Syria and Lebanon's moves to centralize power leads to crackdowns on Palestinian factions

[Eugene]

2. In Lebanon especially, large populations of Palestinian exiles have been destabilizing.

During the Lebanese civil war, Lebanon welcomed Israeli forces, as they drove out the Palestinians, until the Israelis stayed and occupied. Since that war, Lebanon is a weak state without a monopoly on the legitimate use of violence. Reining in these armed factions is what defines a functioning state.

In Syria, the The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine was a supporter of the now-overthrown Assad regime. The Palestinian situation is complicated there too.

In short, they are enemies of enemies, but not friends.