I am rather surprised to see no discussion on the topic. Lebanon , much like Israel, is a religiously motivated creation. Under the French mandate, the Christian community had historically prospered. Later on, the Sunni community joined them in achieving affluence.
With Hizbollah, strongly supported by the Shiite community on the rise, it is quite surprising to see some Christian leaders allying themselves with the Syrian-Iranian backed opposition.
I am projecting a collapse of the Sunni-Christian pro-western government. Siniora has been rescued by the Arab States (to lesser extent, the US) too many times. Syria needs to stop meddling in Lebanon.
BEIRUT, Lebanon, Oct. 5 — With the Islamist group Hezbollah having brought Lebanese politics to a standstill, the country’s once-dominant Christian community feels under siege and has begun re-establishing militias, training in the hills and stockpiling weapons.
Many Lebanese say another civil war — like the 15-year one that started in 1975 — is imminent and that the most dangerous flash points are within the divided Christian community.
Christian youth are signing up for militant factions in the greatest numbers since the end of the civil war, spray painting nationalist symbols on walls and tattooing them on their skin, and proclaiming their willingness to fight in a new civil war — in particular, against fellow Christians.
Re: Christian Split in Lebanon Raises Specter of Civil War
interesting reading pak-one. my christian lebanese collegue was pretty apprehensive at these developments.
its surprising for me that a lot of christians ally with Hezbollah, since in the end Hezbollah still is headed by a religious guy, and is strongly influenced by iran.
Re: Christian Split in Lebanon Raises Specter of Civil War
interesting reading pak-one. my christian lebanese collegue was pretty apprehensive at these developments.
its surprising for me that a lot of christians ally with Hezbollah, since in the end Hezbollah still is headed by a religious guy, and is strongly influenced by iran.
Most people in Lebanon who support Hezbollah are not even religious in the first place.
Re: Christian Split in Lebanon Raises Specter of Civil War
interesting reading pak-one. my christian lebanese collegue was pretty apprehensive at these developments.
its surprising for me that a lot of christians ally with Hezbollah, since in the end Hezbollah still is headed by a religious guy, and is strongly influenced by iran.
Good to know that other folks are following these developments. I am certainly not claiming to be an expert here but some of the Christians are well supported by Syria including Emile Lahoud the current President. Although the article talks about this new "reality of being a minority" among the Christian supporters, I don't think that it plays a huge role. Lebanese politics (much like Pakistan) are notoriously shifty, so I don't exactly agree with everything mentioned in the article.
The Syria-Iran-Hezbollah nexus in Lebanon is a destabilizing influence. So far, the Sunni-Druze-Partial Christian coalition has held the government together but it is looking weaker by the day. I hope that the readers recognize that Lebanon as a multi-confessional state, religion has played a major role in group identity and politics.
Re: Christian Split in Lebanon Raises Specter of Civil War
Most people in Lebanon who support Hezbollah are not even religious in the first place.
That is partially true. The Shias of Al-Janoub particular Sidon, Tyre see Hezbollah in a religious sense. On the other hand, Hezbollah's performance in repulsing Israeli attacks has won many new supporters. It is difficult to separate Hezbollah from Lebanese politics due their quasi-religious role coupled with the strong external support.
Re: Christian Split in Lebanon Raises Specter of Civil War
Iran and Syria will obviously back the Shia Hezbollah
Israel will back the Christian Militia the Phalenge
While Egypt and Saudi Arabia will back the Sunni Militias and their PLO allies even though that could cause Al Qaeda terrorists to spread their wings in Lebanon
Which could eventually drive the Christians in the north and the Shias in the South forming an alliance against the Sunnis in the center of the country
If the Sunni-Shia violence doesnt stop, Iran and Israel could be driven closer together