watan" reported a series of measures allegedly taken to facilitate the entry of arrivals from Lebanon. These controversial measures included issuing a so-called "emergency" temporary entry card, allowing holders to stay in Syria for one month, renewable every two weeks.
The report claimed this move came in response to difficulties many faced in obtaining entry booklets from Lebanese customs authorities. This booklet previously allowed Lebanese citizens to enter Syrian territory for up to 120 days, with an exemption from entry fees during this period.
However, analysts and human rights activists strongly doubt the Syrian regime's motives behind these alleged facilitations. They see it as a veiled attempt to exploit the current crisis in Lebanon, resulting from the intensifying confrontation between Hezbollah militia - involved in the repression of Syrians alongside regime forces - and the Israeli army.
Fears are growing that these new measures may be a trap to return Syrian refugees who fled the regime's brutality during the ongoing Syrian war years. Over the past years, millions of Syrians have been forced to flee their homeland to escape the systematic violence and persecution practiced by the regime against civilians.
In a related context, the newspaper mentioned the continued suspension of freight and tourist vehicle movement at the Jdeidet Yabous border crossing with Lebanon, attributing this to Israeli raids and shelling targeting the international road near the Masnaa area. However, it claimed that individual movement continues without significant obstacles.
It's worth noting that these developments come at a time when hundreds of thousands of Syrians are still living in exile, fearing to return to a country where the conditions that initially forced them to flee have not changed.
Human rights experts warn that these alleged facilitations may be just a facade for the regime's attempt to improve its image on the international stage, without genuinely addressing the grave violations it has committed against its people.
Observers questioned the fate of returnees in the absence of international guarantees for their protection. Previous experiences have shown that many who returned voluntarily or forcibly were subjected to arrest, torture, and even physical liquidation. Moreover, the deteriorating economic situation in Syria, exacerbated by international sanctions and rampant corruption, makes returning a risky venture for many.
Analysts view this move as reflecting the Syrian regime's attempt to exploit the Lebanese crisis to its advantage, ignoring the real reasons behind the displacement of millions. They call on the international community to intervene to ensure the protection of refugees' rights and prevent their forced return to unsafe conditions under the guise of temporary facilitations.
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