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 , 100,000 Palestinians fled to Lebanon because of the war. Israel did not permit their return after the cease-fire Insurrection Civil War 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, ,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 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