Lebanon's Political Dynamics
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Rebuilding Lebanon by Amine Gemayel
U.N. Security Council Resolution 338 October 22, 1973 Rebuilding Lebanon by Amine Gemayel Preface The publication at this time of a work advocating the reform of Lebanon's political system and economy may seem paradoxical: Lebanon is still occupied by foreign troops and its sovereignty is in doubt. But such a work is urgently needed to turn the thought of the international community toward Lebanon's reconstruc‐ tion and to give clear direction to the hopes of its citizens, especially its youth. Soon after the inception of the Lebanese war in 1975, I began to think about plans for the reconstruction of my country: its identity, its institutions, and its economy. When the war was at its height in 1978, 1 created the House of the Future, a documentation and research center aimed at building a peaceful future based on dialogue. After being elected President of the Republic in 1982, I set to work to create a new country, mak‐ ing renewal and peace my top priorities. At my request the Council for Development and Reconstruction (CDR), a governmental organism created in 1976, undertook research and then worked out plans to finance and set in motion the country's reconstruction. The Lebanese people were eager to participate in the re‐ form, and it received wide‐spread international support. I also undertook a series of initiatives in the politi‐ cal, diplomatic, and economic spheres, in order to guarantee Lebanon's influence in the region as well as revitalize its production and service activities. At the same lime I refused to give in to the regional powers that wanted to reduce Lebanon's sovereignty. -
The Druze: Culture, History and Mission
The Druze A New Cultural and Historical Appreciation Abbas Halabi 2013 www.garnetpublishing.co.uk 1 The Druze Published by Garnet Publishing Limited 8 Southern Court South Street Reading RG1 4QS UK www.garnetpublishing.co.uk www.twitter.com/Garnetpub www.facebook.com/Garnetpub blog.garnetpublishing.co.uk Copyright © Abbas Halabi, 2013 All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review. First Edition 2013 ISBN: 9781859643532 British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library Jacket design by Garnet Publishing Typeset by Samantha Barden Printed and bound in Lebanon by International Press: [email protected] 2 To Karl-Abbas, my first grandson And the future generation of my family 3 Preface Foreword Introduction Chapter 1 Human geography Chapter 2 The history of the Druze, 1017–1943 Chapter 3 Communal and social organization Chapter 4 Traditional culture and the meaning of al-Adhā feast Chapter 5 Civil status law Chapter 6 The diaspora and cultural expansion Chapter 7 The political role of the Druze from independence to the present time Chapter 8 The Druze message: plurality and unity Summary and conclusion Appendix 1 The impact of European influences on the Druze community: “The new look” Appendix 2 Sheikh Halīm Taqī al-Dīn: a man of knowledge, -
Genetic Heterogeneity of Beta Thalassemia in Lebanon Reflects
doi: 10.1046/j.1529-8817.2004.00138.x Genetic Heterogeneity of Beta Thalassemia in Lebanon Reflects Historic and Recent Population Migration N. J. Makhoul1,R.S.Wells2,H.Kaspar1,3,H.Shbaklo3,A.Taher1,4,N.Chakar1 and P. A. Zalloua1,5∗ 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon 2Oxford University, London, UK 3Genetics Research Laboratory, Chronic Care Center, Beirut, Lebanon 4Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon 5Program for Population Genetics, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, USA Summary Beta thalassemia is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by reduced (β+)orabsent (β0) beta-globin chain synthesis. In Lebanon it is the most predominant genetic defect. In this study we investigated the religious and geographic distribution of the β-thalassemia mutations identified in Lebanon, and traced their precise origins. A total of 520 β-globin chromosomes from patients of different religious and regional backgrounds was studied. Beta thalassemia mutations were identified using Amplification Refractory Mutation System (ARMS) PCR or direct gene sequencing. Six (IVS-I-110, IVS-I-1, IVS-I-6, IVS-II-1, cd 5 and the C>T substitution at cd 29) out of 20 β-globin defects identified accounted for more than 86% of the total β-thalassemia chromosomes. Sunni Muslims had the highest β-thalassemia carrier rate and presented the greatest heterogeneity, with 16 different mutations. Shiite Muslims followed closely with 13 mutations, whereas Maronites represented 11.9% of all β-thalassemic subjects and carried 7 different mutations. RFLP haplotype analysis showed that the observed genetic diversity originated from both new mutational events and gene flow from population migration. -
The Future of Lebanon Hearing Committee On
S. HRG. 106–770 THE FUTURE OF LEBANON HEARING BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON NEAR EASTERN AND SOUTH ASIAN AFFAIRS OF THE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS UNITED STATES SENATE ONE HUNDRED SIXTH CONGRESS SECOND SESSION JUNE 14, 2000 Printed for the use of the Committee on Foreign Relations ( Available via the World Wide Web: http://www.access.gpo.gov/congress/senate U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 67–981 CC WASHINGTON : 2000 VerDate 11-MAY-2000 15:20 Dec 05, 2000 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 5011 Sfmt 5011 67981 SFRELA1 PsN: SFRELA1 COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS JESSE HELMS, North Carolina, Chairman RICHARD G. LUGAR, Indiana JOSEPH R. BIDEN, JR., Delaware CHUCK HAGEL, Nebraska PAUL S. SARBANES, Maryland GORDON H. SMITH, Oregon CHRISTOPHER J. DODD, Connecticut ROD GRAMS, Minnesota JOHN F. KERRY, Massachusetts SAM BROWNBACK, Kansas RUSSELL D. FEINGOLD, Wisconsin CRAIG THOMAS, Wyoming PAUL D. WELLSTONE, Minnesota JOHN ASHCROFT, Missouri BARBARA BOXER, California BILL FRIST, Tennessee ROBERT G. TORRICELLI, New Jersey LINCOLN D. CHAFEE, Rhode Island STEPHEN E. BIEGUN, Staff Director EDWIN K. HALL, Minority Staff Director SUBCOMMITTEE ON NEAR EASTERN AND SOUTH ASIAN AFFAIRS SAM BROWNBACK, Kansas, Chairman JOHN ASHCROFT, Missouri PAUL D. WELLSTONE, Minnesota GORDON H. SMITH, Oregon ROBERT G. TORRICELLI, New Jersey ROD GRAMS, Minnesota PAUL S. SARBANES, Maryland CRAIG THOMAS, Wyoming CHRISTOPHER J. DODD, Connecticut (II) VerDate 11-MAY-2000 15:20 Dec 05, 2000 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 5904 Sfmt 5904 67981 SFRELA1 PsN: SFRELA1 CONTENTS Page Barakat, Colonel Charbel, South Lebanon Army; coordinator of the Civilian Committees, South Lebanon Refugees in Israel ............................................... -
Threshold for Regional Stabilitydownload
Lebanon: Threshold for Regional Stability Amine Gemayel President of the Republic of Lebanon, 1982-1988 Remarks Delivered at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars Washington, D.C. 8 February 2007 1 Contents Introduction The Centrality of Lebanon Lebanon as a Threshold The Threshold Option and the Need for Internal Dialogue The Threshold Option and the Need for Regional Diplomacy Conclusion Introduction It is an honor to participate in this Director’s Forum at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. This Center is a great venue for respectful dialogue and reasoned debate and is recognized as such throughout the world. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Wilson Center, which operates under the skillful direction of Lee Hamilton and Michael Van Dusen. As co-chairman of the Iraq Study Group, Mr. Hamilton again demonstrated why he enjoys a well-deserved reputation as one of America’s wisest statesmen. The Centrality of Lebanon Ladies and Gentlemen, the Middle East region is desperately in need of peace. Most obviously, the Middle East needs peace in Iraq and in Palestine. Additionally, intensifying sectarian tremors threaten to tear open fault lines throughout the Arab world. Given the realities of persistent and widespread conflict, what justifies calling Lebanon, as I do today, “The Threshold for Regional Stability?” The answer to this question begins with an understanding of how the Lebanese situation is central to the conditions in the Middle East and beyond. The centrality of Lebanon derives, I believe, from three key factors: cultural, economic, and strategic. First, taking the long view which history provides, Lebanon is intimately connected to, and a part of, both the Mediterranean cultural zone and the Middle Eastern cultural zone, and it also enjoys strong cultural links with Europe. -
The Israeli Experience in Lebanon, 1982-1985
THE ISRAELI EXPERIENCE IN LEBANON, 1982-1985 Major George C. Solley Marine Corps Command and Staff College Marine Corps Development and Education Command Quantico, Virginia 10 May 1987 ABSTRACT Author: Solley, George C., Major, USMC Title: Israel's Lebanon War, 1982-1985 Date: 16 February 1987 On 6 June 1982, the armed forces of Israel invaded Lebanon in a campaign which, although initially perceived as limited in purpose, scope, and duration, would become the longest and most controversial military action in Israel's history. Operation Peace for Galilee was launched to meet five national strategy goals: (1) eliminate the PLO threat to Israel's northern border; (2) destroy the PLO infrastructure in Lebanon; (3) remove Syrian military presence in the Bekaa Valley and reduce its influence in Lebanon; (4) create a stable Lebanese government; and (5) therefore strengthen Israel's position in the West Bank. This study examines Israel's experience in Lebanon from the growth of a significant PLO threat during the 1970's to the present, concentrating on the events from the initial Israeli invasion in June 1982 to the completion of the withdrawal in June 1985. In doing so, the study pays particular attention to three aspects of the war: military operations, strategic goals, and overall results. The examination of the Lebanon War lends itself to division into three parts. Part One recounts the background necessary for an understanding of the war's context -- the growth of PLO power in Lebanon, the internal power struggle in Lebanon during the long and continuing civil war, and Israeli involvement in Lebanon prior to 1982. -
H. Res. 1088 in the House of Representatives, U
H. Res. 1088 In the House of Representatives, U. S., December 8, 2006. Whereas on November 21, 2006, Pierre Gemayel, a Member of the March 14 parliamentary coalition, was assas- sinated in New Jdeide´, north of Beirut, Lebanon; Whereas a series of targeted attacks and killings of public leaders working to promote democracy and autonomy in Lebanon has placed a heavy toll on Lebanon’s intellectual and democratic freedoms; Whereas the prosecution by the proposed International Inde- pendent Investigation Commission of persons accused in the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri could deter future assassinations; Whereas Pierre Gemayel was born on September 24, 1972, into a prominent Lebanese family; Whereas Pierre Gemayel was first elected to the Lebanese Parliament in 2000; Whereas Pierre Gemayel was named Minister of Industry in the Lebanese Government in 2005; Whereas Amine Gemayel, the father of Pierre Gemayel and former President of Lebanon, has urged the Phalange party supporters and all Lebanese citizens to promote co- operation and solidarity and hamper attempts to instigate civil strife; 2 Whereas, on November 21, 2006, following Pierre Gemayel’s assassination, President George W. Bush stated that ‘‘the United States remains fully committed to sup- porting Lebanon’s independence and democracy in the face of attempts by Syria, Iran, and their allies within Lebanon to foment instability and violence’’; Whereas supporting the development of democratic institu- tions in Lebanon is critical to promoting the interests of the -
Defending Damascus, Betraying Beirut: Hezbollah's Communication
Defending Damascus, Betraying Beirut: Hezbollah’s Communication Strategies in the Syrian Civil War Research Thesis Presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for graduation with research distinction in International Studies in the undergraduate colleges of The Ohio State University by Maxwell Scurlock The Ohio State University April 2017 Project Advisor: Professor Jeffrey Lewis, International Studies Table of Contents Part 1 – Background Information and Historical Context Introduction – 1 1. Historical and Contextual Background – 6 a. Shi‘ism in Historical Context – 9 b. French Mandatory Period, 1920-1945 – 10 c. Independence to Black September, 1945-1970 – 14 d. The Early Years of the Lebanese Civil War and the Emergence of Hezbollah, 1970-1982 – 17 e. Hezbollah’s Formation – 21 f. Hezbollah’s Early Ideological Framework – 23 g. Syrian and Israeli Occupations of Lebanon, 1982-2005 – 24 h. Political Turmoil, 2006 Lebanon War, and 2008 Lebanese Political Crisis – 29 i. Hezbollah’s 2009 Manifesto – 31 j. The Syrian Civil War – 32 k. Sunni Islamists in Lebanon and Syria – 34 l. Lebanese Christians – 37 Part 2 – Analysis of Hezbollah’s Communications 2. Theoretical Approach to Hezbollah’s Communications – 40 3. Hezbollah in Syria – 44 a. Hezbollah’s Participation in Syria – April 30th, 2013 – 44 b. The Campaign for al-Qusayr, Part One – May 9th, 2013 – 48 c. The Campaign for al-Qusayr, Part Two – May 25th, 2013 – 50 4. Hezbollah’s Responses to Terrorism – 54 a. An Attack in al-Dahieh – August 16th, 2013 – 54 b. The Bombing of Iran’s Embassy – November 19th, 2013 – 56 5. Further Crises – 62 a. The Assassination of Hezbollah Commander Hassan al-Laqqis – December 3rd, 2013 – 62 b. -
The Mardinite Community in Lebanon: Migration of Mardin’S People
Report No: 208, March 2017 THE MARDINITE COMMUNITY IN LEBANON: MIGRATION OF MARDIN’S PEOPLE ORTADOĞU STRATEJİK ARAŞTIRMALAR MERKEZİ CENTER FOR MIDDLE EASTERN STRATEGIC STUDIES ORSAM Süleyman Nazif Sokak No: 12-B Çankaya / Ankara Tel: 0 (312) 430 26 09 Fax: 0 (312) 430 39 48 www.orsam.org.tr, [email protected] THE MARDINITE COMMUNITY IN LEBANON: MIGRATION OF MARDIN’S PEOPLE ORSAM Report No: 208 March 2017 ISBN: 978-605-9157-17-9 Ankara - TURKEY ORSAM © 2017 Content of this report is copyrighted to ORSAM. Except reasonable and partial quotation and use under the Act No. 5846, Law on Intellectual and Artistic Works, via proper citation, the content may not be used or republished without prior permission by ORSAM. The views expressed in this report reflect only the opinions of its authors and do not represent the institutional opinion of ORSAM. By: Ayşe Selcan ÖZDEMİRCİ, Middle East Instutute Sakarya University ORSAM 2 Report No: 208, March 2017 İçindekiler Preface ................................................................................................................................................................. 5 Abstract ............................................................................................................................................................... 7 INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................................................... 10 1. THE MARDINITES AS A SUBALTERN GROUP .............................................................................. -
Analysis of Platforms in Lebanon's 2018 Parliamentary Election
ا rلeمtركnزe اCل لبeنsانneي aلbلeدرLا eساThت LCPS for Policy Studies r e p a 9 Analysis of Platforms 1 P 0 2 y a y M in Lebanon's 2018 c i l o Parliamentary Election P Nizar Hassan Founded in 1989, the Lebanese Center for Policy Studies is a Beirut-based independent, non-partisan think tank whose mission is to produce and advocate policies that improve good governance in fields such as oil and gas, economic development, public finance, and decentralization. Copyright© 2019 The Lebanese Center for Policy Studies Designed by Polypod Executed by Dolly Harouny Sadat Tower, Tenth Floor P.O.B 55-215, Leon Street, Ras Beirut, Lebanon T: + 961 1 79 93 01 F: + 961 1 79 93 02 [email protected] www.lcps-lebanon.org Analysis of Platforms in Lebanon's 2018 Parliamentary Election 1 1 Nizar Hassan The author would like to thank Sami Nizar Hassan is a former researcher at the Lebanese Center for Policy Studies. He Atallah, John McCabe, and Georgia Dagher for their contributions to this paper. holds an M.Sc. in Labour, Social Movements and Development from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. At LCPS, his work focused on Lebanese political parties and movements and their policy platforms. His master’s research examined protest movements in Lebanon and he currently researches political behavior in the districts of Chouf and Aley. Nizar co-hosts ‘The Lebanese Politics Podcast’, and his previous work has included news reporting and non-profit project management. 2 LCPS Policy Paper Introduction Prior to the May 2018 Lebanese Parliamentary Election, a majority of 2 2 political parties and emerging political groups launched electoral Henceforth referred to as 'emerging platforms outlining their political and socioeconomic goals and means groups'. -
Religion and Politics in Contemporary Lebanon
RELIGION AND POLITICS IN CONTEMPORARY LEBANON THESIS SUBMITTED FOR THE DEGREE OF Bottor of ^t)ilos(opl)p IN POLITICAL SCIENCE BY KALEEM AHMED Under the Supervision of Professor Mahmudul Haq T^+3i<^ CENTRE OF WEST ASIAN STUDIES ALIGARH MUSLIM UNIVERSITY ALIGARH (INDIA) 1993 MOir=v5?rci^ni 11\ ABSTRACT 7 This thesis deals primarily with the religio-political development in Lebanon during its recent history. The political history of Lebanon is the history of intermittent warfare between the varying religio-ethnic groups. The internal contradiction and regional politics in Lebanon often assumed the form of religious struggle between the various warring groups. The Civil War of 1975-76 was mainly the result of internal contradiction and regional politics. To understand the origin of confessional politics in Lebanon it is necessary to understand the fact that the origin of religious warfare lay in the feudal set up which Lebanon has inherited from its past history. The Druze constitute 7 percent of the Lebanese population. The sect originated in Egypt in the beginning of the eleventh century during the reign of the Fatimid Caliph al-Hakim (909-1171). Druze carried to an extreme the Isma'ili doctrine according to which each of the attributes of God was made manifest to mankind in the personality of a Prophet or Imam. Druze dominated Mount Lebanon and their hegemony established in the early seventeenth century, remained unchallenged for a long time. Mamluks and later on Ottomans permitted the Druze to maintain their special feudal tradition and to manage their affairs as they pleased. But by the end of mid-eighteenth century the growth of the Maronite community in number and social importance had became a matter of political consequence. -
(Formerly Keesing's Contemporary Archives), Volume 27, June, 1981 Lebanon, Israel, Lebanon, Page 30917 © 1931-2006 Keesing's Worldwide, LLC - All Rights Reserved
Keesing's Record of World Events (formerly Keesing's Contemporary Archives), Volume 27, June, 1981 Lebanon, Israel, Lebanon, Page 30917 © 1931-2006 Keesing's Worldwide, LLC - All Rights Reserved. Syrian Plans to redeploy ADF - National Reconciliation Efforts Notwithstanding the imposition of a ceasefire in southern Lebanon in the latter part of 1979 [see 30093 A] and numerous diplomatic efforts to find a lasting peaceful settlement there, the situation in the south of the country remained critical throughout 1980 and the first three months of 1981. Moreover, in April-May 1981further serious tension developed in Israeli-Syrian relations over Lebanon (details of which will be given in a later article). The period to March 1981 was characterized in particular by (i) numerous Israeli air, land and sea attacks on positions held by the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) as part of Israel's policy of pre-emptive strikes against guerrillas (which, it claimed, had reduced Palestinian raids against Israeli targets by 52 per cent in 1980 compared with 1979); (ii) frequent exchanges between on the one hand Israel and its rightist Christian allies in the area immediately to the north of the Israel-Lebanon border (commanded by Maj. SaadHaddad--see below) and on the other Palestinian and leftist forces; and (iii) increasing harassment of soldiers serving with the 6,000-man United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) by all groups involved in the area, but in particular by the forces of Maj. Haddad (described by the UN as the "de facto" forces). Israel's mounting involvement in southern Lebanon provoked several aerial battles with Syrians serving with the Arab deterrent force in Lebanon (ADF, comprising some 23,000 Syrians since the withdrawal of other troop-contributing countries in 1978-79--see page 30005), and in December 1980 led to the first ground battle between Israelis and Syrians in Lebanon.