Infighting, murders, refugees: Ein al Hilweh is a microcosm of the desired Palestinian state

A new round of fighting erupted in the Ein al Hilweh camp in Lebanon on Wednesday, and as many as 8 more people were killed - both civilians and militants. 

That brings the death toll over the past week to 15 as the Fatah and Islamist groups battle for control.

Hundreds, if not thousands, of residents in the camp are seeking shelter elsewhere. Schools have been taken over by the terror groups and have been unable to open.

And where is the Lebanese army? They aren't allowed to enter the camp, under a 1969 agreement, and they leave all security issues to the Palestinian "refugees" themselves.

Meaning that Ein al-Hilweh is a lot like a Palestinian state would be, with constant fighting between rival groups and no prospects for calm, except for temporary cease fires.

Like Hamas and Fatah in Gaza and the West Bank, no one can even imagine unity between the factions.  Neither can anyone imagine a democratically elected government that would be accepted. 

But things might get a lot more bloody.

The terrorist gangs occasionally shoot outside the camp, putting all of Sidon at risk. A rocket shell fell in the vicinity of the Zgheib military barracks of the Lebanese army, and residents of Sidon were woken up by a particularly bright rocket in the sky last night.

According to Lebanon24, Fatah is readying a major offensive if the Islamist factions do not hand over the killer of a Fatah leader.

Fatah may ask the Lebanese army to help them, and their commander General Joseph Aoun is in Sidon monitoring the situation. The spillover into Sidon might be the excuse the army needs to go in.

But they aren't the only side with powerful friends. The report also says that the Islamist fighting is being directed by the Iranian embassy in Lebanon. 

It looks likely that things are going to get a lot bloodier. 

Yet the analogy with the West Bank and Gaza holds - two sides being supported by more powerful patrons who also hate each other, no common ground between them, and a long history of infighting. And Iran supporting the Islamist side and looking to strengthen them, not caring about the effect it has on ordinary Palestinians who just want to live their lives.

And there is something else that it has in common with the Palestinians in the territories.  Both sides claim the other is benefitting the Jews. 

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