team+7+Lebanon

= = flat =**The Republic of Lebanon - Introduction** = The country now known as the **Lebanon** began as a territory occupied by the Ottoman Empire for nearly four hundred years, a time period spanning from about 1516 to 1918. Lebanon now encompasses 10,400 sq km approximately 10,230 of those sq km are attributed to land and 170 sq km to water[1]. Following the defeat of the Ottoman Empire by the allied forces the [|Sykes-Picot Agreement of 1916] between Great Britain and France was implemented, dividing the Arab provinces formerly controlled by the Ottoman Empire. On September 1st, 1920, General Henri Gouraud proclaimed the establishment of Great Lebanon re-certifying the historical and geographical boundaries of Lebanon, as well as recognizing territory added by French mandate that was not formerly part of the geography[2].   Lebanon at the time predominately consisted of [|Maronite Christians] and [|Druze]. These two populations played a critical role in the development of politics spanning from the early 1920s to the present. These two religious populations still exist in Lebanon today being nearly 59.7% Muslim (Shia, Sunni, Druze, Isma'ilite, Alawite or Nusayri) and 39% Christian (Maronite Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Melkite Catholic, Armenian Catholic, etc.) [1]. During French mandate two types of political parties began to emerge, ideological parties and elite-based parties[3]. Primarily because Lebanon at the time had no ruling party and no official state ideology political parties were able to grow and consolidate[3]. Parties were able to compete for the primary positions of President, Speaker of Parliament, and Prime Minister.Politics during the initial Greater Lebanon time period (1920-1943) were described as being reflective of the growing interest to find leaders who could achieve independence from French Mandat e. Ideological parties that emerged during this time period that were of particular importance included the [|National Bloc] and Constitutional Bloc led by Emile Edde and [|Bechara el-Khoury] .  (Peter Cichowski)

=The First Ten Years of Independence: 1943-1952 =  Officially gaining independence in 1943 the Republic of Lebanon was created, however French troops did not completely exit until about 1946. Bechara el-Khoury, former Prime Minister of Greater Lebanon having served two terms previously, was elected as the first President of Lebanon post-independence. Khoury gained popularity for being a strong nationalist in opposition of French Mandate, he was actually arrested with other political leaders by [|Free French] troops regarding their political views of an independent Lebanon and later released. Influential political leaders during this time period are often related to the struggle to gain independence and gained in popularity because of it. He was elected into office and served from September 1943 to September 1952 when he was removed. Khoury is considered to be one of the founding fathers of modern day Lebanon and is most notably known for his role in the creation of the [|National Pact][4]. Being an unwritten agreement, the National Pact was formed in the summer of 1943 and laid the foundation for relations between Christian

[[image:lebanese_flag width="273" height="216" align="left" caption="Official flag of Lebanon"]]
and Muslim populations in Lebanon that still hold true to present. Lebanon's political structure was established as a [|unitary] [|confesionalist] system with a [|Parliamentary Republic]. This means that Lebanon is governed as a single unit with a central government, but political and institutional power is divided proportionately among religious groups. To maintain order the National Pact established as follows, that the President will be a Maronite Christian, the Speaker of Parliament a   Shiite Muslim, and the Prime Minister a Sunni Muslim. As evidenced by Lebanon joining the [|League of Arab States]in 1945 Arab Nationalism was on the rise. Surfacing during this time period were the [|Progressive Socialist Party], the [|National Liberal Party], and other Arab nationalist parties[3]. Parties being established during this time period would become increasingly influential over time, especially the Progressive Socialist Party who would play a large role in the [|Lebanese Civil War]. Open competition among political parties demonstrated the relative political freedom during this time period. It wasn’t shortly after joining the League of Arab States however that Lebanon found itself demonstrating its loyalty to the Arab alliance becoming involved in the [|Arab-Israeli War] of 1948. The partitioning of Palestine to form Israel did not settle well among Arabs in the Middle East leading to continued strain between the Arab-Jewish communities. Lebanon, having the smallest military of the Arab countries, played a relatively minor role in the conflict never officially invading Israel with troops. Lebanon did however channel its support by means of artillery strikes and financial support of the Arab operations. Israel in 1949 signed the [|Armistice Agreements] ending the conflict but not without several consequences. Financial burdens of the war reflected on Lebanon’s economy as well as the massive influx of [|Palestinian refugees] in southern Lebanon that would cause instability and conflict in the region for some time to come. Following the Arab-Israeli War some 60 years later refugees still exist within these camps forcing Palestinians to settle. Wikipedia states that the period ended with Bechara being viewed in a relatively negative light with the general population of Lebanon calling for his resignation. After a series of demonstrations and protests finally in September of 1952 Bechara was forced to resign ending his ten year presidency. Khoury was succeeded by [|Camille Charmoun], a Maronite Christian leader, who served as President from 1952 to 1958 and would continue to be a political leader for some time to come. media type="youtube" key="g-2YGAInH5o" height="178" width="311" align="left"

(Peter Cichowski)

[1] https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/le.html [2] Faour, Muhammad. "The Demography of Lebanon: a Reappraisal." //Middle Eastern Studies// 27.4 (1991): 631-41. //JSTOR//. Web. 2 Dec. 2011. http://www.jstor.org/stable/4283466 [3] Khazen, Farid El. "Political Parties in Postwar Lebanon: Parties in Search of Partisans." //The Middle East Journal// 57.4 (2003): 605-24. //JSTOR//. Web. 4 Dec. 2011. http://www.jstor.org/stable/4329942 [4] Ziser, Eyal. //Lebanon the Challenge of Independence//. London: I.B. Tauris, 2000. Web. 2 Dec. 2011. http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=YP22segPBpAC&oi=fnd&pg=PR7&dq=lebanon+independece&ots=eTQapn-xfS&sig=CSkc2Q2VOf5QNPclv5P5UPKzBp8#v=onepage&q&f=false
 * Works Cited:**

(Peter Cichowski)
 * Image Sources:**
 * http://www.infoplease.com/atlas/country/lebanon.html**
 * https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/le.html**
 * http://www.wlcu.com.au/presidency.htm**
 * http://mondoweiss.net/2010/08/palestinian-refugees-in-lebanon-do-not-only-have-israel-to-blame-for-their-plight.html**

=Lebanon 1975-1990: The Lebanese Civil War = The spark that ignited the war in Beirut on April 13, 1975 was when gunmen killed four Phalangists (members of a Lebanese Christian paramilitary organization founded in 1936 and originally based on similar ideas to the fascist Falange ) during an attempt on Pierre Jumayyil's life. [1] <span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 19px;"> Pierre Jumayyil was a Lebanese politician in the Kataeb Party, better known as the Phalange Party.[2] Perhaps believing the assassins to have <span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 19px;">been Palestinian, the Phalangists retaliated later that day by attacking a bus carrying Palestinian passengers across a Christian neighborhood, killing about twenty-six of the occupants. The next day fighting erupted in earnest, with Phalangists pitted against Palestinian militiamen. [3] <span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 19px;"> By the end of 1975, no side held a decisive military advantage, but it was generally acknowledged that the Lebanese Front had done less well than expected against the disorganized Lebanese National Movement. [4] <span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 19px;"> For many observers, at the bottom of the conflict was the issue of confessionalism (a system of government that refers to a mix of religion and politics) out of balance--of a minority, specifically the Maronites (a Christian ethno religious group in the Middle East, historically ties with Lebanon), refusing to share power and economic opportunity with the Muslim majority. <span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 10pt;">(Chris Cooney) = = <span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19px;">Syrian diplomatic involvement grew during 1976, but had little success in restoring order in the first half of the year. In January it organized a cease-fire and set up the High Military Committee, through which it negotiated with all sides. That month the Lebanese Front began a siege of Tall Zatar, a densely populated Palestinian refugee camp in East Beirut; the Lebanese Front also overran and leveled Karantina, a Muslim quarter in East Beirut. These actions finally brought the main forces of the PLO, the Palestine Liberation Army (PLA), into the battle. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19px;"> On <span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19px;">February 14, 1976, Syria helped negotiate a seventeen-point reform program known as the Constitutional Document. Yet by March this progress was derailed by the disintegration of the Lebanese Army. In that month dissident Muslim troops, led by Lieutenant Ahmad Khatib, mutinied, creating the Lebanese Arab Army. [6] <span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 10pt;">(Chris Cooney) = = <span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19px;">The Riyadh Conference, followed by an Arab League meeting in Cairo also in October 1976, formally ended the Lebanese Civil War; although the underlying causes were in no way eliminated, the fullscale warfare stopped. Syria's presence in Lebanon was legitimated by the establishment of the Arab Deterrent Force (ADF) by the Arab League in October 1976. Libya had withdrawn its small force in late 1976. After more than one and one-half years of devastation, relative calm returned to Lebanon. Although the exact cost of the war will never be known, deaths may have approached 44,000, with about 180,000 wounded; many thousands of others were displaced or left homeless, or had migrated. In 1982 Lebanon began to rebuild their armed forces with assistance from the United Staes. In 1988, these new modern forces gave General Aoun, the interim prime minister, the will to declare a war of liberation against the Syrians who were still occupying the country.[7] However, within two years General Aoun was defeated and exiled to France. Syria maintained its presence while also rebuilding the Lebanese Armed Forces, which were devastated by the brief war. <span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 10pt;">(Chris Cooney) = = <span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 10pt;">An interim cease-fire brokered by the U.S. in 1981 among Syria, the PLO, and Israel was respected for almost a year. Several incidents, including PLO rocket attacks on northern Israel, as well as an assassination attempt on the Israeli Ambassador to the United Kingdom, led to the June 6, 1982 Israeli ground attack into Lebanon to remove PLO forces. In August 1982, U.S. mediation resulted in the evacuation of Syrian troops and PLO fighters from Beirut. The agreement also provided for the deployment of a multinational force composed of U.S. Marines along with French and Italian units. On May 17, 1983, Lebanon, Israel, and the United States signed an agreement on Israeli withdrawal that was conditioned on the departure of Syrian troops. Syria opposed the agreement and declined to discuss the withdrawal of its troops, effectively stalemating further progress. In August 1983, Israel withdrew from the Shuf (southeast of Beirut), thus removing the buffer between the Druze and the Christian militias and triggering another round of brutal fighting. The virtual collapse of the Lebanese Army in February 1984, following the defection of many Muslim and Druze units to militias, was a major blow to the government. With the U.S. Marines looking ready to withdraw, Syria and Muslim groups stepped up pressure on Gemayal. On March 5, 1984 the Lebanese Government canceled the May 17 agreement; the Marines departed a few weeks later.[8] Following this period was an onslaught of terrorist attacks and bombing launched against the U.S and western interests. <span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 10pt;">(Chris Cooney)
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">The Beginning of the War **
 * <span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Key events during the height of the Civil War **
 * <span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Following the height of the Civil War **
 * <span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Several Countries Involved **

The Ta'if Agreement of 1989 marked the beginning of the end of the war. In January of that year, a committee appointed by the Arab League, chaired by Kuwait and including Saudi Arabia, Algeria, and Morocco, had begun to formulate solutions to the conflict, leading to a meeting of Lebanese parliamentarians in Ta'if, Saudi Arabia, where they agreed to the national reconciliation accord in October. Returning to Lebanon, they ratified the agreement on November 4 and elected Rene Moawad as President the following day.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">[9] Moawad was assassinated shortly after this. In August 1990, parliament and the new President agreed on constitutional amendments embodying some of the political reforms envisioned at Ta'if. The Chamber of Deputies expanded to 128 seats and was divided equally between Christians and Muslims (with Druze counted as Muslims). In March 1991, parliament passed an amnesty law that pardoned all political crimes prior to its enactment. The amnesty was not extended to crimes perpetrated against foreign diplomats or certain crimes referred by the cabinet to the Higher Judicial Council. In May 1991, the militias were dissolved, and the Lebanese Armed Forces began to slowly rebuild itself as Lebanon's only major nonsectarian institution. In all, it is estimated that more than 100,000 were killed, and another 100,000 left handicapped, during Lebanon's 16-year civil war. Up to one-fifth of the pre-war resident population, or about 900,000 people, were displaced from their homes, of whom perhaps a quarter of a million emigrated permanently. The last of the Western hostages taken during the mid-1980s were released in May 1992.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">[10] (Chris Cooney) The post-war stability of a country is also affected by several other factors including: the type of power-sharing agreement that is reached; the type of conflict; the presence of a guarantor; and the establishment of a transitional justice mechanism to deal with injustices during the war. These factors, taken together, are viewed as key determinants of maintaining peace and achieving reconciliation after the civil war ends.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">[11] Despite End of Lebanon’ s long civil war, Low-Level Conflict Continues Around Israeli-Occupied Zone. Beirut is being rebuilt at a remarkable pace, and Lebanon seems to have recovered quickly from the 17-year civil war which left the nation in tatters. Yet, as much of the country "gets on with life," war at the low-intensity conflict level continues in the south."Front-line" villages near the Israeli-occupied zone live with a regular soundtrack of artillery and small arms fire in the distance. Though shells fall daily within this "non-occupied" territory, the people in the south go on, hoping that Israel will someday withdraw, while conducting their lives as if they will remain in Israeli gunsights indefinitely.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">[12]
 * <span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">End of the Civil War **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Post-War Lebanon **
 * By: Chris Cooney**

[1] Ghazi, Ayman. "Lebanon's History." 29 Nov. 2011. [] [2] "Pierre Amine Gemayel." 29 Nov. 2011. [] [3] Ghazi, Ayman. "Lebanon's History." 29 Nov. 2011. [] [4] Ghazi, Ayman. "Lebanon's History." 29 Nov. 2011. [] [5] Pike, John. "Lebanon (Civil War 1975-1991)." 02 Dec. 2011. [] [6] Pike, John. "Lebanon (Civil War 1975-1991)." 02 Dec. 2011. [] [7] Ghazi, Ayman. "Lebanon's History." 29 Nov. 2011. [] [8][9][10] Pike, John. "Lebanon (Civil War 1975-1991)." 02 Dec. 2011. [] [11] Ghosn, Faten, and Amal, Khourg. "Lebanon after the Civil War: Peace or Illusion of Peace?" The Middle East Journal 65.3 (2011). Proquest. 02 Dec. 2011. [12] Fecci, Jomarie. "Despite End of Lebanon's Long Civil War, Low-Level Conflict Continues Around Israel-Occupied Zone." The Washington Report. Proquest. 02 Dec. 2011 [13] http://www.pbs.org/wnet/wideangle/episodes/future-for-lebanon/lebanons-divisive-sectarian-past/under-syrian-dominion/2389/ [14]http://www.google.com/imgres?q=lebanon+civil+war&num=10&um=1&hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&biw=1280&bih=690&tbm=isch&tbnid=9RlDJFHnkRF3yM:&imgrefurl=http://www.toptenz.net/top-10-most-notable-national-revolutions.php/lebanese-civil-war&docid=9Nv_GJRYyH5W5M&imgurl=http://www.toptenz.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Lebanese-Civil-War.jpg&w=600&h=400&ei=UH7dTqDiIc2_2QXZ5JmTBQ&zoom=1
 * Image Sources:**

=Cedar Revolution= <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">The Cedar Revolution came about after the assassination of Rafik Hariri via car bomb in Beirut. The US and France teamed up in their effort to pass U.N Resolution 1559 which <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"> meant Syria would have to leave Lebanon. Between 1998 and 2002, Syria called for troop withdrawals. The strong holds within Lebanon that were left behind are just wooden boxes and all started getting re used by Syria about a week later. Another point that wasn’t really being looked at was the question on the kind of country Lebanon would be with out having Syria. "When Syria leaves Lebanon, the challenge then falls squarely on Lebanese shoulders," said Nizar Hamzeh, a political scientist at the American University of Beirut. "The Lebanese must show that they can deal with their differences and reach an agreement on how to run the country". The “Independence Peaceful Uprising” was created to help liberate Lebanon. This act helped to get the people involved and many rallies were beginning to form. It was during this time that the largest group ever formed in Lebanon, about a million, took action against Syria. Near the end of March 2005 is when Syria had pulled almost all of their troops from Lebanon. A thought taken into consideration was that the murder of Rafik was actually committed by the Syrian Government. In the beginning of April the U.N called for an international investigation on the assassination of Hariri. Due to the pressure from United States and the U.N on the issue forced the Syrian government to agree to withdrawal all of their troops. By the end of April 2005, after 30 years, all of Syria’s troops were gone.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"> (Blake Boersema)

=Nahr al-Bared= <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Nahr al-Bared is a refugee camp within Lebanon that is home to more than 30,000 Palestinians. Under the Cairo Agreement of 1969 Lebanon is not allowed into any refugee camp. Part of the problem within the camp was being able to maintain security and this was blamed on the Palestinian leaders, but Lebanon was also just as responsible for the lack of safety precautions taken to protect the refugees. Nothing but bad things came about the situation because the refugees were completely defenseless against these attacks from the Fatah al-Islam. Palestinian leaders seemed supportive of the attacks within the camps, and the same can be said for Lebanon’s political aspect to this crisis because they <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> did not show any intention of helping the refugees, and held them at fault for the Fatah al-Islam. A problem that happened due to security failure was the robbing of a bank by this group, which lead to Lebanon’s Internal Security Forces going on a man hunt for the culprits. During this time the Fatah al-Islam attacked the Lebanese barracks, but did so blind because the ISF does not communicate with the army they had no idea the search for the thief was even happening. Enraged, the Lebanese army cut off resources to the camp and began bombarding. Around two-thirds of the Palestinians within the camp made it out alive. With the lack of security the refugee camp was destroyed by this army in 2007. A new security plan was designed to make Nahr al-Bared a model refugee camp for the other Palestinian camps within Lebanon. The reason for Lebanon doing this is because upgrading the security in these camps in turn also helps out to give the Lebanese a security boost.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> (Blake Boersema)