Lebanon

[Richard]

Lebanon was once an advanced and prosperous country in the 60s and 70s. I heard that Beirut was once referred to "The Paris of the Middle East".

Now, I am curious as to how Lebanon changed? I've been looking it up on Altavista but haven't really had much luck. I'm guessing that the Israeli occupation in '82 had something to do with it. But I'm sure there have been other contributing factors. Can someone please shed some light on the issue and help me?

Thanks. I'd be most appreciative.

Richard

[aerpix]

Actually I believe that Lebanon was called 'Switzerland of the Near East', because Beirut was a financial centre just like Zurich is. Here is what I found about the civil war that was responsible that this once prospering country was turned into rubble:

In 1975 fighting broke out between Lebanese Muslims and the Maronite-dominated Phalange faction. The central government ceased to function as heavily armed militia factions reduced Lebanon to anarchy. The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) joined the Muslim side in early 1976, and Syria (wary of Israeli reaction) intervened against the PLO. Beirut was partitioned by the east-west "Green line", separating the Christian-held north from the Muslim south. In June the Arab League imposed a truce, creating a Syrian-led Arab force to keep the peace. Violence continued nonetheless, and in 1978 Israel invaded southern Lebanon in an attempt to eliminate Palestinian bases. Israeli troops were replaced by a UN force, but Israel continued to aid the Maronites and to strike at PLO targets in Lebanon. In June 1982 Israel invaded again, overrunning the PLO. By mid-August, after US mediation, the PLO fighters agreed to leave Beirut, and many were evacuated to other countries. Later that month, with Israeli troops surrounding Beirut, the Lebanese parliament elected the Christian militia leader Bashir Gemayel as President; after Bashir was assassinated in September, his brother Amin Gemayel was elected to replace him. Phalangist forces slaughtered up to 1,000 Palestinians in retaliation, at the Sabra and Shatila refugee camps in Israeli-occupied West Beirut. Subsequently, the Israelis withdrew to southern Lebanon, and an international peacekeeping force was stationed in Beirut. Muslims were suspicious of the Western units supporting a Christian-led government; after more than 300 US and French troops were killed in terrorist bombings on October 23, 1983, the Western forces pulled out completely by February 1984. In the resultant power vacuum, factional strife persisted, with Israeli withdrawal in 1985 leaving a "security zone" controlled by its Christian allies the South Lebanese Army (SLA). The Iran-backed Shiite Hezbollah (Party of God) fought over this zone with the SLA, having rejected an interim peace accord, brokered by Syria in December 1985. Westerners in Beirut became the targets of radical Shiite kidnappers, apparently loyal to Iran. The Israelis continued to raid PLO installations in the south, and deteriorating conditions in Beirut led Syrian troops to occupy its Muslim sector in 1987 to end feuding between Lebanese and Palestinian Muslims.

When Gemayel's presidential term expired in September 1988, he named the army commander General Michel Aoun, a Christian, to head an interim government. With Lebanese leaders unable to concur on a new president, rival Christian and Muslim factions then established their own administrations. In October 1989, Lebanese negotiators, meeting in Saudi Arabia, agreed on a new constitution providing increased power for the Muslims; the accord was rejected by Aoun, threatening the permanent partition of Lebanon. On November 5, legislators ratified the charter and elected René Moawad as President. He was assassinated 17 days later, and Parliament chose another Maronite, Elias Hrawi, to succeed him. In October 1990, Syrian troops clamped down on east Beirut, defeating forces loyal to Aoun. Subsequently the Lebanese army, with Syrian backing, regained control over much of the country, disarmed the militias, and ousted the PLO from strongholds in southern Lebanon. The war had cost some 150,000 Lebanese lives since 1975. Nearly all the Western hostages in Lebanon were released in 1991.

(Courtesy by MS Encyclopedia)

Regards,
Peter

[Richard]

Wow thanks a lot for that info. I found it to be very valuable and informative. Do you know why the fighting started in 1975?

[aerpix]

MS says the following, which may explain why fighting broke out:

French gerrymandering of Lebanon's frontiers created an economically viable state with politically explosive religious conflicts. In 1943 the predominant Maronites worked out a power-sharing arrangement, the National Pact, with the Sunni Muslims and smaller groups. Real power, however, rested not with elected leaders but with an increasingly wealthy elite and a class of almost feudal warlords, defended by their own armies. The presidents have often been at the mercy of forces and groups beyond their control, although both Camille Chamoun and Fuad Chehab (Shihab), presidents of the 1950s and early 1960s who pursued opposing policies, were strong, effective leaders. Christians controlled key state posts. Financiers and property speculators flourished, government policies encouraged business, and the amenities and climate attracted tourists and investors from abroad. Little of this prosperity, however, touched the mass of the population-increasingly Shiite-and their discontent exploded in demonstrations, riots, and, after 1975, civil war.

Regards,
Peter

[Richard]

Yikes, not a pretty picture.

Thanks for the information again!

[aerpix]

You're welcome, that encylopedia is a handy thing.

Regards,
Peter