THE MONTHLY INTERVIEWS � Published by Information International Sal GEORGE DAMON

issue number 132 |July 2013 LEBANON’S PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS IF HELD EXTENSION OF PARLIAMENT’S TERM WEIGHED BY THE CONSTITUTIONAL COUNCIL THE MONTHLY INTERVIEWS www.iimonthly.com Published by Information International sal GEORGE DAMON

LEBANON’S USURPED COASTAL PROPERTIES

4 LEBANON’S USURPED COASTAL PROPERTIES

11 LEBANON’S PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS IF HELD 16 EXTENSION OF PARLIAMENT’S TERM WEIGHED BY THE CONSTITUTIONAL COUNCIL 18 MIXED MARRIAGES IN LEBANON (2) THE NORTH MOHAFAZA 22 MARINE FISHING: RESOURCE NEEDING REGULATION P: 26 P: 22

23 RESTLESS LEG SYNDROME: DR. HANNA SAADAH

24 MEASURING THE ELEMENT OF KNOWLEDGE IN NATIONAL ECONOMY: ANTOINE BOUTROS 25 THE ADOLESCENCE CRISIS: DR. MICHEL NAWFAL

26 HOW DO LEBANESE SEE THEMSELVES?: MAËVA DREVET

27 INTERVIEW: ACS HEADMASTER GEORGE DAMON P: 16 29 BADER - YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR PROGRAM

31 POPULAR CULTURE 44 HISTORY OF THE BAATH PARTY IN SYRIA 32 DEBUNKING MYTH#71: SAF’IT HAWA OR HOW 45 THE CHRISTIANS OF IRAQ THE WIND MADE US SICK 46 IRAQ: JOURNALISTS’ GRAVEYARD 33 MUST-READ BOOKS: AMERICAN CULTURAL ANNIHILATION: THE ENGLISH CURSE OF CANAAN 47 IRAQI PARLIAMENT 34 MUST-READ CHILDREN’S BOOK: KNOWLEDGE MASTERS: HISTORY OF THE WORLD 49 REAL ESTATE PRICES IN LEBANON - MAY 2013

35 LEBANON FAMILIES: FAMILIES DENOTING 50 DID YOU KNOW THAT?: PERFORMANCE OF LEBANESE TOWNS (4) THE WORLD’S BIGGEST AUTOMAKERS IN 2011

36 DISCOVER LEBANON: AAINATA 51 LEBANON’S STATS

37 MAY 2013 HIGHLIGHTS 41 THIS MONTH IN HISTORY- LEBANON JULY 1958: US MARINES IN BEIRUT

43 THIS MONTH IN HISTORY- ARAB WORLD THE ASSASSINATION OF KING ABDULLAH I OF JORDAN |EDITORIAL

THE STOLEN LAND

Once upon a time, there was a small village in a country called Lebanon. The village was often mistakenly called “Shekka”, for people did not realize its real name: El-Heri. One day, a man decided to buy a property by El-Heri’s seaside and demolished all infringements around the area, so that his property became exemplary. Slowly, beach sand accumulated, and the shore was restored, an event that was quickly celebrated by the “neighbors” who hurried to launch advertising campaigns urging people to come and swim at the most wonderful beach in Lebanon, and cutting trees and excavating land. Ironically, the landowner became the transgressor, while the beach swimmers and visitors were subjected to threats at gunpoint, should they fail to pay.

This is not a rift between March 8 and March 14 Forces. This is simply a story of people who place themselves above the law. Railways, public roads and beaches are all victims of Transportation, which prohibits charging money for access to the beach and urges the settlement of all infringements on public property.

Picking holes in the previous or future practices of March 8 or March 14 Forces should never stem from hatred or envy or be employed for personal political gain. Encroaching on public and private property, threatening people and fabricating accusations to cover theft are all punishable and they are nestled within both March 8 and March 14 Forces.

There is another stamp though: the respect of the laws, oneself and others and the abstention from R "#$%O' ()( So let it be known that however strong those in power are, only justice can grant them immunity, for it is the foundation of governance. From a sound judiciary emerges a sound nation.”

) '*) to sleazy politics and nepotism. Coastal and riverside properties are stolen in Lebanon and this is criminalized by the law.

Indeed, the matter is not connected to March 8 and March 14 Forces, but to having access to electricity, roads, schools and hospitals and to maintaining values and principles that can save our society and what we call “a state” from decay in both form and substance. 4 | LEADER

LEBANON’S USURPED COASTAL PROPERTIES

Since the end of the Lebanese civil war in 1990 to date, three presidents and 15 governments have succeeded to power in Lebanon. All ministerial statements issued in the past 20 years or so have recognized the need for taxing illegal coastal properties, but no action has been taken to tackle the problem. The same monotonous recital has been repeated so many times that people have eventually become tired of it especially that no actual measures have been taken to control the expansion of unlicensed and illegal properties along the shoreline. Even those, who were licensed to put up structures on public property, have overstepped their licensed areas and are paying hardly any fees to the state for occupying the land. The chaotic status of coastal properties is an indication of an impotent political system incapable of resolving the existing encroachments, especially that politicians have agreed to

Legal Framework of the Occupation Permanent facilities may not be erected on coastal of Coastal Public Properties public property except for sporting facilities measuring no more than 5% of the total area of the Decision No. 144/s of 1925 A General Saray, High Commissioner of the Republic + $ / 0) License seeker should own a property neighboring and the Mountain of the Druze issued on June 10, the coastal public area he wishes to occupy, 3567'399;) provided that such area is at best twice as big as including coastal ones. Despite being 75 years old, the private adjacent property. the law is still in force today. Decree No. 2522 of 1992 The decision stipulated that public property > ' 6766 # 37 3556 should not be sold, nor should ownership over it >'36?9367 be acquired with time. The seaside, including the 35AK farthest distance that waves can reach in winter in appraisal of every square meter. The decree divided the addition to sand and gravel beaches, makes part of 0)K@N public property. The state and the municipalities rating. Occupiers were to pay for each square meter have the right to issue temporary occupancy lump-sum fees ranging from LBP 10 000 (from licenses for these properties for a period of one year 'Lebanon to the north border of Mennieh) that may be renewed by tacit consent, granted that to LBP 1 250 000 (from the northern side of the the occupancy fees are mentioned in the working or ' occupancy licenses. ) X #Y Z rule is used to determine the annual fees: Decree No. 4810 of 1966 >'9?3@#6935AA Occupancy fee= Occupied area × value of a disposition of coastal property and contains major square meter × 0.50% (or 0.75% or 2% or 0.1% provisions aimed at protecting such property: depending on the nature of the facility- See the example in the following box). Coastal public property shall remain at the disposal of the public and no one shall have the right to use The decree permitted free reclamation of the sea area it in favor of a personal or private interest, unless provided that the license holders do not impose fees in exceptional cases where the project bears a on the boats and yachts using the waters or prohibit )( citizens from using them. Otherwise, they will be industry. subjected to taxation at a proportion of 1 per thousand.

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Status of the Occupied Areas of the Coastal Coastal Occupancy Revenues Public Property >'6766;5 The occupied areas of the coastal public property are state charges on the legally occupied seafront properties A% 0`*9K)Z{) ?[A @@@ 2 licensed and draft decree aimed to raise those fees to LBP 15.7 billion legalized by virtue of government decrees prior to per year, but to no avail. The draft decree still falls short the 1975 civil war. Occupiers of these areas pay of giving the state its fair share of income from Lebanon’s their dues to the Lebanese state (Table 1). shores as no fees are being collected from the aggressors, 3576?6[2 licensed by which encourages further violations. However trivial the virtue of permits issued between 1990 and 2012. revenues channeled to the state, it is also unreasonable Occupiers of the majority of these areas pay the to impose higher fees on the licensed occupiers while fees required of them and include municipalities exempting the illegal ones, whose annual revenues are and other public institutions like the Council for estimated at USD 200 million. Development and Reconstruction (Table 2). permits issued by virtue of government decrees. How are the annual fees calculated? Z 9K @@@ 2 and their occupiers pay for the licensed square meters only, To calculate the annual fees that occupiers must ]Z)KY pay, the following is adopted: Unlicensed areas amounting to 1 500 000 m2 and occupied during the war and the years that Swimming pools and baths without dormitories followed. Controversy over these areas might be owe the state a fee amounting to 0.5% of the resolved as their occupiers have ownership over value of the existing or reclaimed land they (]Z)KY occupy, 0.1% of the open water area and 1% of _ A7@ @@@ 2 and the closed water area. occupied during the war. It is unlikely that the Seaside hotels and resorts for tourists owe the dispute over these areas will be settled as their state a fee amounting to 0.75% of the value of occupiers have no adjacent private property. the occupied land, 0.1% of the open water area ) and 1% of the closed water area. municipalities without obtaining a permit. Industrial and commercial facilities owe the state a fee amounting to 0.5% of the value of the occupied land, 0.1% of the open water area and 1% of the closed water area. Facilities for private use owe the state a fee amounting to 2% of the value of the occupied land, 0.1% of the open water area and 0.5% of the closed water area. @3| value of the occupied land.

For instance, he who obtains a license to occupy 2000 m2 in SOLIDERE, where the square meter is set at LBP 9 million, should pay an annual fee of 0`*3K7 and LBP 90 million if none. The fee constitutes 0.5% of the total value of the property amounting to around LBP 18 billion, which is far less than the percentage of fees adopted in land and property A|Z pay an annual fee of LBP 1 billion.

issue 132 | July 2013 6 | LEADER

In a nutshell, the status of the coastal public properties is the following: Some licenses have been given prior to 1975 and afterwards straight until 2012, but the occupancy fees are extremely low compared to the value and location of the property. The amendment of the 1992 decree 0`*9K)0`*37[))R) )A|@7|

The encroachments on coastal properties are committed by a minority of occupiers who had obtained legal licenses in addition to other illegal individuals and companies who have infringed on public property without permission or licensing. The state stands helpless as to the collection of fees from owners of those investment projects who are mostly political parties or entities obstructing the issuance of a law or a decree )_$>K9)355@

Lebanon’s shoreline.

Legal occupied areas (Prior 1975) Table 1 Qada’a Occupied area (Square meter) Chouf 160 700 Baabda 51 340 Aley 6011 Beirut 85 620 Kessrouan 57 878 Matn 111 085 Jbeil 98 640 Batroun 249 528 Koura 9950 Tripoli 45 550 Total 876 302 Source: Report of the Ministry of Public Works and Transportation

Legal occupied areas (1990- 2012) Table 2 Occupied coastal Occupied water Annual fees Decree’s No. and date Location Purpose of occupancy Occupier land (m2) area (m2) (LBP) Amarat Anchorage area and 1766 17/1/1991 - 19 445 26 200 000 Gas company Shalhoub installation of 4 gas pipes

2200 13/2/1992 Beddawi - 8750 Installation of 2 oil pipes 656 000 Oil company

2201 13/2/1992 Beddawi - 6500 Installation of 2 oil pipes 487 000 Gas company

2261 12/3/1992 Tripoli - 6500 Installation of 2 oil pipes 1 400 000 Oil company

Industrial 5260 21/6/1994 Selaata 106 500 100 500 Building docks and silos 9 500 000 company

5868 3/11/1994 Anfeh 7000 - Swimming pools 15 700 000 Tourist company

Commercial Receiving ships to unload Determined by 6797 8/6/1995 Jiyyeh 100 000 50 000 and industrial raw materials and fuels Decree 2522 company

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Legal occupied areas (1990- 2012) Table 2 Occupied coastal Occupied water Annual fees Decree’s No. and date Location Purpose of occupancy Occupier land (m2) area (m2) (LBP) Determined by 7464 9/11/1995 Beirut 32 320 10.80 Swimming pools Tourist company Decree 2522 Anchorage area for Determined by Industrial 8079 21/3/1996 Selaata 840 11 120 industrial ships Decree 2522 company Swimming pools and Determined by 8304 2/5/1996 Batroun 5200 2100 Individuals sporting tourist facilities Decree 2522 Restoring and equipping Nominal fee Municipality of 11435 4/12/1997 Ain Mreisseh 1225 - Lebanon’s Artisan House (LBP 1000) Beirut Swimming pool and 1930 17/12/1999 Heri 17 090 21 826 30 000 000 Individuals anchorage area Establishment of Al- Nominal fee Municipality of 2461 14/2/2000 Saida 68 111 - Mal’ab Al-Baladi (LBP 1000) Saida Building a corniche and a Nominal fee Municipality of 2854 25/4/2000 Ghazieh 39 000 - garden (LBP 1000) Ghazieh

5388 21/4/2001 Adloun 258 10 122 Farming fish in cages 5 300 000 Individuals

Council for Building a new road Nominal fee Development 6265 6/9/2001 Tripoli - 7337 and protecting Tripoli’s (LBP 1000) and stadium Reconstruction Tourist facilities with a 7403 11/2/2002 Jiyyeh 17 577 11 902 158 100 000 Individuals basin for boats Establishing a plant for Nominal fee Municipality of 7850 30/4/2002 Saida 38 095 - solid waste treatment (LBP 1000) Saida Tourist facilities, swimming pools, 8129 3/7/2002 Choueifat 79 413 2315 667 700 000 Tourist company restaurants and a health club Establishing a passage on 8237 17/7/2002 Heri 210 - 3 150 000 Tourist company the trail road line Swimming pools, playing 10844 6/9/2003 Zouk Mosbeh 14 052 - 57 964 000 Tourist company fields and parks Tourist and sporting facilities with a swimming 13420 25/9/2004 Choueifat 37 050 13 000 160 000 000 Individuals pool and a dock for tourist boats Tourist facilities, 13707 3/12/2004 Dbayeh 58 825 - swimming pools and a 141 200 000 Tourist company chairlift A spare prayer hall used Nominal fee 14879 1/7/2005 El-Mina 154 - when the mosque is Islamic charity (LBP 1000) packed with worshipers Installation of a drain pipe Nominal fee 15495 17/10/2005 Jiyyeh 15 302 - about 480 m in length and CDR (LBP 1000) 560 cm in diameter

issue 132 | July 2013 8 | LEADER

Legal occupied areas (1990- 2012) Table 2 Occupied coastal Occupied water Annual fees Decree’s No. and date Location Purpose of occupancy Occupier land (m2) area (m2) (LBP) Tourist and sporting facilities with a swimming 31 22/2/2007 Batroun 5200 2100 12 230 000 Tourist company pool and a mobile snack shop Waste fermentation and Nominal fee 583 21/7/2007 Burj Hamoud 33 795 - CDR fertilization center (LBP 1000) Ministry Buildings and boat basin Nominal fee of Public 913 13/11/2007 Batroun 28 852 - for the maritime institute (LBP 1000) Works and Transportation Tourist and sporting facilities with swimming 955 21/11/2007 Batroun 17 933 19 093 46 078 000 Tourist company pools, gardens and two docks for tourist boats. Ministry A building associated with Nominal fee of Public 988 24/11/2007 El-Mina 2160 - the Port of Tripoli (LBP 1000) works and Transportation Installation of a drain pipe Nominal fee 1166 18/3/2008 Jbeil 19 273 - about 858 m in length and CDR (LBP 1000) 500 mm in diameter Installation of a drain pipe Nominal fee 616 27/10/2008 Tripoli 37 635 - about 1500 m in length CDR (LBP 1000) and 1600 mm in diameter Constructing a water Nominal fee 1406 18/2/2009 Qalamoun 500 - CDR supply pumping station (LBP 1000)

Establishing Tripoli’s Nominal fee 1791 23/4/2009 Tripoli 500 178 CDR industrial city (LBP 1000)

Nominal fee Municipality of 2408 20/6/2009 Bebnine 3547 - Public park (LBP 1000) Bebnine Constructing a 2409 20/6/2009 Shiyyah breakwater, a dock for 27 160 15 710 339 800 000 Tourist company (Amended) (Summerland) tourist boats, a health club and a restaurant Protecting Saida’s Nominal fee 5709 6/4/2011 Saida 634 640 - CDR seafront environment (LBP 1000)

Installation of two sewage Nominal fee 8922 21/9/2012 Qalamoun 1960 - CDR pumping stations (LBP 1000)

Installation of a sewage Nominal fee 8947 22/9/2012 Batroun 802 - CDR pumping station (LBP 1000)

Installation of a sewage Nominal fee 8948 22/9/2012 Selaata 970 - CDR pumping station (LBP 1000)

Source: Official Gazette

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Encroachments on coastal public properties by Mohafaza (area in m2)Table 3 No. of occupiers Coastal land Water area Facilities Mount Lebanon 390 935 195 124 126 119 244 Beirut 30 23 569 Not specified 7 772 South 367 468 933 Not specified 126 158 North 281 766 550 216 975 52 941 Total 1068 2 194 247 341 101 306 115 Source: Report of the Ministry of Public Works and Transportation

Value of the square meter according to the 1992 decree and the newly proposed value Table 4 Real estate zone Price according to the 1992 decree (LBP) New price (LBP) Qada’a of Akkar Arida 15 000 40 000 Sheikh Znad 15 000 40 000 Mqayte’/ Qoulay’at 15 000 45 000 Mahmara 15 000 45 000 Bebnine 15 000 40 000 Qada’a of Tripoli Zouq Behnine 15 000 100 000 Mennieh 35 000 120 000 Beddawi 35 000 150 000 Basateen- Tripoli 750 000 1 500 000 Marfaa- Tripoli 750 000 1 500 000 Qalamoun 750 000 1 000 000 Qada’a of Koura Hraysheh and Anfeh 300 000 650 000 Qada’a of Batroun Chekka 150 000 450 000 Heri 200 000 600 000 Hamat 150 000 450 000 Selaata 150 000 450 000 Fad’ous 300 000 750 000 Touhoum 300 000 750 000 Batroun 300 000 900 000 Qada’a of Jbeil Bqaq El-Dine 250 000 900 000 Aqiba 250 000 900 000 Bouar 250 000 900 000 Safra 550 000 900 000 Tabarja 550 000 1 450 000 Kfaryassine 550 000 1 450 000 Wata Slam 550 000 1 450 000 Jounieh (Sahel Alma, Harat Sakhr, Ghadeer) 550 000 2 150 000

issue 132 | July 2013 10 | LEADER

Value of the square meter according to the 1992 decree and the newly proposed value Table 4 Real estate zone Price according to the 1992 decree (LBP) New price (LBP) Sarba 550 000 2 150 000 Zouk Mikael 550 000 1 800 000 Zouk Mosbeh 450 000 1 800 000 Qada’a of Matn Dbayeh- Antelias 450 000 3 600 000 Jal el-Dib- Zalka- Amarat Shalhoub 450 000 3 000 000 Baouchriye 450 000 1 450 000 Burj Hammoud 450 000 1 450 000 Mohafaza of Beirut Solidere- Marfaa 1 000 000 9 000 000 Medawar/ Zone 1/ Zone 7 750 000 3 000 000 Minaa el-Hosn/ Zone 9- Dar el-Mreisseh 1 250 000 7 500 000 Ras Beirut 625 000 3 750 000 Ramlet el-Bayda (Msaytbeh) 625 000 3 750 000 Qada’a of Baabda Shiyah/ to the north of Coral Beach 625 000 7 500 000 Shiyah/ to the south of Coral Beach 300 000 3 750 000 Bourj El-Barajneh 300 000 900 000 Tahouitet El-Ghadeer 300 000 900 000 Qada’a of Aley Choueifat- Oumara 750 000 1 800 000 El-Qebbeh- Oumara 750 000 2 250 000 Qada’a of Chouf Neemeh 550 000 1 200 000 Damour 550 000 1 200 000 Jiyyeh 350 000 1 500 000 Jadra 250 000 1 500 000 rmeily 250 000 1 500 000 Qada’a of Saida Awwali 150 000 1 200 000 Qala’a 300 000 2 250 000 Dekerman 300 000 900 000 Ghazieh (Zahrani) 300 000 600 000 Addousieh 30 000 450 000 Sarafand 30 000 450 000 Baysariyeh 30 000 450 000 Saksakieh 30 000 450 000 Adloun 30 000 450 000 Qada’a of Sour Mhayleb 50 000 450 000 Ain Abou Abdallah 50 000 450 000 Abbasiyeh 50 000 1 200 000 Sour 125 000 2 250 000 Southern Sour towards Nabatieh 25 000 600 000 Source: Draft law on the increase of coastal fees

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LEBANON’S PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS IF HELD: 705 CANDIDATES AND 128 SEATS

The Ministry of Interior and Municipalities closed on the night of May 27/28 the door of candidature for the parliamentary elections that were supposed to take place on the 16th of June. The total number of electoral candidates amounted to 705, all contesting over 128 seats in Parliament. Uncontested, MP Michel Moussa won by default the Greek Catholic seat in the district of Zahrani, thus limiting the competition to 127 parliamentarian seats. Table 1 illustrates the detailed distribution of candidates by sect and district and helps us establish the following:

The average number of candidates at the level of districts is 5.5 per seat. By Mohafaza: `~R%A[; {%73; '%AA; `6%7; 0)%75; `)X%9?; `%9[; %9[; $')%K; %96; `K%93; By sect: `%K7; /{%[9; (X)%K9; $%A7; $%K; /%A9; ')%6K; %A; $%6K; %A; %3A; >N%73; `#)%3K; %7; %96; By seat: {%9; The Sunni seat in the district of Zahle attracted an $R%KA; all-out competition, with 17 candidates setting their %K; 3A Shia’a seat in the same district, while the third most By district: contested seat is that assigned to the Greek Catholics %3@9; in Matn and attracting 12 candidates. The Druze seat %59; of the Baabda district also ranks third, along with >%5K; the Shia’a seat in Jbeil. Fourth in the list with 11 #)%[[; running candidates are the Maronite seats of Tripoli #NN%[A; /`3 %[6; %[; The Greek Catholic seat of Beirut 1, the Greek %AK; Orthodox seat of the Marjeyoun-Hasbaya district `3%7?; $R`~R `)%7?; district drew mild electoral interest with only two `~R%79; candidates competing for each seat. Z%73;

issue 132 | July 2013 12 | PUBLIC SECTOR

Distribution of candidates by sect and district

Electoral District Sunni Shia’a Druze

Seats Candidates Seats Candidates Seats Candidates Seats Candidates

Beirut 1 5 29 ------

Beirut 2 4 20 1 5 1 8 - -

Beirut 3 10 41 5 22 1 4 1 3

Beirut 19 90 6 27 2 12 1 3

Matn 8 51 ------

Kessrouan 5 36 ------

Jbeil 3 23 - - 1 12 - -

Aley 5 21 - - - - 2 7

Chouf 8 41 2 9 - - 2 11

Baabda 6 35 - - 2 8 1 12

Mount Lebanon 35 207 2 9 3 20 5 30

Saida 2 6 2 6 - - - -

Zahrani 3 5 - - 2 4 - -

Jezzine 3 23 ------

Sour 4 8 - - 4 8 - -

Nabatieh 3 7 - - 3 7 - -

Bint Jbeil 3 4 - - 3 4 - -

Marjeyoun/Hasbaya 5 17 1 6 2 5 1 4

South and Nabatieh 23 70 3 12 14 28 1 4

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Table 1

Maronite Greek Orthodox Greek Catholic Armenian Orthodox

Seats Candidates Seats Candidates Seats Candidates Seats Candidates

161111216

------27

--13----

1621412313

42521111213

536------

211------

2717----

317--14- -

315------

19 111 3 18 2 16 1 3

------

----11--

216--17- -

------

--12----

2161228- -

issue 132 | July 2013 14 | PUBLIC SECTOR

Distribution of candidates by sect and district

Electoral District Sunni Shia’a Druze

Seats Candidates Seats Candidates Seats Candidates Seats Candidates

Zahle 7 73 1 17 1 16 - -

Baalbeck-Hermel 10 48 2 11 6 20 - -

Western Beqa’a- Rashaya 6322 151 2 1 4

Beqa’a 23 153 5 43 8 38 1 4

Tripoli 8 41 5 19 - - - -

Mennieh- Dennieh 3 28 3 28 - - - -

Batroun 2 8 ------

Koura 3 21 ------

Zgharta 3 14 ------

Bsharri 2 7 ------

Akkar 7 66 3 37 - - - -

North 28 125 11 84 - - - -

Lebanon 128 705 27 175 27 98 8 41

Source: Lists of the names of running candidates

A minorities in the Beirut 2 district. K `K K [ Tripoli district. 9{ seat of the Beirut 1 district.

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Table 1

Maronite Greek Orthodox Greek Catholic Armenian Orthodox

Seats Candidates Seats Candidates Seats Candidates Seats Candidates

1811021715

17- - 110--

1516 ----

32021632715

1111 4 - - - -

------

28------

--321----

314------

27------

111215- - - -

951640- - - -

34 204 14 90 8 53 5 21

issue 132 | July 2013 16 | PUBLIC SECTOR

EXTENSION OF PARLIAMENT’S TERM WEIGHED BY THE CONSTITUTIONAL COUNCIL

Lebanon’s Parliament held on Friday the 31st of May, 2013, the day marking the end of its regular mandate, a 10-minute session that approved the draft law laid forth by MP Nicolas Fattoush and suggesting the extension of the legislature’s mandate by 17 months to expire on November 20, 2014. Speaker Nabih Berri signed the law at the same speed and referred it to caretaker PM Najib Mikati who also signed his approval. He in turn passed it to the President of the Republic who also appended his signature to the law and published it on Saturday, 1st of June 2013, in issue !"#$&'()!*)(# through Parliament with urgency, without the formality and delay of a full process.

Full Text of the Law The single article, which made up the law, stipulates The Constitutional Council asserted that the the following: legislature has the right to determine its mandate duration but cannot amend such duration unless on The mandate of the current Parliament shall end grounds of absolute exigency and within the time ')6@6@39Z limits that such exigency entails. ) Gazette and it shall be passed expeditiously in Interpretation of the Constitutional Council 7A The verdicts issued by the Constitutional Council in the constitution (the President of the Republic must previous cases were both inclined towards refusing issue the law within 5 days and request its publication the extension of the legislature’s term and respecting /NY the principle of the rotation of power.

Compelling Reasons First Case Contrary to the usual norm, the compelling reasons 0'7K@#33355A /N provisions of the electoral law in force, stipulating the included the following: adoption of Mohafazas as electoral districts, with the The security turmoil plaguing the country and exception of Mount Lebanon, where every Qada’a having clear and direct implications for the 70 normality of life in many regions across Lebanon '7K@% The critical political escalation and divides which assume oftentimes sharp sectarian dimensions. “Contrary to any other previous legal texts, the duration The unrestrained use of weapons disturbing the of Parliament’s term shall be exceptionally set at 4 stability of the regions and the image of the state. years and 8 months expiring on June 15, 2001. Once 3*0 KA35A@ will leave negative impact on the fragile economic, ]3YP commercial and tourism sectors, thus leading to full-blown economic paralysis. These circumstances The amendment was challenged by two groups of MPs. are deemed a typical force majeure that entails the Z~3] extension of Parliament’s mandate. R Y K ] from all public posts to be able to run as candidate), The legislature’s mandate has been extended several while the second group only objected to the latter. The times under urgent and compelling circumstances {{'9 during the times of war. [355A0'

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7K@( of mandate of the Mukhtars and the Ikhtiyariyah bodies ) 9 ] at 4 years and subjected the Ikhtiyariyah elections to the duration between the call on electoral committees the same provisions governing municipal elections. By A 37 Y 0'A77;5[ 7]*RY ~ terms, the Constitutional Council expanded its decision the absence of any overpowering situation that validates to include items that were not disputed by appellants in the extensions and the holding of the parliamentary Z {R 3556355A of the legislature’s mandate came as follows: “The text in 1994 and 1997 attested best to the inexistence of 7*R any substantiating exceptional conditions. Hence, term, violates the established parliamentary norms and the extensions violated the constitutional principle of )()P [ Constitution and denied the local communities their Z{R)( right to manage their own affairs freely and to exercise )#) their voting rights in a regular manner.” Z*/( ())) The decision was supported by members Khaled $N{R )) X X ) decision, Parliament convened anew and approved a new Z ( electoral law in conformity with the Council’s remarks. ) R * ' ) +N) Second Case Mrad and Salim Jraissati. 0 'A77 # 69 355[ with prolonging the mandate of the Mukhtars and Future of the Current Appeal ) K@ 3555 President Michel Suleiman and members of the Change a series of extensions that followed the date of term ` ) / #K@355[) submitted an appeal before the Constitutional Council an appeal before the Constitutional Council in the to challenge the extension of Parliament’s term. hope of repealing the law in question. [) the challenge to the Parliament’s decision to extend its term, the Constitutional Council failed to convene due {{'6;5[ to lack of quorum. The attendance of 8 judges out of 10 on September 12, 1997 accepting the raised appeals is required for a quorum to be reached, but the absence based on the following: ` ]$RY Z]$RY$)$]>NY O37 resulted in the defacto approval of the law extending ')6[359[ the legislature’s term.

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issue 132 | July 2013 18 | PUBLIC SECTOR MIXED MARRIAGES IN LEBANON (2) THE NORTH MOHAFAZA: 28 366 MARRIAGES

Z)36?KAA Tripoli: 2491 unions between people of two different 'N 66K5 ) The highest mixed marriage rates were registered in the {5KK){ R> ]Z)KY By sect, 4729 marriages occurred between two different %6K@) 3?A?9){ K7A?){ 66A6){Z) and 242 between Muslims and Christians (Table 4) of inter-religious marriages by Qada’a was as follows: `% 3KA ) %[3?3 KK97 ) Z%A7@6 Christian sects and 149 between Muslims and Christians %9A3? (Table 5) Batroun: 4005 %K[) Zgharta: 2891 sects, 2508 between people of two different Christian sects Bsharri: 1778 67K){]Z)AY >%3K53 Bsharri: 2 unions between people of two different Muslim sects, 1514 between people of two different Christian sects These marriages were distributed by sect as follows: and 54 between Muslims and Christians (Table 7) % 37?3 ) Mennieh- Dennieh: 252 unions between people of two Muslim sects, 4751 between people of two different different Muslim sects, 759 between people of two different Christian sects and 510 between Muslims and Christians Christian sects and 121 between Muslims and Christians (Table 2) (Table 8)

Mixed marriages registered in the North Mohafaza Table 1 Sect of the husband Total Latin Druze Others Alawi Sunni Shia’a Catholic diversity Maronite Orthodox Christian Armenian Armenian

Sect Evangelical Greek Catholic Greek Syrian Catholic Syrian Greek OrthodoxGreek of the wife OrthodoxSyrian Maronite 5944 313 67 44 42 24 24 35 9 404 11 22 3 6942 Greek Orthodox 5668 320 61 26 82 34 31 25 5 545 8 2 28 7 6842 Greek Catholic 20191474 32102355811783 413763 Armenian Orthodox 224 161 13 50 13 2 7 8 32 1 3 514 Armenian Catholic 128 53 4 31 2 7 7 232 Evangelical 1412391451 21 781 2 484 Syrian Orthodox1641005721 61 22 1 309 Syrian Catholic 134 63 8 2 3 3 2 1 15 1 232 Latin 232 119 12 6 2 3 1 2 26 2 405 Christian diversity1741878147273331601 82498 Sunni 248260105122252 39731706 2643 Shia’a 95516 2 11483 14311782 Druze 171521 16 2 53 Alawi 3433 1 1 661316 1046 Not specified 760740221043215 88941 113 2590 Others 964 72 3 31 Total 10047 9445 741 242 150 203 75 82 100 20 4423 781 5 2038 14 28366 Source: Lebonon’s Civil Registration Records

issue 132 | The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. PUBLIC SECTOR | 19

Mixed marriages registered in the Qada’a of Akkar Table 2 Sect of the husband Total Alawi Sunni Shia’a Catholic Maronite Orthodox Armenian Armenian

Sect Evangelical Greek CatholicGreek Syrian Catholic Syrian of the wife OrthodoxGreek Maronite 1690 87 3 2 16 2 78 3 1881 Greek Orthodox 1062 138 34 17 137 1 7 1396 Greek Catholic 453 700 16 26 2 1197 Armenian Orthodox 47 54 4 1 1 5 112 Armenian Catholic 14 16 1 31 Evangelical 34 100 8 12 154 Syrian Orthodox 35 27 2 3 67 Syrian Catholic 24 12 7 43 Latin 28 30 2 1 2 63 Christian diversity 41 48 1 1 7 2 100 Sunni 48 103 2 121 420 694 Shia’a 11223 381 69486 Druze 341 19 Alawi 9 11 316 273 609 Not specified 91 89 3 1 118 6 27 335 Others 2 1 1 4 Total 1900 2908 251 3 3 70 19 1094 401 532 7181 Source: Lebonon’s Civil Registration Records

Mixed marriages in Tripoli Table 3 Sect of the husband Total Latin Alawi Druze Sunni Shia’a Catholic diversity Maronite Orthodox Christian Armenian Armenian

Sect Evangelical Greek Catholic Greek Syrian Catholic Syrian Greek OrthodoxGreek of the wife OrthodoxSyrian Maronite 735 79 34 14 25 18 21 29 6 207 5 14 1187 Greek Orthodox 172 69 51 19 37 33 13 25 5 265 1 18 708 Greek Catholic 74 179 30 6 4 4 4 7 1 115 2 426 Armenian Orthodox 11 45 8 41 11 2 5 8 22 3 156 Armenian Catholic 7 14 1 23 2 7 5 59 Evangelical 5 38 5 5 1 1 1 59 1 2 118 Syrian Orthodox3243621 41 16 161 Syrian Catholic 7 23 6 1 3 2 2 1 6 51 Latin 28 38 7 6 1 2 1 2 18 2 105 Christian diversity 11 62 6 12 7 25 2 3 2 44 6 180 Sunni 214825122251 98312621452 Shia’a 692 1 1756 61836 Druze 2511 14 124 Alawi 12 1 1 26926 300 Not specified 29 78 10 10 4 2 2 1 3 602 9 85 835 Others 1 1 24 Total 377 1301 199 185 99 114 65 56 90 15 2399 139 4 1459 6502 Source: Lebonon’s Civil Registration Records issue 132 | July 2013 20 | PUBLIC SECTOR

Mixed marriages registered in Koura Table 4 Sect of the husband Total Latin Alawi Sunni Druze Shia’a Others Maronite Orthodox Armenian

Sect Evangelical Greek Catholic Greek Greek OrthodoxGreek of the wife OrthodoxSyrian Maronite 20851441 352 232146 Greek Orthodox 613 25 2 11 1 27 6 1 3 7 696 Greek Catholic 91 367 2 3 10 2 1 476 Armenian Orthodox 10 41 1 1 53 Armenian Catholic 2 18 1 21 Evangelical 12 69 1 82 Syrian Orthodox 18 30 2 50 Syrian Catholic 1 19 1 1 22 Latin 13 34 1 2 50 Christian diversity 7 58 1 1 1 2 70 Sunni 12 74 82 20 188 Shia’a 1516 83 121127 Druze 2 5 7 Alawi 2 17 20 13 52 Not specified 72 452 1 32 19 1 577 Others 1 1 Total 870 3286 42 10 15 1 1 214 125 1 39 14 4618 Source: Lebonon’s Civil Registration Records

Mixed marriages registered in Batroun Table 5 Sect of the husband Total Latin Alawi Sunni Shia’a Catholic diversity Maronite Orthodox Christian

Sect Armenian Armenian Evangelical Greek Catholic Greek Syrian Catholic Syrian Greek OrthodoxGreek of the wife OrthodoxSyrian Maronite 721 99 13 11 6 1 5 1 14 3 3 877 Greek Orthodox 1437 76 6 3 10 1 1533 Greek Catholic 538 109 1 1 1 8 1 659 Armenian Orthodox 54 9 3 1 1 3 71 Armenian Catholic 37 3 3 3 46 Evangelical 28 10 1 1 40 Syrian Orthodox 46 14 1 1 1 63 Syrian Catholic 41 4 2 1 1 1 50 Latin 63 12 1 76 Christian diversity 34 9 1 1 1 1 1 48 Sunni 48163 1 821151 Shia’a 252 1 44 72 Druze 31 1 5 Alawi 11 61 9 Not specified201608 2 207 298 Others 41 2 7 Total 25609721932418493831109744005 Source: Lebonon’s Civil Registration Records

issue 132 | The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. PUBLIC SECTOR | 21

Mixed marriages registered in Zgharta Table 6 Sect of the husband Total Latin Alawi Sunni Shia’a Catholic diversity Maronite Orthodox Christian

Sect Armenian Armenian Greek CatholicGreek Syrian Catholic Syrian of the wife OrthodoxGreek Maronite 246 31 13 17 1 2 37 1 348 Greek Orthodox 1333 11 2 4 1 66 1417 Greek Catholic 468 45 3 1 5 522 Armenian Orthodox 53 1 5 1 1 61 Armenian Catholic 47 2 3 52 Evangelical3171 39 Syrian Orthodox302 1 33 Syrian Catholic 30 30 Latin 59 1 1 61 Christian diversity 50 4 1 55 Sunni 74163 53101 Shia’a 27 1 1 20 1 50 Druze 7 7 Alawi 14 53 22 Not specified 78 3 3 84 Others 414 9 Total 2305 328 52 19 30 4 1 2 136 10 4 2891 Source: Lebonon’s Civil Registration Records

Mixed marriages registered in Bsharri Table 7 Mixed marriages registered in Mennieh-Dennieh Table 8 Sect of the Sect of the husband husband Total Total Sunni Sunni Shia’a Maronite Maronite Orthodox Sect

Sect Armenian Greek OrthodoxGreek Greek Catholic Greek of the wife of the wife OrthodoxGreek Maronite 439 33 472 Maronite 28 3 31 Greek Orthodox 154 40 194 Greek Orthodox 897 1 898 Greek Catholic 27 70 14 111 Greek Catholic 368 4 372 Armenian Orthodox 3 10 1 14 Armenian Orthodox 46 1 47 Armenian Catholic 3 1 4 Armenian Catholic 18 1 19 Evangelical 3 15 5 23 Evangelical 28 28 Syrian Orthodox 3 3 6 Syrian Orthodox 29 29 Syrian Catholic 1 5 6 Syrian Catholic 30 30 Latin 9 5 4 18 Latin 32 32 Christian diversity 3 6 8 17 Christian diversity 28 28 Sunni 6 3 9 18 Sunni 39 39 Shia’a 2 1 199 202 Shia’a 9 9 Druze 1 1 Druze 6 2 8 Alawi 1 2 43 46 Alawi 207 207Not specified 82 58 114 254 Not specified 1 1 Maronite 5 5 Total 1738334121778Total 297 617 468 9 1391 Source: Lebonon’s Civil Registration Records Source: Lebonon’s Civil Registration Records

issue 132 | July 2013 22 | PUBLIC SECTOR MARINE FISHING: RESOURCE NEEDING REGULATION

"R#! potential revenues that could lift them out of their miserable socio-economic status.

* the potential means to secure its protection and Promoting the supervision of the industry by development? buying regular boats and hiring guards in all the ports. Number of Boats and Fishermen Replacing tight and narrow nets at the cost of USD ZK@@@)0) K )[36) K A@| nautical miles currently in order to increase the remaining hit the water without permission. These boats are distributed over 44 ports, 11 of which have Preventing water pollution in order to preserve the 97[7) jeopardized species. ) ( 3@@@@ Modernizing the laws and legislations related to seasons.

Size of the Fish Market The above plan is ambitious and might save Lebanon’s A@@@ ) 3@@@~ ) ) the government will put it in action. 0 0) ) ) 9@@@3@@@@ N Government Plan The Lebanese government has devised a plan to R% ` ` traps and weirs. `## K _$>39[ compensation for their unemployment during the prohibition period. $)( '$$+ set at 150% of the minimum wage, i.e. around _$>A[7) 15%, i.e. around USD 100. The cost of subjecting '$$+ 0`* 9?

billion annually. http://www.aleqt.com

issue 132 | The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. HEALTH|23

RESTLESS LEG SYNDROME |Dr. Hanna Saadah|

RLS is a brain chemical disorder that causes an irresistible urge to move the body and limbs. This urge improves with activity, worsens with rest, and becomes more pronounced in the evenings and at night, thus disrupting one’s sleep and tranquility. Although it mainly affects the legs, it can progress to affect the entire body. By getting up from one’s resting position (be it lying, sitting or reclining), one can stretch away or walk off this feeling of restlessness, however, as soon as one tries to rest again, the restlessness promptly reappears. These sensations of restlessness, which incite the urge cofactor in the synthesis of dopamine, which seems to to move, vary from a chronic itch, to a persistent tickle ))0$ or crawling, pulling or pricking etc. and are associated with sudden, involuntary muscle jerks during sleep. The disorder varies from the mild and easily treatable groups of medicines that are used to treat RLS: to the severe, disruptive and treatment resistant. By a) Dopamine enhancers such as Ropinirole, preventing rest and sleep, the disorder can become * * {);0 exhausting, damaging body and mind, and thus should be used with caution because they can proving incompatible with normal life. make the disease worse after prolonged use, may cause rebound if stopped and may also provoke RLS can begin at any age, it may be progressive and compulsive gambling. ` )Y ' /) rest and sleep, it also increases daytime sleepiness and ) fatigue, rendering driving or operating machinery very less adverse effects than the dopamine enhancers. dangerous. The disorder, whose exact cause remains Y ') unknown, may undergo spontaneous remissions and can cause constipation, sedation and may become relapses, and may occasionally be caused by certain habit forming. medications and medical conditions. d) Sedatives such as Valium, in addition to suppressing restlessness, also help induce and protect sleep. 0$) But they are also sedating and may become habit iron and tends to respond to treatments, which replenish forming if abused. Y {)N 20% of RLS cases, numerous other medical conditions reduce the sensation of limb pain associated with such as diabetes, obesity, high cholesterol, strokes, the RLS but it has its own set of adverse side effects heart attacks, Parkinson’s, thyroid diseases, magnesium such as rashes and toxicities. Y '( Quinine (a malaria medicine also used for cramps) disorder and varicose veins are also associated with it. ) Certain medicines may cause RLS or may make it worse g) Vitamin E and C, alone and in combination, have such as anti-nausea pills, antihistamines, antidepressants, been found useful in dialysis patients with RLS. antipsychotics and medication withdrawal reactions. Unlike the other six groups of medicines listed Moreover, RLS gets worse after surgery and after back above, these vitamins are very safe. ( ) inherited as genetically dominant. 0$ ) ) monitored by an experienced physician because they Z ) are complex and potentially problematic. ) thyroid diseases, etc. because treating these conditions RLS is more common in women, tends to progress ) K| 3@| and caffeine can help and so can implementing daily ' exercises, relaxation techniques and other muscle the incidence is closer to 10% whereas in the Middle stretching therapies. Iron tablets should be given to ) K| > )7@;0 pregnancy, 25% of women develop the RLS, which iron levels should be monitored by a physician. In resolves itself upon delivery. some cases, the iron ferritin needs to be raised to 80 ;0 $Z]Y is currently under study because iron is an essential )3A[6 www.hannasaadah.com - www.information-international.com - [email protected] issue 132 | July 2013 24| EYEING HORIZONS

MEASURING THE ELEMENT OF |Antoine Boutros| KNOWLEDGE IN NATIONAL ECONOMY

The information and telecommunications revolution has taken experts by surprise, throwing them in a swelling sea of generosities, yet not providing them with a scale capable of weighing their value. Marc Porat, the economist who made history for succeeding >@ KQVW'###V

“As soon as a creature is born or a new phenomenon professions whose primary role is to produce, process is revealed, we become overwhelmed by the and distribute information that is economically valuable. compelling urge to measure its growth”. Hence, he studied the size and the structure of the US information economy in a new and unusual manner. “When we become able to measure all that we talk Y ! # To measure the size of the information economy, knowledge about it. However, our failure to do so Porat divided the economy into two different, yet >#”. ) Z transformation of matter and energy from one form Z into another and the second around the alteration of blurry due to the lack of precise principles and testable information from one pattern into another. The latter and measurable standards that can determine the value was called the information economy. of information and services. Knowledge is not subjected to the laws of nature in matter preservation and is thus * ) ) N to knowledge, the whole is greater than the sum of its he described it as inclusive of all the manpower, parts, in the sense that the value of a thing increases with machinery, goods and services used and manipulated in the processing and distribution of information. that runs similarly to Marx’s labor theory of value and suggests that ‘knowledge is the basis of value’. The He later distinguished between the two sectors, listing new landscape of economy is in dire need of a theory under the former the industries that generate goods and that permits the use of clear-cut statistics capable of services and under the latter all information activities answering the following questions: How large is the size added to the production process. of knowledge economy? How large are its elements? X" Z N does it grow? Does investment in knowledge surpass investment in material capital despite the voices claiming research and development, special information that the description, comprehension and measurement of services, information distribution, dimensional knowledge can never be complete? services and telecommunications, insurance, data processing and information products like calculators, +N computers and semiconductors. On the other hand, in the post-industrial era. Contrary to his peers and the second sector includes all information services predecessors, he challenged the belief that the economy produced for local consumption by the government in its current phase was no more than a regular economy and non-information companies. under a different name. Hence, he embarked on charting a comprehensive statistical image of the industrial sector *NR/>*( and published his study in 1958. His estimates proposed 35A|357?69?|35[6 that by 1959, knowledge-producing professions would 6K3| outshine all other professions in terms of their GDP 24.4% during the same period. ) 65| did not live long enough to complete his study, many Porat examined over 440 professions belonging to 220 after his death adopted his approach. industries and determined all information tasks therein and their contribution to the GDP, excluding all the jobs The US government entrusted Mark Porat with the that might have a controversial status. He then estimated completion of the mission. His pioneering study that they account for 21% of the GDP, meaning that both 5 ]35A[35[[Y ) ) 9A| 7K| addition to the information activity, the industries and GDP and the revenues respectively.

issue 132 | The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. www.irthsumer.com - www.information-international.com - [email protected] EYEING HORIZONS |25

|Dr. Michel Nawfal| THE ADOLESCENCE CRISIS MD Mental Health Professional

Adolescence is a time when teens move from a family-centered environment to the larger social world. During this transition, teenagers experiment and take risks in order to @ generational, choose friends that their parents don’t approve of, break rules, engage in disruptive behavior, or try alcohol or drugs. By testing the limits and shifting the balance of authority and power in their own direction, teens recreate themselves in ways they believe will permit them to survive without their parents’ guidance.

The confrontational and rebellious nature of some self-consciousness by believing that everyone around them adolescents’ behavior troubles their parents. Parents is as concerned with their thoughts and behaviors as they are. worry that the teenage actions may threaten the safety Moreover, adolescents tend to believe that their emotions of their youngsters. Parents face the urge to protect their and feelings are unique and that no one else has experienced children from harm which often comes at the expense of something similar. They tend to become dramatic about R things that are bothering them and shun their parents away )O'PO their child during adolescence. life is ruined”. Teens also tend to express personal belief in ORP During adolescence, teens experience many changes that ) Z as drinking and driving, unprotected sex, and smoking themselves gaining weight, growing taller, and developing because they believe that car accidents, getting pregnant, and having health problems are simply too farfetched. menstrual cycle for girls, voice change, penis growth and facial hair growth for boys, to pubic hair and acne which are In order for parents to understand what their teens are common for both sexes. These physical changes lead teens going through they should try to empathize and listen to to become overly sensitive about their weight and their the teen’s concerns. It is important for parents not to take bodily image. They may become concerned about whether it personally when teens recount their experiences. Young or not they are physically developing at the same rate as people have spent a big part of their age being listeners, so their peers. The hormonal development also drives teens to it is their time and chance to share their beliefs, feelings ask questions about sexual activity, intimacy and safe sex. and experiences in the light of their own changing identity. ) Parents can help adolescents manage these transitions the joys and troubles of life and ways to deal with the successfully by being knowledgeable and open about the good and bad times. Building a genuine relationship changes and behaviors that are occurring. In order to help with teens can help them see that their parents were once their self-conscious teens, parents should not criticize or teenagers who made their own mistakes. compare their children to others of their age. Parents should be patient about their teens’ excessive grooming habits. Parents can also get involved in discussing their teen’s Taking hours to get ready and obsessing about beauty behavioral rules, responsibilities and consequences R in order to enhance their advanced reasoning skills. control over their changing bodies. For a more positive self- By doing so, teens will be able to generate realistic image, parents should encourage and model healthy eating, consequences for their actions which in turn help keep sleeping and exercising habits to their teens. them out of trouble. Moreover, parents should positively reinforce good behavior whenever applicable because it Parents should provide their teens with honest answers is more effective that punishing and criticizing behavior. ) ' Replacing words that belittle and hurt a teen’s self-esteem friends or possibly inaccurate sources that are often with understanding, compassion and communication to blame when teens make poor decisions. Parents helps preserve the parent-teen relationship. should also understand their adolescent’s need for physical space. Instead of forcing their teens to hug or ) kiss relatives or family friends, parents should respect families. It is important to understand that it is normal and and communicate about their teen’s need to withdraw. common for all teens to undergo such physical, cognitive and emotional changes and developments. Keeping an In addition to the physical changes, teenagers experience open mind and enhancing communication can help parents changes in the way they think and perceive themselves and keep both their teen and their mutual relationship safe as they navigate through the adolescence crisis.

issue 132 | July 2013 26| EYEING HORIZONS

|Maëva Drevet| HOW DO LEBANESE SEE THEMSELVES?

In a word, only a few would identify themselves with the Lebanese nation as the majority feels a belonging to another entity sharing the same ideals, Does a Lebanese identity exist? the same beliefs and above all the same interests. ) ~) others deny such attachment and claim having a unanimous opinion on that issue. The Lebanese Phoenician origins that are not even remotely see themselves in many different ways and ) { themselves and their own constituents over most Z national strategies, the Lebanese leaders are the national consensus. major bar against statehood.

First of all, there is a widespread discourse that a common history and a strong centralized state in deems the Lebanese as heroes for having survived which the population recognizes itself. However, in numerous and deadly wars and as a community 0) which stands its ground and remains loyal to its X land. However, on the other end of the spectrum, being gathered over a national history, the Lebanese society is fractionalized into sectarian power being inherently superior. divisions each claiming its own heroes, martyrs and enemies. To make things worse, the Lebanese have Second of all, there is a misguided perception that $ 0) as the government is concerned, the Lebanese hold hosts various religious communities. This has to the same mistrust especially that the representative be corrected because Lebanon and the Lebanese electoral system is not reliable and people are not treated as citizens carrying rights and duties towards background, they all listen to Fayrouz, practice ) the same extra-professional activities, go to the religious belonging. The state’s institutions are weak same places, read the same authors – Gibran Khalil Gibran is a Lebanese icon, watch the same TV shows – namely Turkish ones like Fatmah… . Unlike other countries, the Lebanese identity is 0) competing with other identities, namely communal ones. To the question “Do you feel Lebanese?”, other communities in the Middle East for that. answer. To conclude, the Lebanese should pride themselves in being an unmatched model in the region. In fact, the Lebanese do not see themselves as However, history and governance are reinforcing individual citizens of Lebanon but as members of a Lebanon’s fractionalization and preventing it from collective group – important to recall that Lebanon enjoying unity and statehood. Lebanese suffer from hosts 18 different religious communities and a terrible lack of recognition from the International NM) arena – namely international community – but also )' from their own leaders.

issue 132 | The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. INTERVIEW |27

THE MONTHLY INTERVIEWS

ACS HEADMASTER GEORGE DAMON

George Damon

First, let us have a glimpse into your personal life and What were the major milestones that you have achieved your educational and professional background. Who is throughout your presence at ACS and were there any George Damon and what brought him to the presidency plans you had for the school but did not materialize? of ACS Lebanon? Ten years is a long time so there has been a great deal. I was born in Istanbul, Turkey, and I was connected to this R part of the world from birth. My grandmother’s brother was married to Elizabeth Dodge, whose family is a long-time actually impact what happens to the students every day supporter of education in both Lebanon and Turkey. I grew and that means things from a better library to adding a >{ multipurpose area for the young children to creating many people from various parts of the world but in particular a green environment so the students feel connected to from the Middle East, as my father was a diplomat in the _$ + $ ) ) went back to the US to study at the graduate school, then returned to Morocco with two beautiful girls, one of whom, curriculum and generated new frameworks. Our early years’ {'' program, which was a wonderful Montessori program is a university professor for quite a long time. Fortunately, I now expanded to include Reggio Emilia and approaches to ended up getting a job back at Robert College, where my engage very young people to shape their thinking through grandfather had been teaching. I worked there for 10 years actions and interactions with very challenging environments. and my daughters graduated from there. I moved later to ) Izmir, Turkey, and started a new school there. toward making sure that students have experience in the arts and in health and PE as these make us more sensitive, I was thinking what to do next when I found the advertisement perceptive and empathetic individuals. 6@@K If we just focus on the traditional academic subjects, previous head, Catherine Bashur, and had a lot of respect for we really are missing a huge part of what it means to her as an educator. She carried the school right through the )) war and then rebuilt it afterwards quite successfully. I came here twice and realized that this was an exciting place for me brain has at least 8 or 10 different types of intelligence as an educator because of its highly energetic community and we have to nurture those in young people if we want and educators who were interested in moving themselves to create leaders that are sensitive to the needs of others. ) The planet is shrinking and we have to be working for the work of their predecessors. us, not just for me. How do you develop that concept?

issue 132 | July 2013 28| INTERVIEW

You should believe that your existence is important to my Have you admitted any Syrian students since the existence and we are somehow interdependent. This is a >[# ) to the new environment? 0)K7? >R) school could develop what I call pillars of understanding a year and a half since it was closed and the Damascus in education and build on those. These are pillars but they Community School students had to go all over the world are not rigid, they are dynamic, they change, they grow, and certainly some of them came to Beirut. Students had they have shape, but they have a solid inner core. to go through an admission process and those we took in were academically capable of grasping our program. Those students are traumatized and they need to move, like But technology is just a tool. It enables us to have access to everybody, into a safe and nurturing environment. Social information and to collaborate with people in other parts of and emotional development is another key factor that our the world and have different types of conversation. Learning counselors and we have been focusing in order to treat each is really acting on what I am trying to understand. In the past and every student as an individual, not just a number in the learning was “I do it myself”. Today, learning is no longer one individual competing with another for the best grade, but foreigners coming here for either a short or a long time. us collaborating on understanding. It is moving away slowly from individuals to small, large and very large groups. " for 10 years, how do you assess the education sector in Something as simple as bathrooms and lockers and bus Lebanon? There’s a lot of potential for improvement, but the rapid changes for teachers and the opportunities that they have to grow R _'0)_' minister of education since I’ve arrived here. I mean, I’ve been here for ten years and I think there have been 5 ministers of and see if we can make it work, and if it doesn’t work, then education. They are all good people but it is very hard to create we modify it or we stop doing it. a program and move it forward if you are there only for one year or two. They have made massive improvements, but this is a The only thing we haven’t been able to do is to build a A@|Z) whole new campus, as it is not really feasible. However, we challenge the private sector faces is how to train and support do have a campus development plan, which is a conscious effort to make sure that every year we are looking at what )( ))) don’t we invest in professional development for teachers the )A7 way we do for journalists, businessmen, bankers, etc? I believe impact every part of the school and the learning experience. a national center for teacher training and evaluation would There is one thing that we promised ourselves, which is dramatically impact the public sector. when we do something, if we can do it with a certain level of quality because we cannot afford to for whatever reason, This is one of the most complicated professions in the then we are not going to do it. world. You have in front of you between twenty to forty individuals, and each of them wants and needs your ACS is greatly known for enrolling students from attention. Only a few other disciplines require equal different backgrounds and nationalities. How do you understanding continuously throughout the day. Yes, we do address diversity within your classrooms? need physical environment and other tools, but the biggest tool is the teacher. If you invest in the teacher, the teacher 9@ 0) nationalities inside the school and we also have a very education, but you need to sustain it and invest in it. strong Lebanese population. The diversity comes from the fact that these students are in the classroom together, but the Now that you are passing the torch after 10 years at diversity also means that within a certain spectrum, they’re \][!##> working at different levels. But we’ve all had this kind of successor? situation in our classrooms. You grew up in a classroom I have told him a lot of things. The school is very fortunate in ) having an excellent educator coming to lead the school. He have support from counselors and advisors to address this has many years of experience in leading schools and he’s an issue and we pride ourselves in trying to help people grow excellent listener and that’s what you do when you work at a ) K@( ) participate in. They include helping an elderly person or ways to support people so that they are empowered to make going to refugee camps or cancer centers, etc. themselves better. I just tell him to have patience.

issue 132 | The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. CULTURE, RELIGION & ART | 29

BADER YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR PROGRAM

@^\WQ_`Q{^|| established in 2005 under the joint-initiative of the then Minister of Finance Jihad Azour, MP and businessman Robert Fadel, and a constellation of 40 business pioneers.

Heedful of the serious setbacks that entrepreneurship SMEs need to know, including services in the suffers in countries awash with political and economic instability like Lebanon, and keen on improving the tips and guidelines on how to devise successful prospects of businesses for aspiring entrepreneurs and business plans and attract and persuade angel )`> investors to provide capital. The dissemination of this project in order to promote entrepreneurial culture entrepreneurial knowledge promotes professional in Lebanon, provide wider employment opportunities and innovative thinking, thus putting business start- for the youth and create a favorable environment for ups on the right path to success and minimizing the the establishment and growth of small and medium chances of failed ventures. size enterprises (SMEs). MP Robert Fadel presides currently over the the Bader team decides on the topics to be tackled ) ) ) $ N $) conduct the workshops. Coaching sessions vary in Z $ ) `> subject and attend to online marketing, search engine ) optimization and the art of pitching, to name but a K7@`R6@36 N `> alone. different activities on three major fronts: Education consultations are delivered free of charge or at a This initiative aims foremost at integrating adequate very low price not exceeding USD 20 per workshop entrepreneurial skills and know-how into young to test the commitment of participants. It is minds and assisting entrepreneurs in building a `) roadmap for fruitful ventures in the future. Entrepreneurs’ Clinic, which provides a platform where entrepreneurs meet experts from a wide Business knowledge is imparted through training ~ sessions and workshops delivered by business administrative or business issues. Bader has also experts and university professors and covering launched the Bader Lebanon StartUp Cup, which is the diverse aspects that business start-ups and a business model competition launched on March

issue 132 | July 2013 30 | CULTURE, RELIGION & ART

36A ` 36 ) Z K Program held a ceremony commemorating its 8th receive up to 100,000,000 LBP worth of cash and anniversary in the presence of 8 young entrepreneurs N 36 ) extensive training and coaching from the best in the entrepreneurship ecosystem. provided by Bader.

Networking Bader has also announced through its Building Block Conscious of the importance of enhancing ~+33K communication dynamics in a highly interconnected startups looking to expand their businesses, a move world like ours, Bader was keen on the creation of considered one of Bader’s major achievements for wider networking opportunities aimed at expanding this year. connections and building long-term relationships between all entrepreneurial stakeholders. To this end, Bader holds two networking dinners per year where young aspiring entrepreneurs are granted exposure to and contact with the founding members, partners, ` forming part of Lebanon’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Such events facilitate interaction among different entrepreneurial players and constitute an optimal setting for schmoozing and exchanging ideas, aspirations and business cards. Furthermore, face- to-face networking is likely to usher higher quality relationships than online social networking as it allows people to have one-on-one conversations, differentiate themselves from the pack and advance their chances of forming strong bonds with potential business partners.

Financing Bader mobilizes efforts to grant start-ups and Z0)` to light in 2008, Bader introduces entrepreneurs to 0)) ventures based on innovative ideas that can add value to the market and expand their outreach. The capital invested in start-ups and MSEs can range from USD 5000 to USD 500,000.

0`_$>3@@@@@{ a provider of natural casing for sausages. In 2012, an amount of USD 42,000 was channeled to support + ' * N #) materializing his Krock’s idea.

issue 132 | The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. CULTURE, RELIGION & ART | 31 POPULAR CULTURE

AT THE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY THIRD YEAR

) () semester of my third year. Oh merciful God, be generous to me!

) $ introduced me to the managing director of the orphanages who used to work for the US Relief Foundation established in the aftermath of the war to provide assistance to the orphans and the economically and educationally disadvantaged. Mr. Brown was a kind-hearted man who always Z)

O()"PO P'~% OZ)) )0))) )" )() you are. Classes will start on July 5 at the orphanages of Byblos and Sidon, in Miye w Miye in particular, where the US mission has unoccupied buildings.” God answered my prayers and my worries seemed to have faded away at once.

O3@%@@P The next day, I was at his door at 9:50 am.

OZ)~ _$>37@P _$>?7R+6 restaurant. He added, “I called the head of the orphanage in Byblos and gave him your name. He will take care of your accommodation and food expenses. You should be there on the 5th of July.”

_`'(O> I not tell you that God is the provider?”, he said.

I packed my luggage and with the grace of God set out for Byblos. The orphanage consisted )))NN between 5 and 20 years of age.

issue 132 | July 2013 32 | CULTURE, RELIGION & ART DEBUNKING MYTH #71

SAF’IT HAWA OR HOW THE WIND MADE US SICK

Myth: Who among us has not received the warning from his mother or grandmother not to go outside with wet hair? We’ve all had illnesses that have been attributed to a ‘Saf’it Hawa’- really so harmful?

Fact: People have always been skeptical about cold weather and its effect on the body’s health. The lack of adequate clothing in the wintertime or leaving the house after having a shower )Z muscle pains, mostly in the neck and back. Tell anyone in Lebanon about that pain in your neck and they will most likely tell you that you have been slapped by the wind.

In reality however, temperatures alone do not cause illness. This myth circulating among ) 1 where soldiers who slept in cold or wet trenches were found more likely to catch a cold QR have started due to the association of the illness with low temperatures.

Mothers can rest assured that a soccer game under the rain or wet hair during winter will not affect their children’s health. Only viruses cause colds. Temperature alone can never cause an illness, although humidity can make people more susceptible, and extreme cold impact on one’s well-being unless a virus is circulating in the room.

The increased vulnerability of people during the cold season could on the other hand be attributed to their tendency to stay indoors where they are in more direct contact with germs in the presence of people in a contained space. Being in the low temperatures outside ') such from temperature changes and extreme weather.

issue 132 | The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. MUST-READ BOOKS CULTURE, RELIGION & ART | 33

AMERICAN CULTURAL ANNIHILATION: THE ENGLISH CURSE OF CANAAN

O7@@' have sustained several invasions by the Spanish, the Portuguese, the French, the Dutch and the British. Viewing their life, language and religion with a scornful their humanity and subjected them to heinous acts of ` demonstrated the most unyielding form of hostility and insisted on eradicating the Indian life from the human memory. They, unlike all others, came to the US with a preconceived idea that stands in harmony with the essence of Israel’s historic concept, which warrants the occupation of land and the replacement of its people, culture and history with newer ones.” Z*0 of Humanities and Modern Languages at Suffolk and sanctions crime, in order to extend civilization University, Boston, starts his book American Cultural using tyrannical standards and values. Citing the Old Annihilation: The English Curse of Canaan, which Testament, he points out that God commanded Yoshua )36@@5) to commit genocide against the Canaanites, who *) X K@@ were not any different from today’s Indians, and later pages the brutality of the British colonial practices punished him for disobeying his command. ' ) exterminating tens of millions of people. The book unravels the superiority that stamped the immoral cultural discourse of the English Protestant policies and views of the British throughout history, as { 0 ) )/R readers will be taken aback by the genocides committed Chosen People and that God himself is British. Thus, ) )0K[ in every horrible sense of the word, in order to wipe )/ all submissive cultures off the map, sometimes with the use of atrocious means like slaughter, scalping and sanctioning atrocities. He also draws daggers at authors, deaths caused by smallpox and cholera. particularly Mark Twain who insisted on annihilating Red Indians or telling them to adopt non-Indian identity. )) the aim of effacing the cultural identity of the native Indians and creating substitutes who had resigned to factor that played out during the invasions was also the new status quo. He also sets forth a number of ' ) ' in search for gold and silver. isolated from their families by force and were ridden ) of all that they had, including their names, and which answers to the human concerns burdening his mind, were converted to Christian English names. ) This is the legacy that the British have been passing on ' ) to successive generations thus validating the stain of suffering today. Planting Israel at the heart of our )` world is no coincidence, but rather a preparation for as a “godly executioner” that practices self-worship another Canaanization.

issue 132 | July 2013 34 | CULTURE, RELIGION & ART MUST-READ CHILDREN’S BOOK

KNOWLEDGE MASTERS: HISTORY OF THE WORLD

How many languages are there in the world? What was the earliest form of writing like? #\Q}~#} #>###} How does rain affect adobe clay? How did the Mongols change their settlements? Why did Cleopatra use red clay and animal fat? Who is Gideon Sandback? ~ # ^> W spread so rapidly? Why did Romans go to public toilets? Why were amputations so common? Why did children work in mills? What were syndicates like? ~#[>}~##R} ~###> front of train carriages? What were the earliest boats made of? Who were } What was the earliest airplane named? What made Hindenburg so famous? What is the pot-de-fer and what is the type of the double-edged sword? ~ # # # phone message?

~ Knowledge Masters: History of the World, which discusses people and events that have changed our world through colorful illustrations and clear text. The ) ) ) Books Ltd. in English in 2012. It was later translated ))$')0) $Z from pre-history to the present day.

issue 132 | The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. LEBANON FAMILIES CULTURE, RELIGION & ART | 35

FAMILY NAMES DENOTING LEBANESE TOWNS (4) In the fourth part of the series on the family names denoting Lebanese towns and villages, The Monthly sheds light on the following families:

Faitrouni: 680 members Tripoli

Zgharta This family is named after Faitroun, a Lebanese town Balamand Roads A‘arjes RK@` Ehden Becharre The Cedars Batroun Hadet Hasroun at an altitude of 1400 m above the sea level with an Ras Baalbeck Deir el Ahmar Maqne entirely Maronite population. Jbail Qasr el-Banat

Hadath The Faitrounis are predominantly Shia’a settled in the Iaat Ghazir Baalbeck Hermel-Baalbeck area: Jounieh Shia’a: 200 members in Hermel, 100 in Baalbeck, Niha BEIRUT Zahle 5@')'9@K7XZ Baabda Shtaura Aley Dahr el-Baidar Bhamdoun $ Anjar Deir el-Qamar $%39@)`0) Meshref Beiteddine Moukhtara 6@N` Qaraoun Lake Yanta

Saida Jezzine Libbaya Mazboudi (Al-Mazboudi): 255 members Aiha This family name is inspired from the town of Mazboud, Nabatiye Hasbaya Marjayoun R$97 Beaufort Castle Beirut at an altitude of 400 m above the sea level and Sour has a predominant Sunni population. The Mazboudis are Sunni settled in Mazboud (50 )YNR]A7)Y]37Y `]?@Y)]K9Y~~`]3@Y Hrajli: 630 members Mazboudi is among the rare families who still have The Hrajlis were named after the town of Hrajel in the members settled in their towns of origin, Mazboud in Qada’a of Kessrouan. Hrajel is situated 45 km from this case. `3K7@) is populated by Maronite families. Bkassini (Al-Bkassini): 110 members The Hrajlis though belong to the Shia’a community and This family name is derived from the Bkassine town of are predominantly in Bint Jbeil (570 members) with a #NNA7` ``]7@)Y 800 m above the sea level and has a Maronite majority and a few Greek Catholics (5%). Qaraouni (Al-Qaraouni): 780 members The Bkassinis belong to the Maronite community and This family is named after the town of Qaraoun located are present in the following three towns of Batroun: `~R?@` X)]?@)Y`]6@)Y 900 m above the sea level, with its resident population Bchatine (5 members). being mainly Sunni (85%). Qaraoun also has a number Greek Orthodox and Catholic families. Hamati (Al-Hamati): 330 members )) This family name is ascribed to the Hamat town of region as follows: Batroun, which is 55 km from Beirut at an altitude Shia’a: 150 members in Kafra (Bint Jbeil), 110 in K@@)/ `N]$YK3@) resident population. X The Hamatis, majority of whom are also Greek Jame’e. Orthodox, are distributed as follows: $%K7)((]Y367 Greek Orthodox: 110 members in the Bousit town of ]`~RY 37))376@ / % 9K ) X ~ 6@67$` (Zahle). Greek Catholics: 15 members in Burj Hammoud.

issue 132 | July 2013 36 | CULTURE, RELIGION & ART DISCOVER LEBANON AAINATA

CLERICS AND POLITICAL PARTIES established an Islamic Center including a mosque, a dispensary, a library and a Hussainia. The Monthly has dedicated in one of its previous issues, under the Discover Lebanon section, an article on the demographic, Sayyed Mohammad Hassan Fadlallah (1936-2010) #\ X)66'() Today, our coverage will outline the cultural, political and authority, copied by many in Lebanon, Iraq, Bahrain and Iran. religious aspects of the town, and which include the people He was sometimes portrayed as Hezbollah’s spiritual guru # in the media and he wrote hundreds of works and sermons featuring audacious stances on scholarship and jurisprudence. Overview R`#)337 Sayyed Mohammad Ali Ibrahim south of Beirut at an altitude of 750m above the sea He was born in 1904 and was widely recognized for his extensive religious education although he remained out at 8500 people, the community of permanent residents of the public eye. does not exceed 2500 people. Political Parties Clerics Z ) marked the town with a religious and conservative their mark on religious and political life in Lebanon and identity. However, the town was also home to several ~$ national and political parties. clerics were the following: The Communist Party Sayyed Najib Fadlallah (1863-1916) Z This scholar was reputed for his knowledge and solid witnessed the emergence of a cell for the then unlicensed {*35K6Z* the then leader of the south who visited Fadlallah and presence despite the prevalent religious orientation extended his apologies to him in person. which slammed its doctrine as apostatical.

Sayyed Sadreddine Fadlallah (1882-1941) The Arab Socialist Baath Party X '( )$`*) arbitrating disagreements between Christian and Muslim by the authorities, its basic principles found their way to farmers and between the farmers and the French. He issued the educated including a number of teachers and students. a fatwa that challenged selling lands to the Jews and was )* The Movement of Arab Nationalists about the expansion of construction around Haifa, he knew The concepts and principles of this movement were that the Jews would take over Palestine and consequently greeted eagerly within educated circles and many delivered his famous speech “Palestine is lost”. decided to join the movement at early stages, before { Sayyed Abdul Raouf Fadlallah (1907-1984) X$'()+X Organization. '() The Amal Movement scholar there. He passed on his wisdom and piety to his son Sayyed ) Mohammad Hassan Fadlallah.

Sayyed Abdul Latif Fadlallah (1904-1941) Hezbollah X ) $ ) XN) Fadlallah. Beside his religious functions, he allocated during the Israeli occupation, and after 2000 the Party time and care to intellectual and literary interests and grew to become the major political force in the town.

issue 132 | The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. MEDIA |37 MAY 2013 HIGHLIGHTS

May 2 May 8 May 10 Interior Minister Marwan Charbel LF leader receives Minister Gebran On the 25th anniversary of highlights positive progress in the case Bassil and former MP Elie Ferzli in XN)R ' of the Lebanese pilgrims held hostage Meerab and the discussion revolves Hezbollah’s Secretary General in Syria, stressing that he is still around the electoral law, particularly $X' waiting for the names of the Syrian the Orthodox proposition. his support for a popular resistance rebel women who the Free Syrian Bishop Boulos Matar holds in the Golan Heights, stressing that talks with Future Bloc leader Fouad Hezbollah will vote for the Orthodox the release of the pilgrims. Seniora, Caretaker Minister of Social Gathering proposal and call for a The ISF Information Branch arrests ) + * government of national partnership. Hussein El-Houjaily, the mastermind K0) behind the abduction of the seven ( / )) ) $) Estonians in 2011, in the outskirts of Ersal. returns from Turkey after having President Michel Suleiman meets * #) K[3 Lebanon’s General Prosecutor and $ )( detainees that the kidnappers want head of the Central Inspection and extension of the President and released in exchange of the release urges the control of administrative Parliament’s terms. of the 9 Lebanese pilgrims. violations without regard to political ~ Syria allows Lebanese transit calculations. protest near the headquarters of trucks to cross into Syria after Z0) the Loyalty to Resistance Bloc having denied their entry for almost arrests the members of a suspicious demanding the release of their kin a month. cell hiding explosive devices and detained in Roumieh’s prison. MP Sami Gemayel unveils an detonators. Six people injured in Teenayel during attempt to amend the Constitution The ISF bans the families of the their attempt to obstruct the passage of by adding a paragraph urging abducted pilgrims from protesting in the fuel tankers accompanied by the Lebanon’s neutrality in the front of the Turkish Cultural Center, 0)$ introduction. downtown Beirut. In response, the + * families block the road for some time. Gemayel tells LBC that the May 9 O extension of Parliament’s term has Head of the Constitutional become inevitable. Council Dr. Issam Suleiman holds a rate around 4 percent,” says Central press conference aimed at defending Bank’s Governor Riad Salemeh May 4 the legality of the body. Suleiman )+ Bishop Boulos Matar holds assures that the council will continue $ ') to carry out its duties as long as no May 11 ` * #) new candidates present themselves “The Baabda Declaration and the draft electoral law on behalf of to replace the members whose terms a defense strategy that places the * have expired. resistance’s arms at the will of the President Michel Suleiman $ ') ` army will protect Lebanon against arrives in Vatican and congratulates a legislative session on May 15 to any Israeli assault,” says President the Pope on his enthronement over discuss the electoral law. Michel Suleiman in an indirect the Catholic Church. Future Bloc leader Fouad 'R Former Minister Farid Haykal al- Seniora launches a book entitled The speech triggered a series of Khazen holds a Christian gathering at Slander in the Book on Exoneration his residence, including former Patriarch in retaliation for The Impossible 'R '`$ Exoneration issued earlier by the others condemning him for plunging the holding of elections on time. Change and Reform Bloc. 0)

issue 132 | July 2013 | 38 MEDIA MAY 2013 HIGHLIGHTS

*$* A@ ) Z * O0) /N Party expresses its reserve over the Z P $ ') ` proposition and the LF leader, Samir * underscores its rejection of the Geagea, announces that he has given up to Minister Gebran Bassil. Orthodox Gathering proposition. on the Orthodox Gathering draft law. The parliamentary Phalange MPs meet Speaker Hezbollah’s Deputy Chief communication committee ') ` + ` $ ' continues its discussion of a new leader Fouad Seniora and propose his commitment to holding the electoral draft law without reaching constitutional amendment that elections and his rejection of the any progress. stipulates Lebanon’s neutrality 8-8-8 governmental formula. May 20 May 17 The Jabal Mehsen-Bab Tebbaneh May 13 Verbal clashes erupt between clashes in Tripoli result in the death Z_) the Lebanese Forces and the Free of 2 people and the injury of 20. The its citizens not to travel to Lebanon. Patriotic Movement following 0) *#)` the former’s renouncing of the $ ) Orthodox Gathering proposition 1 killed and 4 injured in armed where he met, accompanied with his and adoption of a hybrid draft law. clashes between Islamic members son Taymour and Caretaker Social Geagea assures that all the polls + ) + indicate the presence of the LF at Helwi camp. with former Prime Minister Saad the front Christian line. +*) Hariri and Prince Bandar Bin Sultan. $ ') ` Boustany elected Head of the )A9{ Lebanese Order of Physicians in May 14 Muslim deputies will be elected on Beirut. Elie Habib, who enjoys the PM-designate Tamam Salam the basis of a hybrid proportional *'() $')` A9 and Omar Karami, wins his bid to over the formation of government. deputies will be elected on the basis of lead the order in the north. U.S. Coordinator for Middle the majority system. Berri withdraws * / his proposal later because of its 1st anniversary of the death of 0) rejection by the Future Movement. $ ) assuming his new post on March 11. Italy’s Defense Minister Mario and his colleague. “Hezbollah’s The Constitutional Council Mauro concludes his visit to $ revokes the PSP’s request to annul Lebanon, stressing that the Italian is very foolish”, says Fares Soueid the suspension of the electoral troops will maintain their presence during the celebration. In his deadlines. in South Lebanon. speech, Khaled Daher asserts the Clashes in Tripoli leave 1 dead presence of agents for Iran and May 15 and 2 injured. XN) 0) The Phalange MPs visit stressing that he has reported to the Hezbollah to discuss their plan to May 18 security forces a scheme aimed at amend the constitution in a way that “I will not call for a session amid assassinating the Saudi, Qatari and guarantees Lebanon’s neutrality. disagreement over the electoral Turkish ambassadors. Shells originating from Syria hit P $ ') ` During his pastoral tour in the outskirts of the Lebanese town assuring that he has no intention to * extend Parliament’s term, not by 0) ~ even one day. power should they fail to broker May 16 President Michel Suleiman urges an electoral law and form a $ ') ` ( adherence to the constitutional government. parliamentary session over lack of prerequisites. quorum. The Lebanese Forces, the *R May 21 PSP and the Future Bloc put forth a Rida Mirtaj, arrives in Lebanon and Clashes resume in Tripoli leaving draft law stipulating the election of underlines the need for national 6 0) ) A? ) unity in the country. and a few injured.

issue 132 | The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. | MAY 2013 HIGHLIGHTS MEDIA 39

Families of the Lebanese pilgrims XN))? Upon the request of the Minister abducted in Syria break into the killed in Syria, and the burial of Interior and Municipalities, the Turkish Cultural Center, downtown coincides with a clash between the Higher Consultative Committee Beirut, and the police negotiate an $ at the Ministry of Justice issues end to the protest. * ' a consultative opinion permitting The parliamentary communication Organization. the convening of the caretaker committee ends its sessions to no *'+ government to approve the budget avail. puts forth a draft law postulating the for electoral expenditures and /Z extension of Parliament’s mandate form the Electoral Supervisory that he will not boycott the elections by 2 years until June 20, 2015. Committee. 35A@R MP Suleiman Frangieh addresses assuring that his candidates will the Lebanese University students on May 25 present their candidatures within the occasion of the Resistance and President Michel Suleiman the constitutional periods. Liberation Day. celebrates the Resistance and US President Barack Obama OZ 0) > 0+ calls his Lebanese counterparts anymore against any attacks it Command in Yarzeh and directs and stresses that Lebanon should P0) implicit criticism at Hezbollah. maintain neutrality towards the Commander on the Resistance and 400 candidates from different $ Liberation Day. backgrounds and political Qatari Prince Sheikh Hamad Bin LF leader Samir Geagea reiterates Z on MTV his opposition to the 2-year of Interior and Municipalities to */> extension of Parliament’s term and present their candidatures. Phalange The Ministry of Interior and his commitment to the hybrid draft candidates are yet to present theirs. Municipalities opens the door for law. Following his meeting with candidature and extends the period $ ') ` * for May 27. May 24 Jumblat voices his support of the Tripoli casualties increase to 21 extension of Parliament’s mandate. May 22 deaths and 200 injured. Caretaker government to Death toll rises to 7 following 3? appoint members of the Electoral the resumption of clashes in Tripoli. their candidatures for the upcoming Supervisory Committee and The number of injured reaches 50. parliamentary elections. approve electoral expenditures next Disputes erupt at the Dar al-Fatwa _$ ) 0) Monday at the Baabda Presidential headquarters in Saida between the Maura Connelly gives a lecture Palace. at the USEK, voicing her concern Current and former Prime ' $ over Tripoli’s incidents and calling Ministers convene at the Grand Sousan after the latter refuses to for the holding of elections as Serail to discuss the latest step down. The Intelligence Branch scheduled. developments in Tripoli. resolves the matter by closing down Z0) the headquarters. Gebran Bassil slams the Mount presence in Tripoli and the violence, The Future Bloc urges the holding Lebanon divisions as being a which resulted in 24 fatalities and of the elections as soon as possible preliminary path to war and describes hundreds injured, begins to wear and accuses Hezbollah of engaging the extension of Parliament’s term off. Lebanon in the Syrian crisis, as “discouraging”. * )( “Leaders of battle fronts in Tripoli returns from his 45-day tour and against the Turkish interests. are the people who are defending reiterates that elections should be K $ the city and we are proud of them,” held on time and that Parliament’s ) +$+{ term should not be prolonged. adding that there are some [parties] The Lebanese Forces leader, Samir May 23 who made a miscalculation on the Geagea, announces his opposition 3K3[A( to holding the elections according total number of casualties sustained an implicit reference to Hezbollah. 35A@R in Tripoli so far.

issue 132 | July 2013 | 40 MEDIA MAY 2013 HIGHLIGHTS

May 27 May 29 May 31 Two rockets launched from the Perpetrators drive off to Syria Z 0) $ K 0) a security cordon around Farhat Suburb of Beirut wounding 4 Syrian members in an attack on their Hospital in Jeb Jennin, following nationals and drawing a series of reports that an injured Free Syrian condemning responses. $ ') ` ) 3K former PM Fouad Seniora agree there is suspected to be involved in anniversary of the Resistance and on prolonging Parliament’s term K 0) Liberation Day, Hezbollah’s Secretary following their meeting. soldiers. The investigations reveal / $ X ' / later that the injured Syrian is not XN) his opposition to extending Z$ Parliament’s term. { * 0) ' ' announce from the residence MP criticizes the President of the Republic strongholds of Syrian militants land Boutros Harb that the compulsory implicitly, slamming the fragility of in Hermel. extension of Parliament’s term is a the state and revealing his support of The Future Bloc accuses Hassan violation of the democratic system. the extension of Parliament’s term. 'XN) * #) Former PM Saad Hariri says from a resistance to a militia 0 { # ( ' commanded by Iran, urging him to support of the army. resistance dead on its national day $ +*/ and brands his speech as worthless. +${$ refuses holding the elections * $ ' 69 35A@R talks with LF leader Samir Geagea ) / Syria. he is against extending the mandate number of Palestinians near the Cite * May 30 Sportive following their raising of (35A@R ) 0) ) $ ) 0) { / Jean Qahwaji, President Michel June 1 banquet at his residence in honor $ Parliament holds a 10-minute of Minister Omar Karami and PMs K session that approves the extension '()Z$+ killed earlier and reiterates the need *R') Seniora and Salim Hoss. to bring the perpetrators to justice. 20, 2014 amid the approval of all 97 President Michel Suleiman attending MPs and the absence of the May 28 assures to Future TV that he will Change and Reform Bloc members. The Cabinet convenes in Baabda appeal against the extension of The Change and Reform Bloc and approves the amount of LBP 22 Parliament’s term. announces following its meeting billion for electoral expenditures. It also The Parliament’s Bureau Committee its plan to appeal against the appoints the members of the electoral convenes under the chairmanship of extension of Parliament’s term and Supervisory Committee and sets the date $ ') ` / for expatriates’ vote on the 7th and 9th of hold a session on Friday to extend responsibility lays ahead of the June in Melbourne, Sydney and Kuwait. Parliament’s term by 1 year and 5 Constitutional Council. K ) $ ')6@6@39 Protesters over the parliamentary rebels land in Hermel and cause the LF leader Sami Geagea responds extension gather in front of death of a 17-year-old girl. 'R Parliament’s entrance and hurl ripe The Ministry of Interior and the actions of Hezbollah might tomatoes at the cars of MPs. Municipalities closes the door of usher in a massive explosion Former Minister Ziad Baroud [@A ) and reiterating his support of an reports that the extension of [3A6@@5 extended Parliament’s term. Parliament’s term is unconstitutional. The monthly statement of the Caretaker PM suggests to Former PM Fouad Seniora Maronite bishops opposes the President Suleiman the resumption holds Hezbollah responsible for the extending Parliament’s term. of dialogue. extension.

issue 132 | The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. MEDIA |41

THIS MONTH IN HISTORY- LEBANON JULY 1958: US MARINES IN BEIRUT

The term of the then President of the Republic, Camille Chamoun, was about to expire on September 23, 1958, but he was strongly inclined to amend the constitution in order to grant himself another six years in power. His aspirations emerged amid a staunch internal opposition and regional tensions resulting from the international the Baghdad Pact, which was created in 1955 by Turkey, Iraq, Britain, Iran and Pakistan. President Chamoun sought to join this alliance against the then Egyptian President, Jamal Abdul Nasser, who had the support of the Lebanese Islamic political forces opposed to the extension of Chamoun’s term. This led eventually to an armed |]

? 357? { whereas the Baghdad Pact, mainly Iran and Turkey, Z ') Z championed those that sided with the Lebanese assassination, which Chamoun was held accountable President including Sami Solh, Emir Majid Erslan, */ started in Tripoli and expanded to Beirut and a $ > $ $ ' number of regions across Lebanon. Opposing armed *) forces assumed front line positions and barricades and trenches were set, transforming Lebanon into a Regional Event ) 0) the eruption of a full-scale sectarian war. a coup d’état was being planned in Iraq. On the #39357?/) The anti-Chamoun leaders- Sabri Hamadeh, Kamal Karim Qassem overthrew the pro-British Iraqi #)X monarchy and seized military control of Baghdad + ) $) $ { *) * $)))' '$ `

issue 132 | July 2013 42| MEDIA

the United States deployed their troops in the region ) ) $))' 0)# ( US Intervention its intervention. * { feared that the success of the coup d’état plotted in Iraq >69KA@@ ) ' $ arrived to Lebanon and headed to the airport to )'0) keep it safe. The US military presence picked up ) pace when airplanes carrying troops and armored Chamoun decided to seek the assistance of the US marines vehicles and equipment landed in Lebanon, raising the total number of troops to around 7000 in Beirut _$) ` ) and its suburbs. {+{) to put an end to the armed opposition against President 75 warships belonging to the Sixth Fleet docked Chamoun and curb the smuggling of weapons from * ` # 3? 3@A@@ _$ Syria, before the US took the matters into its own hands. troops were deployed on Lebanese land by July 25. Z) On July 14, 1958, President Chamoun summoned # 66 Z the ambassadors of France, Britain and the US images of the US President Dwight Eisenhower and respectively and requested them to keep their a message clarifying the objects and aims of the US word and carry out the military intervention they military intervention performed upon the request of 6%@@{ the Lebanese government. Preserving Lebanon’s his request was met with approval and that the US independence and forbidding the meddling in its Sixth Fleet was on its way to Lebanon. affairs and the jeopardy of its security formed part On Tuesday, July 15, nine military vessels associated l from Lebanon as soon as stability and security with the US Sixth Fleet anchored near the Lebanese were restored. ) 3A ) ) armored vehicles and amphibious tanks carrying On the other hand, the US military command was 5000 Marines. The landing was aimed at obstructing 0){ { ' that the US troops were not present in Lebanon )) to smash the opposition, but to assist Lebanon’s ~) government in restoring order to the streets and ')$ reach a peace agreement that could prevent a civil _)) war. The US troops remained in Lebanon until ~ the election of Fouad Chehab as President of the ))'$ )

issue 132 | The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. ARAB WORLD FOCUS|43

THIS MONTH IN HISTORY- ARAB WORLD THE ASSASSINATION OF KING ABDULLAH I OF JORDAN

King Abdullah I of Jordan was the son of Sharif Hussein of Mecca and the founder of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Initially, the British put the protectorate of Transjordan under the rule of Abdullah I as a reward for not attacking the French in Damascus where #\K centralized government in a mostly nomadic society. He later negotiated independence with the British and the Emirate of Transjordan subsequently became the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in 1946. His ambitions for a Hashemite dynasty in the region that would comprise of Greater Syria (Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon) caused other Arab countries to distrust him.

) ( ) 359? )` and Jerusalem. The concerns of his neighbors grew when news emerged that he had been engaging in secret peace negotiations with Israel, including talks with Moshe Dayan. The King agreed to halt these talks )` be part of Jordan.

#6@3573~ Mosque in Jerusalem while entering the mosque for +Z63 year old Palestinian tailor and a member of the Jihad al- Muqadass. He had hid behind the gates of the mosque and as the king left, shot him with three bullets to his )R scene, and though targeted by the assassin as well, he survived the attack. The King was buried in the Royal Z){

King Abdullah I of Jordan #X((X ) ) ` )) ) ` and Israel. Upon his death, The Guardian reported X((X {%O his post and appointed Hussam el Din Jarallah as the new ) Mufti. This of course further provoked al-Husseiny and deserted the cause of Britain and held out the hand of )* P Z ) London also commented on his death saying: “The ) ) ) involved in the murder of the King. The former military the people of Jordan of their monarch but constitutes #{)Z a serious blow to peace and stability in the Middle ) had been in close contact with the former Mufti of the understanding and peace between Israel and Jordan and whose efforts, if successful, would have contributed conspirators from Jerusalem were sentenced to death. much to the welfare and progress of the entire area.”

issue 132 | July 2013 44|ARAB WORLD FOCUS HISTORY OF THE BAATH PARTY IN SYRIA Over the past four decades, political life in Syria has been primarily shaped by the Baath party. Today, the party is facing its biggest challenge since the early 1980s. One [ is how much the party can maintain a grip over Syria; that is if it does at all. While observing the challenges that the Baath is currently facing, it is worthwhile to consider the party’s history within Syria. How was the party founded and how has it developed }K##}

In 1947, the Baath party was established by Michel under the Baath rule, becoming a member of the party ~ $ ) would have clear advantages. who is considered to be the founder of Baath ideology. In the spirit of the time, the party was quick to gain The rapid expansion of the party was not without a popular base among a generation that was eager to challenges. During the late 1970s and early 1980s, 357K the Muslim Brotherhood in Syria initiated numerous popular base of the party widened even further when ) $ * ) This culminated in an insurgency that took place in ) $ ` 35AK Hama in February of 1982, to which the government following the coup d’état of the Baath party in Iraq, a initiated a brutal retaliation that crushed the `XN movement. The resulting number of casualties is not N$$)~ ))) occurred between the party’s military wing and its 10,000 and 20,000. civilian wing, the latter lacking the organization and $ ) forced out of the party’s leadership. became centralized among the president’s close circle `35AA35[@`( ideological debates within its party lines. The debates stage, the shortcomings of the Baath party became were mostly concerned with the party’s orientation. In more evident. The socialism that it promised during its 35[@XN foundation stages translated into poverty, stagnation, that was termed the Corrective Movement (al-Haraka and an incapable public sector. This was coupled with a ZY) military and civilian wings of the party grew further. This corrective movement became a landmark in the ` history of the party in Syria. In 1970, the original image his father in 2000, he promoted himself in the role as of the Baath as a party with honest leaders who looked a reformist. He sought to recover the economy from to govern without corruption was altered. stagnation and generate growth through economic liberalization. Political reforms, however, were slower The party was transformed into a big bureaucracy and to materialize. The constitution, for example, was membership became open to all Syrians. In a short never altered to change the status of the Baath party as period of time, the party became a powerful avenue the ‘leader of state and society’. This only took place in ) February 2012. Today, with Syrians expressing a clear prosecution, employment opportunities and even concern over their freedom of expression, the status of admissions to universities. Those who opposed the party the Baath party is as precarious as ever. It remains to 35[K ` be seen whether it would extend its pragmatism past became the ‘leader of state and society’ by constitution. the economic concerns in order to preserve its presence ) in Syria in light of the current violence that has swept reserved for party members only. It became clear that across the country.

issue 132 | The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. ARAB WORLD FOCUS|45

THE CHRISTIANS OF IRAQ: TODAY AND YESTERDAY

@R'Q identity of homogeneity ridden of all the manifold features that once distinguished the region as being the center of Abrahamic religions and the cradle of values in our modern world.

The Christians of Iraq who are considered one of the oldest active in diverse journalistic avenues, especially by the end surviving Christian communities in the world are now { { ( $ X ] serious concerns are raised over the demographic atrophy of The Arab WorldY*X]~ of the Middle Eastern Christian community and the fear of woman to publish a magazine on women) and Mikhael Taysi its imminent extinction. The violence practiced by Islamic (satirical journalist). { 6@@K () ) the culture of expulsion and the havoc aimed at their towns, Education: Christian teachers and instructors were highly churches and monasteries demoted Christian Iraqi nationals regarded for their sound knowledge and superior teaching to the lowest classes and forced them into exile. skills, which they imparted to young Iraqi generations over the course of seventy years. In addition, Iraqi nuns ran a number So let us awaken all dormant memories of the cultural and of Christian nurseries across the country, including the Um intellectual wealth that Christians have lavished on Iraq R > throughout history. nationwide reputation for its unique educational system.

Arabic Language and Translation: The Syrians played Medicine:~{ ))` ))) )) ) N ) )){+> who were Christian more precisely, were keen on mastering fathers have established dispensaries and medical centers across the art of translation. They translated from Greek, Syriac and ~ R ' X *) unmatched in Baghdad during the twentieth century. valued to the content of previous foreign works. The foremost translators of their time were Yuhanna Bin Masawaih and Archaeology: The earliest attempts to start archaeological Hunayn Bin Ishaq. The former, son of a physician, wrote and excavations in Iraq were initiated by French Consul Emile translated 50 books, while the latter worked on 95 books. Botta followed by English archeologist Henry Layard in the ` ) { R middle of the nineteenth century. Citizens from Mosul helped `R`X]) and research center). Youhanna Ibn Batriq was entrusted X)( ) R / $ ) L) His four books on archaeology were printed in London and X) _$))3?[5 Archaeological Explorations in Assyria. Z){) ) { Throughout history, Christians have served as a cornerstone )) ~)' and founding the Lughat Al-Arab journal, which was an 19th century will be forever indebted to Christian scholars, ' scientists, and linguists for its prosperity. Knowing this is )) essential to set the path for new historical opportunities that would not only promote social and political coexistence inside Press: The Iraqi press established initially in the nineteenth Iraq, but would prevent the brain drain and provide impetus century prospered greatly when Christian intellectuals swept for Christian communities overseas to return and invest their in. Pioneering journalists came mostly from Mosul and were expertise and skills in their homeland.

issue 132 | July 2013 46|ARAB WORLD FOCUS

IRAQ: JOURNALISTS’ GRAVEYARD

Every year, while we continue to celebrate the Global Press Day, the fourth estate continues to lose its icons one after the other. Unfortunately, the situation in the Arab World serves as one of the best examples of the diminished status of the freedom of the press, as the latter has become the biggest obstacle to those Y#!# Z)~))( 6@@KZ) ~#R$K[K` 35@`Z)K?6Z~ or perhaps even exaggerated? It is common knowledge that the Iraqi journalists work in critical situations dictated by the strain of the political and sectarian ~~()( journalists to torture. The offenders have not yet realized how the press operates and more importantly how it should operate, and therefore, the freedom, space and opportunity that journalists should be given to work properly and thus have access to information without any restricting constraints are not being respected. This translates into massive obstacles that hinder the >#*0 prevented those carrying different agendas from murdering journalists, deluding themselves that gun silencers are capable of ( Z~~6@@K6@36) Brussels tribunal:

Year Killed Media Professionals of Iraqi Nationality Non-Iraqi Media Professionals Killed in Iraq Total 2003 11 20 31 2004 53 6 59 2005 58 1 59 2006 88 2 90 2007 81 1 82 2008 19 0 19 2009 8 0 8 2010 15 0 15 2011 13 0 13 2012 6 0 6 Total 352 30 382 Source: Brussels Tribunal

Z(~)K9AKA females. The largest number of murders was committed in Baghdad and its suburbs, noting that the hands of criminals did not spare the Kurdish press in the cities of Mosul and Kirkuk. Most journalists died of gunshot wounds, while other lives were claimed in explosions or deadly attacks, let alone the abusive practices that targeted many of them including arbitrary arrests, assault, bantering, detention, seizure and destruction of equipment and death threats. The frailty of the security apparatus and the lack of criminal prosecution are among the major reasons behind the recurrence of ()'){*# ~))Z~ )5@(' the cases and the perpetrators went unpunished. These staggering numbers draw to attention the need for legal protection for journalists and media institutions in a manner that guarantees the enforcement of punishment against all culprits in a bid to deter any and all violations against the press. Journalists’ unions and syndicatesN )( The future of democracy is at stake in today’s Iraq, and the suppression of the press can only mean an unfortunate reversion "

issue 132 | The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. ARAB WORLD FOCUS|47 IRAQI PARLIAMENT: 325 DEPUTIES, 18 DISTRICTS AND A PROPORTIONAL VOTING SYSTEM

KY{*) the third time since the beginning of the actual democratic life in Iraq following the fall of Saddam Hussein. So how is the Iraqi parliamentary elections law structured?

Parliament The apportionment of seats in the Iraqi Parliament Distribution of seats by governorate Table 1 is proportional to each province’s population with a deputy for each 100,000 Iraqis, noting that the 2005 Governorate/ Electoral district No. of seats statistics of the Ministry of Commerce estimate the As-Sulaymaniyah 17 annual population growth in each governorate at 6?|{K67)* Babil 16 { Erbil 14 entire Iraqi population and are elected by direct secret Al-Anbar 14 ballot. Diyala 13 Duration of Mandate Najaf 12 Iraqi Parliament is elected for a four-year term of Salah Ad-Dine 12 expiring by the end of the fourth year. Kirkuk 12 Wasit 11 Electoral District Al-Qadissiyah 11 Iraq’s 18 governorates are adopted as electoral districts. Each district is apportioned a number of Maysan 10 seats with 1 seat for each 100,000 people as shown in Dahuk 10 the following Table 1. However, 5% of the seats (15 seats) are awarded as compensatory seats to the lists Karbala 10 based on the countrywide proportion of seats won at Al-Muthanna 7 the governorate-level tier. 8 out of the compensatory Total 310 seats are distributed as follows: Source: Iraqi electoral law Christian: 5 seats distributed over the governorates `'>) N%3' Candidacy and Victory $)%3' K Sabean: 1 seat in Baghdad and no more than twice the number of seats allocated to each district are used in elections and voters have Distribution of seats by governorate Table 1 the right to vote for the entire list or for one of its candidates. Running independently is also optional. Governorate/ Electoral district No. of seats Baghdad 68 In order to determine the number of seats for every Ninawa 31 list, the electoral divider shall divide the total number of valid votes cast in each governorate. The sequence Basra 24 of the names of candidates shall be rearranged within Dhi Qar 18 the open list based on the number of votes received by each candidate from top to bottom and the women’s

issue 132 | July 2013 48|ARAB WORLD FOCUS

quota shall not be less than ¼ of the winners. In Women’s Quota case of a tie between candidates of the same list, the The electoral law has a binding quota for women winner will be decided by drawing lots. imposing the presence of a woman at the end of every K + *R ) Emigrants’ Vote must be women. Iraqis living overseas may register at their place of residency and participate in elections. Elections’ Oversight The Independent High Electoral Commission, an Military Personnel’s Vote independent public entity subjected to the control of Contrary to the voting systems that ban the military Parliament and having the legal authority to announce from voting as, for example, in Lebanon, the Iraqi and implement electoral rules and referendums, electoral law grants its military members in the supervises the parliamentary elections in Iraq. ministries of defense and interior and all the Iraqi The Commission was established in 2004 and is security entities the right to cast their ballots. considered the exclusive electoral authority in Iraq. It consists of 9 members elected by Parliament. Prisoners’ Vote Inmates and detainees are also permitted to participate in the parliamentary elections. Separation between Government and Parliament Positions ) in Parliament expires immediately if he assumes the position of President of the Republic, Prime Minister or Minister. If a parliamentary seat falls vacant for whatever reason (resignation, death, judicial verdict), another candidate is chosen by the head of the list to Z move is slammed by many as being a violation of the adequacy of representation, as the choice might fall on the candidate with the lowest number of votes at the expense of more deserving candidates. Voting Age Iraqis of 18 years of age and above have the right to participate in the elections. Terms of Candidacy { ) K@ holders of the Iraqi citizenship. Candidates must be holders of a secondary diploma or its equivalent. Candidates must not be convicted of any disgraceful crime. Candidates must not be members of the Baath Party with senior military positions. Iraqi Parliament

issue 132 | The Monthly is published by Information International s.a.l. PRICES |49

REAL ESTATE PRICES Towards MAY 2013

Prices of some apartments sold in May 2013 Table 2 The modest activity that marked the real estate Region Area m² Price (USD) USD/m² market in the past few months has gone downhill Beirut in May 2013. Real estate experts attributed the Tallet Khayyat 270 945,000 3,500 staggering passivity to the armed clashes raging in Ashrafieh (Sioufi) 120 312,000 2,600 @[ Ashrafieh (Rizk) 175 525,000 3,000 Lebanon. The political instability, the persistent Ashrafieh (Sodeco) 250 1,000,000 4,000 disputes over the electoral law and the failure to Clemenceau 150 600,000 4,000 form a new government were all factors that had a Cola (Shams Beirut) 210 462,000 2,200 negative impact on the market activity. It remains Karakon El-Druze 200 420,000 2,100 to be seen whether summer will hold any promising Qraytem 170 637,500 3,750 signals for the real estate sector this year. Baabda Yarzi 400 1,000,000 2,500 Samples of the apartments and properties sold in Hazmieh(Mar Taqla) 350 700,000 2,000 May 2013 are illustrated below in Tables 1 and 2. Hazmieh (Mar Taqla) 260 624,000 2,400 Baabda (Brazilia) 310 775,000 2,500 Prices of some estates sold in May 2013 Table 1 Kafa’at 130 130,000 1,000 Furn Shebbak 165 222,750 1,350 Region Area m² Price (USD) USD/m² Hay El-Amerkan 150 255,000 1,700 Beirut Matn Zqaq El-Blat 530 3,975,000 7,500 Antelias 250 375,000 1,500

Ain Mreisseh 500 5,500,000 11,000 Mansourieh 220 418,000 1,900 Awkar 185 333,000 1,800 Baabda Rabieh 230 460,000 2,000 Arayya 1.650 858,000 520 Broumana 300 540,000 1,800 Hazmieh 750 1,875,000 2,500 Dbayyeh 200 320,000 1,600 Rabweh 220 330,000 1,500 Matn Mazraat Yashour 170 170,000 1,000 Mansourieh 1,073 858,400 800 Aley Qornet Shehwan 1,160 475,600 410 Aley 250 275,000 1,100 Monteverdi 1,000 1,200,000 1,200 Bshamoun (Yahoudiyeh) 150 150,000 1,000 Bshamoun (Madares) 220 264,000 1,200 Broumana 1,300 780,000 600 Choueifat (Baladiyeh) 185 231,250 1,250 Aley Aramoun 165 165,000 1,000 Aley 2,000 500,000 250 Doha Hoss 200 250,000 1,250 Chimlan 920 598,000 650 Khaldeh 190 228,000 1,200 Kessrouan Bchamoun (Madares) 950 475,000 500 Sarba 160 240,000 1,500 Kessrouan Sahel Alma 200 340,000 1,700 Tabarja 1,540 3,080,000 2,000 Suhaili 170 238,000 1,400

Ashqout 1,210 423,500 350 Zouq Mosbeh 150 195,000 1,300 Adonis 190 231,800 1,220 Sahel Alma 900 855,000 950 Ballouneh 165 239,000 1,450 Faraya 1,700 340,000 200 Adma 240 456,000 1,900 Source: Information International Source: Information International

issue 132 | July 2013 50| Did you know that?

Performance of the World’s Biggest Automakers in 2011

9.03 million vehicles were sold by General General Motors’ leading market share in the Motors in 2011 according to some industry United States and China (34.6% and 31.8% analysts, thus registering the highest sales share, respectively), combined with their strong rate in auto manufacturing. market share in Germany and Brazil (21% and 31.5%), make them a best-selling automaker Approximately 1.2 million of these sales are around the world. generated through Wuling Motors, a joint venture that is 44% held by General Motors. Having sold 18,350,000 vehicles, China has become the world’s largest automotive market. Volkswagen occupied the second rate with 8.156 million vehicles. The US market still leads the world in terms of total sales revenue. Nissan/Renault ranked third with 8.03 million vehicles. Stats & Numbers |51 Stats& Numbers Publications

59,734 is the number of Publications by Kutub (in Arabic): Publications by Information International (in Arabic): people by which the Lebanese 1- Al-Wasita Ila Ma’rifat Ahwal Malta & Kashf Al- Mukhabba’e ‘An Funun Europa. 1- Salaries and Remunerations in the Public Sector population has grown in 2012. 2- Public Seaside Properties 2- The Memoirs of Juliette El-Mir Saadeh The number of registered births 3- Lebanon’s Parliamentary History 1920-2000 3- As-Saq ‘Ala As-Saq fi ma Huwa Al-Fariaq 4- Taxes and Fees and deaths stood at 79,283 and 4- Rihlati Fi Al-Jazirah Al-Arabiyyah Al-Wusta, 5- Lebanon in Figures 1992-2002 6- Lebanon in Figures 2003-2004 Hamad, Sammar, Qacim, Hedjaz 1878-1882. 19,549 respectively. 7- Lebanon in Figures 2005-2006 [Voyage Dans L’Arabie Centrale.] 8- Lebanon in Figures 2007-2008 5- Al-Shi’ir Ind Al-Badu (Bedouin Poetry) 9- Lebanon’s MPs and Lebanese Parliamentary Elections 1960 - 2009 USD 7 billion is the value of 6- Rihlati Fi Bilad Al-Rafidayn wa Iraq Al’Arab 10- 2009 Parliamentary Elections by ballot box, [Utazasom Mesopatamiaban és Irak-Arabiaban] the treasury bonds (in LBP and candidate and confession-North District 7- Laqatat Mughayira: Al-Tasweer Al-Mahalli Al- 11- 2009 Parliamentary Elections by ballot box, foreign currencies) due in 2013. Mubker Fi Filasteen. 1850-1948. candidate and confession-Beirut District 12- 2009 Parliamentary Elections by ballot box, 8- Fi Khidmat Al-Watan. Mukhtarat Min Al-Watha’iq candidate and confession-Mount Lebanon District Al-Khassa Lil ‘Amir Farid Shehab. 51,794 is the number of 13- 2009 Parliamentary Elections by ballot box, 9- Matbakh Baytna candidate and confession-Beqa’a District 14- 2009 Parliamentary Elections by ballot box, candidate institutions registered with the 10- Antoun Saadeh Wa Al-Hizb Al-Souri Al-Qawmi and confession-South and Nabatiyeh District NSSF, with the majority (13,809) Al-Ijtima’i Fi Awraq Al-Amir Farid Shehab Al- 15- Municipal Elections 2010 Mudir Al-‘Am Li Al-‘Amn Al-‘Am Al-Lubnani. being trade-oriented. 11- Mudhakarat Dhabet ‘Uthmani Fi Najd Publications by INMA (in Arabic): 12- Qasami ... Wasiyyati Muthakarat. 392,220 is the number of [Memoirs of Deeb Kirdiyeh.] 1- “I am Responsible, All of Us are Responsible” 2- “Our Environment is Our Home” employees registered with 13- Trablous Al-Sham 3- “My Society is My Responsibility” 14- Jeniyat Al-Nabi 4- “My Society is My Responsibility” Workbook the NSSF. 728,944 people 5- “I am a Student, I am a Citizen: Ways Towards 15- Mokhber Al-Konsoliya State Building” (spouses, children, parents) 16- Antoun Saadah 1932-1949 6- “I am a Student, I am a Citizen: Ways Towards State Building” Workbook benefit from the membership of 17- Antoun Saadah, A Biography, 7- “Lebanon Wars, why?” Volume 1. The Youth Years those employees, thus bringing 8- Discrimination in Lebanon 18- The Face of the Prophet, the total number of beneficiaries Khalil Gibran and the Portraits of the Temple of Arts to 1,121,164 people or 19- May Ziadeh, Evolution of a free female thinker roughly 30% of the Lebanese 20- USA in the Middle East 21- Alone Together population. 22- Mission in Hijaz - Lion Roche 23- Aleppo Cuisine LBP 4.5 billion are the credits 24- From An-Nabk to Florida allocated to the Ministry of Public 25- Institution of Aesthetic Discourse -Saad el-Kassab 26- Al A’mal Al She’rya Al-Kamila -Kamal Keir beik Health for the establishment of 4 27- Majhoulat Gibran To Subscribe: drug addiction rehab centers. Al-Borj Building, 4th Floor, Martyrs Square Beirut Central District Telephone: 961-1-983008/9 961-3-262376 Fax: 961-1-980630 [email protected] www.iimonthly.com www.information-international.com © Information International SAL All rights reserved License No. 180/2003 NEW FUNERARY PHOENICIAN STELAE This booklet is an insightful scholarly publication that sheds light on Jawad R ) `{ZAA) Z` ) marked the life of the Phoenicians. It is to be hoped that this collection will offer to experts and researchers new information about the cemeteries, rituals and culture of the Phoenician society in the historic city of Tyre.

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