Deputy Jamil Al-Sayed wrote today on his account on "X," stating: "To clarify first, my words below do not mean at all that any Lebanese citizen has the right to racially or sectarianly target any refugee as they please, but that the responsibility for addressing this situation rests solely with the state until it is corrected properly between Lebanon and Syria." He added, "If the state falls short in this regard, your enemy, O Lebanese, is your cowardly state with the outside world conspiring against you, not the Syrian refugee."
Secondly, he continued, "The President of the European Commission, von der Leyen, visited us yesterday, Thursday. Many condemned her statement at the Grand Serail that Europe would grant Lebanon one billion dollars divided over four years to keep the refugees with us and prevent their smuggling to Europe. Many were outraged yesterday at what was said that Europe would, in return, provide seasonal facilities for Lebanese to work in Europe."
Al-Sayed asked, "What does a seasonal worker mean?!" He explained that "this means they give you a temporary visa for a few months so you can work in Europe as a farm worker, waiter in a restaurant, delivery person, or cleaner. Once the season ends, you would have earned 'a few pennies' and return to Lebanon." He added, "Regardless of the fact that any profession, no matter what, is a dignified livelihood, this offer demonstrates how cheap the Lebanese have become to our state before they become seasonal workers in Europe."
He clarified, "What concerns me more than anything mentioned before is that I did not hear in that lady’s words any hint or statement related to a timeline for the return of the refugees, except that she is buying their stay with us for four years for 250 million dollars annually, while their presence in Lebanon costs no less than six billion dollars a year, in addition to its impact on national unity, coexistence, demographic balance, security, the economy, and more!"
He continued, "And I did not hear from any Lebanese official that Madam von der Leyen met with any cry for dignity, or objection, or protest against her insulting statement. I did not even hear any clear words saying to Madam von der Leyen that the refugees came to Lebanon because of your stupid war on Syria, and that you are obliged to communicate with Syria and set a plan for their return, and that Lebanon is unable to bear this situation, and that threatening us with sanctions will make us send the refugees to you!"
Al-Sayed added, "Madam von der Leyen's visit was an opportunity for Lebanon to say a clear, decisive, and final word, but unfortunately, the Lebanese state missed this opportunity and appeared cowardly and cheap, and on top of that, smiling!"
He said, "Take the 250 million dollars a year, this is your price, and shut your mouths." He concluded with, "Where is the revolution of the country's leaders?"
