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Lebanon People • The population 4,125,247 • Muslim 54% (27% Shi’ite, 27% Sunni Islam), • Christian 40.5% (includes 21% Maronite Catholic, 8% Greek Orthodox, 5% Greek Catholic, 1% Protestant, 5.5% other Christian) • Druze 5.6%, • • • • • • • • • Ottoman Empire from 1516 to 1918 Independence declared 8 November 1943 The last French troops withdrew in 1946. 1948, 100,000 Palestinians fled to Lebanon because of the war. Israel did not permit their return after the cease-fire. 1958 Insurrection Civil War 1975 - 1990 2000 Hafez Al-Assad died Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon Modern Government • parliamentary democratic republic • Confessional System • highest offices are proportionately reserved for representatives from certain religious communities • direct elections must be held for the parliament every 5 years • Parliament elects a President every 6 years to a single term. The President is not eligible for re-election fro 6 years • Parties largely represent sectarian interests • Full suffrage at 21 • Palestinian refugees, predominantly Sunni Muslims, 160,000225,000, are politically inactive • judicial system based on the Napoleonic Code • Political blocs based local interests personal/family allegiance rather than on political affinities • Christians • Free Patriotic Movement, Phalange Party, National Bloc, National Liberal Party, Lebanese Forces, Guardians of the Cedars • Shi‘ite – Amal and Hezbollah • Druze – Progressive Socialist Party • Sunni – Hizb ut-Tahrir, Future Movement, Independent Nasserist Organization, Al-Tawhid, Ahbash. • The 1943 National Pact, divided 6-to-5 ratio of Christians to Muslims • based on 1932 Census • Taif Agreement of 1989 evened the ratio at 1 to 1 • In the past, the system worked to produce a viable democracy. Events and demographic trends, have upset the delicate Muslim-Christian-Druze balance Civil Civil War 1975-1990 - 1990 • In 1975, coalition of Christian groups against the joint forces of the PLO, left-wing Druze and Muslim militias. • 150,000 fatalities, 100,00 major casualties, 900,000 displaced • 3500 Car bombs • Cold War Tensions Maronites sided with the West while Left Wing and pan-Arab groups sided with Soviet aligned Arab countries • by the end of the war, nearly every party had allied with and betrayed every other party at least once • June 1976 Syria sent in troops • 1982, the PLO attacks from Lebanon on Israel led to an Israeli invasion ‘Operation Peace for Galilee’ • militias deteriorated into mafia-style organizations with many commanders turning to crime as their main occupation rather than fighting • Sources of income – Outside support: Notably from Syria and Israel. Other Arab governments and Iran – Road checkpoints as taxation – Smuggling: During the civil war, Lebanon turned into one of the world's largest narcotics producers End of the War • The 1989 Taif Agreement • Parliament in defiance of the President instituted constitutional reforms Hezbollah • Formed in 1982 Response to Israeli invasion • Trained by 1500, IRGC Forces in the Bekaa • 1992 The State within the State ,Seats in Parliament, TV broadcasts and Military wing • Social Services operates at least four hospitals, twelve clinics, twelve schools and two agricultural centres • Syrian military presence faced criticism and resistance from the Lebanese population. • 14 February 2005, former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri was assassinated in a car bomb explosion • marked the beginning of a series of assassinations that resulted in the death of many prominent Lebanese figures • triggered the Cedar Revolution, a series of demonstrations which demanded the withdrawal of Syrian troops from Lebanon and the establishment of an international commission to investigate the assassination. • 26 April 2005 all Syrian soldiers departed 2006 War • 12 July 2006, Hezbollah launched a series of rocket attacks and raids into Israeli territory • where they killed three Israeli soldiers and captured a further two. • Israel responded with airstrikes, artillery fire ground invasion of southern Lebanon, resulting in the 2006 Lebanon War. • Ended 14 August 2006, • 1,191 Lebanese and 160 Israelis were killed in the conflict. • Beirut's southern suburb was heavily damaged by Israeli airstrikes where Hezbollah was deeply embedded • In 2012, the Syrian civil war threatened to spill over in Lebanon, causing more incidents of sectarian violence • Fear that the country’s sectarian based political system is being undermined • 1.2 Million Refugees