Back to Contents 14. Treatment by society (including families, communities and other non-state actors) Societal discrimination 14.1. How do the media portray stateless Palestinians? How are stateless Palestinians treated by Lebanese nationals? “[...] Violence continues to be a regular occurrence throughout the refugee community with a widespread availability of weapons being reported and a propensity to resort to violence in the face of desperate conditions. PRS, particularly those who have arrived in Lebanon since 2016, continue to be largely unable to obtain Lebanese residency, making them vulnerable to receiving departure orders and forcing them to limit their movements and livelihood opportunities. With increased hostility towards Syrian refugees in the media and in some communities, PRS, in particular, report being worried about discrimination and potential deportation.50 (Source: UNRWA, “Syria, Lebanon and Jordan, 2022 Emergency Appeal Progress Report for the reporting period 1 January – 30 June 2022”, 3 November 2022, p. 11) “Palestinian refugees from Syria (PRS), particularly those who have arrived in Lebanon since 2016, continue to be largely unable to obtain Lebanese residency, making them vulnerable to receiving departure orders, forcing them to limit their movements and limit their pursuit of livelihood opportunities. With increased hostility towards Syrian refugees in the media and in some communities, PRS in particular report being worried about discrimination and potential deportation. (footnoted - Observation based on discussions with PRS during protection monitoring, meetings and legal aid counselling.) This has contributed to a large body of mental health needs amongst PRS and Palestine refugees in Lebanon (PRL).” (Source: UNRWA, “Syria, Lebanon and Jordan, 2022 Emergency Appeal Progress Report for the reporting period 1 January – 30 June 2022”, 3 November 2022, p. 5) The Jordanian political economist and long-time commentator on the Israeli-Palestinian dialogue Riad Al Khouri who was interviewed for this report in October 2022 provided the following points of context to understand the current public portrayal of Palestinians in Lebanon: “Back in the ‘70s and ‘80s, there was a specifically anti-Palestinian portrayal, public portrayal, public statements by either officials or by politicians and other public figures who were not necessarily officials but had a high profile. There was a powerful anti-Palestinian mood in the country in those days. This is no longer the case. Having said that, in the old days, the mood was also against the Syrians. And of course, as always in Lebanon, if you happen to be rich or well-connected, then this issue did not come up. Therefore, the Palestinian who is poor, the Syrian who is poor, is the one subject to criticism and discrimination today. The anti-Palestinian mood in specific is less than it was in the past. It is still there, but it is no longer a major issue compared, for example, to the anti-Syrian mood [...]” (Source: Riad Al Khouri, interview record, 7 October 2022) The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported in April 2022 that: “Unlike Lebanese but comparable to migrants, PRL [Palestinian Refugees in Lebanon] households experience exclusion and discrimination. For example, among all three population groups, PRL households will more often report that one of the obstacles to find work is the fact that employers prefer hiring other nationals.” (Source: OCHA, “Increasing Humanitarian Needs in Lebanon, April 2022”, 14 April 2022, p. 26) 50 Observation based on discussions with PRS during protection monitoring, meetings and legal aid counselling. 14. Treatment by society (including families, communities and other non-state actors) 128