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Unity Arab for Center the at studies of director associate as worked previously He English). and ( articles non-academ ic and academic 2016) several and Tauris, (I.B. Withdrawal Syrian since Power for Struggle the and Parties Political Lebanon: in The assassination of Hariri was followed by deep sectarian division and conflict between Sunnis’ and Shiites’ political representatives, punctu “Report: Security Forces Thwart IS Terror Schemes in Beirut,” Naharnet Beirut,” in Schemes Terror IS Thwart Forces Security “Report: The presidential term of Michel Sleiman (2008-14) ended in May 2014. Until October 2016, this position was vacant and the government was was government the and vacant was position 2016, this October 2014. May Until in (2008-14) ended Sleiman Michel of term presidential The “Why Lebanon could be spared from recent terrorism bloodshed,” Al-Monitor Democracy of author the is Assi Abbas law. electoral anew on agreed parties Lebanese the 2017 before April in submitted was article This 1 ------2005. 14 on Hariri February Rafik Minister Prime mer for the of assassination the and 2005 in withdrawal Syrian the since challenge critical most country’s ian conflict and its represent repercussions the are critical to political and security stability. The Syr facing is country the challenges the Nevertheless, 2016 in Challenges Political Lebanon’s key). Tur and Iraq (Jordan, neighbours other its with has border Syria’s most secure, to as compared those it Lebanese the making borders, the from terrorists of works and cells. net terrorist several dismantling and to capturing net. cabi effective an of absence and vacancy dential presi atwo-year after agovernment form and dent aPresi to elect able was Lebanon Nevertheless, significant influence over domestic politics. its to weaken overthrown being it on counting were ly weakened. So, Hezbollah’s domestic opponents regime is toppled, its domestic allies will be severe Assad the If Hezbollah. particular in parties, mestic do with alliances strong built regime Syrian The els. and lev social economic implications on political, severe caused crisis refugee Syrian the and comes , 31 May 2016, www.naharnet.com/stories/en/210522. . , 16 January 2017,, 16 January www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2017/01/ 5 2 The former Prime Minister was was Hariri Saad Minister Prime former The Also, the led forces’ security Lebanese efforts 4 The Lebanese parties’ reliance on its out its on reliance parties’ Lebanese The 3 ------ed an average 9% growth in GDP per annum. per GDP in growth 9% average an ed 2007-2010, years the for while record economy the 2016 for growth 2%, to about economic in decline to a led stability political of absence the and tions institu state in paralysis the level, economic At the in 2016 Challenges Economic Lebanon’s sition of Prime Minister. po the for Hariri Saad leader its to nominate proval ap Movement’s Patriotic Free the secured ment Move Future the return, In elections. presidential the in Aoun Michel leader its for victory toter secure lat the approached and position its altered doxically para Movement, Future to the opponent staunch a previously Movement, Patriotic Free The es. 14March with coincided coalitions newhas allianc 8 and March the between 2005 since witnessed has Lebanon that division major The alliances. cal politi existing of areshuffling caused deal dramatic and, in turn, an increase in the public deficit. public the in increase an turn, in and, spending to undisciplined led budget state of lack The elections. parliamentary the of proximity to the due it approve and to debate fail likely most will MPs 12 in budget years, first the approved has ernment state budget since 2005. Although the current gov a of absence the instance, for as, such factors, eral to sev back traced be can growth economic in cline 11 10 8 7 6 ministers. cabinet all of athird represent who ministers 8Coalition March the of resignation the 2011 in into resignation forced was after ernment . Hariri’s gov the of head the President, current the with deal plicit im an reaching after to government to return able 9 13 February 2017,13 www.ft.com/content/5c3b0dfa-e88a-11e6-893c-082c54a7f539 February lebanese-government-reveals-its-first-budget-in-12-years.html. Kataeb. and Forces Lebanese the like parties Movement involved Future the and by headed was 14 coalition March the and Movement) Amal and Movement Patriotic Free the (like parties several volved gling-rubbish-collection-160923162318470.html rose from 138% from 2015 in rose to 144% 2016. in GDP. of It a percentage as world the in highest the of one is which deficit, public its to cover streams revenue to provide unable was country the addition, “Lebanese government reveals its first budget in 12 years,” CNBC 12 in years,” budget first its reveals government “Lebanese About Lebanon UNDP See in and Hezbollah by headed was 8coalition March The 2005. February in Hariri of assassination the after formed were coalitions two The “Lebanon struggling “Lebanon with rubbish collection again,” Aljazeera Financial Times Financial malaise,” political wider of asymbol dump nearby at Rubbish infestation: gull airport Beirut amid hunters in calls “Lebanon B ank A udi , Lebanon Economic Report , www.lb.undp.org/content/lebanon/en/home/countryinfo.html , www.bankaudigroup.com/GroupWebsite/openAudiFile.aspx?id=3301. . 8 The de The 9 Leba 6 This This

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IEMed. Mediterranean Yearbook 2017 207 Geographical Overview | Middle East and Turkey Panorama IEMed. Mediterranean Yearbook 2017 208 Geographical Overview | Middle East and Turkey Panorama Lebanon at the end of 2016 of end at the 1,011,366,Lebanon about was in refugees Syrian of number the that estimated is It society. and economy Lebanese to the lenge The Syrian refugee crisis represents another chal treasury. state the on drain able aconsider is which and bill the for funding provide to bureaucracy state the in corruption denouncing and reforms economic for calling protests to several witness been has far. so Lebanon approval mentary parlia bill’s to the obstacle main the been tor has World Quarterly around Lebanon, sea the in exploration gas and oil for step sential series. 16 15 14 13 12 stalled since 2013. been had that decrees gas and oil of enactment cabinet’s the was year, which past the during noting worth policy economic positive one been has There costs. aforementioned the cover turn, in 19 18 17 Mar-23/398746-berri-electoral-law-first-salary-scale-second.ashx been witness to dramatic developments at the po at the developments to dramatic witness been has Lebanon year last the during although short, In Conclusion and resolve its power shortage. deficit public its cover to help revenues generate Abbas & Abbas non-economy-oil-idUSKBN14P03E their on presence social stability. of effects long-term the about questions prompting levels, to worrying mounting are refugees Syrian tensions hosting between villages and cities and to the influx of Syrian workers. Syrian of influx to the 2012 in 9% from rose rate ment to 12% 2014 in due unemploy The level. poverty the affected also and 2012-14, period over the activity economic lost in dollars 5billion about Lebanon cost conflict The economy. the on influence adramatic have had they decreasing, is refugees of number the Although population. Lebanese 25% the of to almost equal ‘New Lebanese government OKs oil decrees to start stalled tender process,’ Reuters, 4 January 2017, 4January www.reuters.com/article/us-leba Reuters, process,’ tender stalled start to decrees oil OKs government Lebanese ‘New UNDP About Lebanon UNDP ‘Berri: Electoral law first, salary scale second,’ The Daily Star second,’ scale salary first, law Electoral ‘Berri: Roundtable report report Roundtable Jobs,’ Creating and Services Providing of Challenges The Lebanon: on Crisis Refugee Syrian the of Repercussions ‘The The elections were postponed because the Lebanese parties were not able to agree on a new electoral law. For further details see: see: details further For law. electoral anew on agree to able not were parties Lebanese the because postponed were elections The See United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) page: http://data.unhcr.org/syrianrefugees/country.php?id=122 page: (UNHCR) Refugees for Commissioner High Nations United See Ibid. Ibid. Lebanese Center for Policy Studies, January 2016 ,www.lcps-lebanon.org/publications/1453288522-syrian_refugee_crisis_web.pdf. January Studies, Policy for Center Lebanese W orrall , Vol. 36, No. 10, pp. 1944-67, 10, 2015. pp. No. 36, , Vol. , James, ‘Stable Instability: The Syrian Conflict and the Postponement of the 2013 Lebanese Parliamentary Elections,’ 18 which the government hopes will will hopes government the which 17 , www.lb.undp.org/content/lebanon/en/home/countryinfo.html This is considered to be an es an to be considered is This . 15 At the societal level, level, societal At the 16 12 This fac This 13 14 . ------

, 23 March 2017, March , 23 www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Lebanon-News/2017/ structure. infra aging to the improvements necessary the make as well as bill, scale salary and deficit public the to cover streams revenue to provide possible is as soon as begin should exploration gas and Oil policy. State’s the of financial implementation the regulating for essential is which budget the prove to ap needs Parliament the level, economic the At Lebanese. and refugees both for problems of ahost causing thereby country, the of cities and es villag different in refugees of settlement controlled un to the leading camps, refugee proper provide to have failed governments Lebanese different The possible. as soon as addressed be should which Another challenge is the Syrian refugee crisis, parties. Muslim the of influence the under them brought which voters, by Muslim elected were MPs their of most since Parliament the in community their resents The Christian believe parties the 1960 law misrep ry elections (known as the 1960 electoral law). 1960 the as electoral (known elections ry parliamenta 2009 the for adopted one the replace to law electoral anew to formulate need the around debate now between political revolves parties The scheduled. as elections of running the and law electoral anew for calling protests several gering trig and class political Lebanese the towards fury 2013 in twice 2014 and public postponed sparking scene at the time. elections The parliamentary were political the dominated which class political the of victory the at securing 1990, in war aimed il was civ the of wake the in laws electoral consecutive of of the Lebanese people. The selective formulation electoral law that provides a better representation anew of formulation the is class political Lebanese the facing is that challenge main The addressed. be litical level, there are several challenges that should . . Third A ssi 19 ------,