How Lebanon, once a Christian country, became the battleground for Israel and Palestine
Israel has launched a ground and air operation in Lebanon, as part of its war against the Iran-backed Shia militia Hezbollah. This is the latest episode in a long-running conflict between the two neighbours over Palestine.?While today Lebanon is known as the stronghold of Hezbollah, which is the most powerful political entity in the country and has an army stronger than the Lebanese military, the Middle Eastern country, located on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea and bordered by Israel and Syria, wasn't always like this.
Lebanese population in 1940s?
In fact, Lebanon was once a Christian-majority country, the only such one in the Middle East. In the early '40s, when Lebanon became independent, its population comprised Maronite Christians, Greek Orthodox Christians, Greek Catholics, Shia and Sunni Muslims, Druze, and Jews. However, today Christians are a minority in the country, and Muslims account for the majority of Lebanon's population.
How Lebanon became home to?Palestinian refugees
Many blame the influx of Palestinian refugees and the Lebanese Civil War for the current demographic shift. Lebanon, along with Jordan, were the two countries that accepted most refugees who fled Palestine due to the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. According to the UNHCR, about 110,000 Palestinian refugees arrived in Lebanon in 1948, from Jaffa, Haifa, Acre, and Galilee.
Lebanon's involvement in?Arab-Israeli conflict
Lebanon's first involvement in the Arab-Israeli conflict was in 1948 when it, along with Egypt, Syria, Jordan, and Iraq, attacked the newly formed Israel. In the 1967 Six-Day War, Lebanon again took up arms with Arab nations to support the Palestinian cause.
Demographic shift and Lebanese Civil War
In the years that followed, Lebanon also became a stronghold of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), much to the discontent of the majority Christians. The growing hostilities led to the Lebanese Civil War, which started in 1975, where Christians, Shias, and Sunnis fought for control. The conflict also resulted in many Christians fleeing Lebanon to the US, Canada, and countries in Europe.
How civil war re-engineered Lebanon?
The Lebanese Civil War ended with the Taif Agreement, or Document of National Accord, under which a parliament was created based on demographic representation. Under the agreement, the President of Lebanon was to be a Maronite Christian, the Prime Minister a Sunni Muslim, and the Speaker of Parliament a Shia Muslim.
Emergence of Hezbollah?
This was also the time when the Iran-backed Hezbollah was established to fight the 1982 Israeli invasion of Lebanon. Over the years, Hezbollah emerged as the most influential political force in Lebanon, and South Lebanon became the launching pad of Hezbollah rockets targeting Israel, which continues even now.
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