ian strategy backfires
"Any partition of federalism or communalis cantonisation or regions
Tor influence is unacceptable to us -us to interests l because it is a danger to us... it
This hard-hitting statement Syrian vice-president Abd al Halim Khaddam, summed up — about two years ago the historical Syrian relationship with events in Lebanon.
Since the independence Lebanon in 1943, Syria has always shown extensive interest in Lebanese aflairs. First, the formation of United Arab Republic in 1958 (union of Syria and Egypt) exacerbated the contradictions in the sectarian state, and created conditions for the civil war.
After the collapse of the Union in 1961, Syria's interests only to be rekindled by the rise of the Palestinian movement. 1970s onwards, Syria set out to play a major leadership role in the region, and sought actively to establish a greater influence over the PLO.
It intervened with regularity in Lebanon - influencing the election of 1972 and the composition of the cabinet — up to the civil war of 1975.
In the civil war, spoiling role for a long time, intervened on the eleventh hour to rescue the Maronites from a severe defeat, and turned its fire against the coalition of Lebanese "leftists" Palestinians, depriving them of a resounding victory. From there on Svria decided to play it safe and stationed a garrison force of over 40,000 troops on about Lebanon's territory.
Their presence was regulating two major contingencies: first, the rise of radical Palestinian/Muslim combination outside of Syrian control, which could bring Syria into war with Israel: and second, the hardening Lebanese fragmentation which would inevitably complicate management of Lebanese affairs and create a dangerous precendent for Syria itself.
To guard themselves against such probabilities, the presence of a whole army has proved to be only a limited success. While it was useful for
in Lebanon By JACK GOLDBERG of sectarian completely any by of the diminished, From the after playing a Syria and 50% of aimed at of up Syria's keeping an eye unlock the political situation. their political stance to suit
status-quo. will remain contradictions Druze Damascus. brokered between Israel country imperialism". advances the with other This on unpredictable a new developments, it remained a costly operation but with little scope to solution. For this, the Syrians had to change the the Socialist Viewpoint No. 16 April 1987 p25
complexities of the swift-shitting conjunctures. At one time it suited them to play the role of spoilers, at others they were guardians of the
Today they have become initiators, since they have understood that they
vulnerable until some measure of Lebanese stability can be established on Syrian terms; the old constitutional order was something of the past - in fact, it never worked properly, except in exacerbating the
Cof the state and precipitating its disintegration. The time was ripe for a new constitution accepted by Christian, Muslims and
alike and supported by
The turning point for the situation arose after the collapse of the US-
"May 17 agreement" and the Gemayel government. Syria claimed this as a major victory, giving it new status on the Arab stage as the only Arab
confronting "Zionism and
Whatever were the real factors that created conditions for the aborgation of the agreement, Syria reaped major
- amongst them irrefutable role of arbiter of the destinies of Lebanon. Faced with a mosaic of warring factions and a de facto cantonisation, Syria needed new conditions to assert its role.
As a prelude to coax all the communal factions into line Syria operated through proxies, exploiting
differences between each competing group, using one element against another to prevent a linkage
powers and making it Impossible for any one single element to become too powerful.
subtle and complex manipulation has gradually pushed all the leaders towards Damascus. Pilgrimages to President Hafez al Assad have become the order of the day. Each leader had to frequently shuttle to seek advice and check out Syrian links with their rivals. From there on, Syria won its undisputed role of supreme mediator.
It then became possible to press for
constitutional order which cannot be anything but a compromise
Between the Maronites' entrenched historical position and
"leftists" demands for the abolition of all concessional checks
(Below) Lebanese leader Gemayel (left) with Syria's Assad.
and balances, compromise *National incorporating leaders. local problem. beleaguered with political formation. on a ranks. own puppet". militia leadership. retreated from their conditions Syria. different from attaining momentum. another. between the Din) on the other. the troops, maintained fundamentalists Syria's and Democratic Party. areas are Christian elements Social of much
Ta needed to be which went no further than parity for all factions involved. This culminated in July 1984 in the formation of a
Unity the main
However what seemed the first measure to stabilise the Lebanese arena has proved in practice a paper exercise difficult to implement. The governmental leaders still had to trip to Damscus to resolve virtually every
They their own communities and turned increasingly to Syria, which now has a finger on the pulse of every major
In the Maronite camp, despite the Lausanne agreement with Khaddam
constitutional compromise, Amin Gemayel found it difficult to stem the tide of resentment within his
Damascus him to strengthen his powers over Maronite institutions against a sturdy hard-line Maronite reaction accused him of being a
This came to a head when Samir Geagea, commander of the Lebanese forces — the most powerful Maronite
- led a rebellion, which was rapidly quashed by the Phalange
His replacement, Hobeika, was hand-picked to satisty Syria' ultimatums. However, adapting to Syria's new supremacy, the majority of Maronites have not "Federal Solution" for the Lebanese question, and have opted for an ordered retreat, playing for time until
have
On the Muslim front, Syria faced
Tand more problems. On the one hand needed to promote the growth of the newly-emerged Shiite movement to equal status with the Druze; but at the same time they sought to prevent it
Tan one section of the Shiites against
Hence the Amal leadeship more traditional clerics, represented by vice-chair of the supreme Shiite Council Sheik Mohammed Shams ad-
Tone hand fundamental Hizbollah cells on the
Inside the zone occupied by Syrian
Apolitical altogether different. In the northern Tripoli region a very shaky truce was
between allies Franjiyeh's Marada Party, the Syrian
Nationalist the
reasonable struck Government" factional also were problems within encouraged which (Bottom) Samir Geagea and Lebanese armed forces "Syrian Elie despite of a option deteriorated for complex it unacceptable For this, Syria played jockeying (the and the balance was Sunni the of Sheik Shaaban the Arab The other rural controlled by three ex-president Damascus despite a bitter fight for Lebanese forces in a small enclave in Marada Party and control for the Khoura in July 1984. Party (SSNP) in Beharre. Both Khoura and SSNP are all traditional allies of The situation in the Bequaa Valley the Socialist Viewpoint No. 16 April 1987 p26
1s equally complex: the alignment comprises fundamentalist movements as well as Phalange forces in the town of Zahle. Again Syria acted here as a balance between the two, reflecting the new game between East and West Beirut.
While in all those instances Syria has managed successfully to keep in check the most conundrum, "the war of the camps" has proved its day of reckoning. siege of the Palestinian camps in May 1985 by the Amal militias, despite its heavy toll of dead and wounded, was a mere dress rehearsal for the onslaught of the camps last October.
For nearly 3 months, Syria's encouragement, laid seige to the camp of Rashidiye in the southern outskirts of Tyre. PLO responded by launching their biggest offensive since 1982, strategic villages east of Sidon and breaking Amal's communication and supply lines. They then used ground they gained to Amal's lift of its seige in Rashidiye.
On November 4, fighting broke out in Bourj al Barajneh refugee camp in the southern outskirts of Palestinian factions set aside their political differences battle against Amal's siege.
Throughout November, launched attack after attack on the Rashidiye camp. Ain el Hilwe and finally Myeh Myeh camps. Around the end of November, some 1,000 Palestinians pushed out of the Sidon camps and disloged Amal from the hills around the towns Maghdousheh. Despite counterattacks by Amal, Palestinian fighters held Maghdousheh became the symbol of Palestinian resistance steadfastness. Amal then went hell for leather attacking on all fronts with Bourj al Barajneh and particular receiving the full brunt of their offensive.
The death toll for November alone reached more than 500. Syria lost its grip on the situation frequently summoning warlords to Damscus to find ways of establishing balanced conditions for a ceasefire. All the different attempts at truce-making crumbled until an authoritative intervention secured a lasting December 5th.
The political fall-out of frenetic months is Syria's painful recruiting Lebanon's destiny was suddenly put into question. New appeared in the Lebanese equation. First, there had been a realignment of all the PLO factions shoulder to shoulder against This reconciliation was strengthened by background talks on an imminent reunification of the PLO and recall of the Palestine National Council.
local Shiite inextricable The real Amal, with fighters capturing the negotiate Beirut, and united in Amal the unholy alliance of Arafat with the of Maronite President Gemayel. On renewed November 11, Arafat apeared on the Beirut's Maronite TV charging that firm as "Israel and Syria-backed Amal have conspired to and Lebanon" Gemayel for granting 70,000 exiled Shatilla in despite all the by Iran ceasefire on those far-reaching: of parameters fighting Amal. the Socialist Viewpoint No. 16 April 1987 p27
that Maronites can The return But Another unpredictable feature was in oust the PLO from thanking Amin
Syrian tanks move in Palestinians who hold Lebanese nationality the passports which they have been denied since 1982.
This alliance underscored the fact
Syria's manipulation of the explode in its face. of Arafat to Lebanon would undoubtedly upset the fine balance set by the Syrians in favour of bolstering the Sunni component of the political spectrum.
Othe most important development is the rise of the Hizbollah who gained considerably from the isolation of Amal. Their role in the war of the camps opened up the way for Iran to be officially involved
truce making, spreading at a stroke its influence as a recognised power in the Lebanese arena.
The ability of the fundamentalists to play a bigger role in the Lebanon, as well as the increased activities of some of their underground military ARMS SUPPLIES IRAN
Lebanon - creation of imperialism Political anatomy of a
organisations such as Islamic Jihad, must be seen within the context of a steady expansion of fundamentalism throughout Middle East — an expansion which, if not directly encouraged, certainly been welcomed imperialism.
A situation where a fundamentalist Jewish State of Israel, the rise of Muslim Brotherhood in Syria and Jordan, the fundamentalism Egyptian society, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states, and a strong postKhomeini Iran helped by Israel and the US military technology, would all creale an area form which the Soviet Union would be totally barred
Syria has been the main loser of the war of the craps. miscalculation, they the powers of Amal, strains in the Amal/PSP alliance and underestimated Palestinian cohesion. Unable to act as it would have chosen SINCE April 1985, the Western Media have given unprecedented coverage events in Lebanon. accounts and interpretations of the war, laced with stories on the kidnaps Western diplomats personalities, have been at best shallow and simplistic.
For most of them, the latest rounds of the flare-up in West Beirut, with its heavy toll of between 2,000 and 3,000 dead, up to 10,000 wounded and over 50,000 new refugees, has described as a knock-out success for barbarian evildoers.
Lebanon as a whole is loosely depicted as a maelstrom of senseless violence, where civilised ethos and mores have vanished for ever with the latest vestiges of law Today sees the reign of the plug-ugly hoodlums and homicidal maniacs.
The cause? A hodge-podge of malevolent Arab bloodlust, terror masters explanation that put these events in the realm of the unpredictable and labyrinthic logic that so befittingly suits all the stereotyped projection of the Orient.
What the Western media try to avoid at all costs, is to explain the
by remote Islamic to intervene the has for fear of by precarious balances. There are signs situation has Amal, of the PLO and few months. of the old Movement" Out of overestimated about new political cleavages and overlooked the alliances that would open up a new phase in the Lebanese revolution. sectarian state By JACK GOLDBERG an to Their of the Lebanese state. gushy of and lor hegemony in the Middle East been particular — were awaiting to take 1918, they encouraged and nurtured and order. Maronites' traditional extend what has century an autonomous province of psychology, plain with the towns - or any Beirut, Sidon, Tyre and the Bekaa valley Lebanon", Western both to the Western and Islamic world." "National Pact" Socialist Viewpoint No. 16 April 1987 p28
control, Syria has now been forced to send in troops in order
Tand mould the new equation to its advantage. However its involvement is carefully measured
upsetting any of the that the new already developed beyond Syria's reach. The turmoil in the Maronite camp, the isolation of
Othe possible reunification of the growth of the fundamentalists are new parameters that grew from the events of the last
Most importantly, a reconstruction
secular "National comprising principally the Lebanese CP and the radical Palestinians, could bring real historical causes for the break up considering that any cursory reading of its history quickly reveals that Imperialism has created Lebanon as a nation-state, propped it up as an economic entity, and finally made it in important component of its plans
As the dawn of the 20th century saw the progressive weakening of the
- French Imperialism
When the French established their
demands to been for half Lebanon" — and add to it the coastal
"Greater a distinct entity oriented despite major
It was not until 1943 that the
consolidated the
Valid Jumblatt state-idea of Lebanon. Signed by the Maronite President Bishara al-Khuri and Sunni Prime Minister Riad alSolh, the pact set out the patterns of political balance of power that has remained in force until today. The President was to be a Maronite Christian and Prime Minster a Sunni Muslim and the Chamber of Deputies (Parliament) to be elected on the basis of six Christians for every five
It was also stipulated that the position of Army Commander and the head of the Secret service would be ensured that Christians should seek Western protection, and Muslims should not try to make Lebanon a part of any larger Arab Islamic state.
It is on this basis that Lebanon was
"Greater Syria" and began life as an independent state in 1946.
From its early inception, was conceived as a sectarian state, whose constitution balanced between
Othe most important population census has been taken in order to preserve the which have altered tremendously the religious population of the country.
Today the multiplicity of religious
communities - some 18 different denominations - appears confusing. But in effect, they belong to 3 main religions: Christianity, Islam and the Druze faith.
The four most important Christian communities are the Maronites, the Greek Orthodox, the Catholics and the (Orthodox) Armenians.
The Muslims are divided into Sunnis and Shiites.
third religious community. independent of Christianity and Islam, consisted of the followers of the post Islamic sect of the Druze.
About two-thirds of the Lebanese Christians are Maronites. Deriving their name from St Maron, a fourth century hermit who lived in Northeast Syria, they fought with Crusaders and united with the Roman Catholic Chruch, but retained their own liturgy and their own religious leader "the Patriarch of Antioch and of the whole Orient" They live predominantly in the Mount Lebanon region.
The Greek Orthodox consistently tied themselves Muslim rulers - their patriarch residing in Damseus. saw themselves as Christian and inheritors of the tradition of the Byzantine Empire. In Lebanon in Syria and Palestine — members of this Church have been intellectual leaders of the Arab left
and the CPs during the last decade. quite They live mainly in Beirut, in the hinterland of the northern Tripoli and in the southern Lebanese region of Marjayoun. They live mainly Greek Gregorian province. and settled in Lebanon only in the concentrated in the coast in Beirut, Tripoli and Muslims are the poorest of all the religious communities. The majority valley. Since 1970, the civil war and the economic deprivation have pushed themselves Shi'ite families in their thousands to emigrate poverty belt of West Beirut. which settled sect Valleys of southern Lebanon, led by the most predominant clans of their have nobility. to the constitution, the biggest religious They always communities Arabs political interest: - as Party, founded by Pierre Gemayel. the (PSP) was founded in 1949 by the Socialist Viewpoint No. 16 April 1987 p29
Druze programme port of but predominantly The Greek Catholic community. families, in the southern towns of Sidon and Tyre, the town of Zahla in the Bekaa and the Shouf The Armenians fled permanently the As for the Muslims, the Sunnis are later to Movement" The Shiite South and the Bekaa the population. several groupings. The Druze constitute a post-Islamic finally the in port of Tripoli. Because of the sectarian nature of have established parties to represent their • The 1. The Phalange, or "Kateb" 2. The Progressive Socialist Party
Kemal Jumblatt. The PPS fights against the influence of religious denomination,
Sits members remain Druzes and their formally constituted Jumblatt's feudal following. In the 1960s, the PSP adopted the pan-Arab programme of President Nasser. During the civil war of 1975-76, Jumblatt became spokesperson of the Lebanese left, a loose coalition called
"Front of National Struggle" become "the National
3. The "Tashnag",
confessional political grouping of the Armenians which won them 5 seats in the 1982 Parliamentary elections in proportion to their estimated number of 3% of
4. The Sunnis are divided into
Apolitical and regional
• The fundamentalist Sunnis under the leadership of Said Shaaban are mainly concentrated in the northern
• The Najjedeh Party (Party of the Saviours) developed out of a Sunni Youth organisation founded in 1936. During the past decade, the party has lost most of its influence.
Independent Nasserite Movement, led by Ibrahim Koleilat, stood for Arab nationalism and was influential particularly in Beirut until a rising Amal checked its strength by
destroying its fighting powers.
• The Nasserite Organisation, a rival of the INM, sought to work out an Arab socialism independent East and West, but remained and ineffectual. 5.Amal, led at first by Imam Musa Sadr, and after his disappearance by Nabih Birry, has become the most significant component of Lebanese political spectrum.
started as a the deprived" and fully-fledged political party based on
of the Shite Community. small
begun a5 aggregate of cells among the Shiite population of Baalbeck. Under the leadership of Moussavi, and with the the support of the Iranian Revolutionary
It Guards, it has played an important
Socialist Viewpoint No. 16 April 1987 p30
the today. 8. essentially 1976 being Lebanese left. 9. founded Chamoun 10. religious them Communists", Matran. 14. Party" known and governed with some bosses was built. ungovernable. 1964 governments. populist "movement of appointed developed as a been 6. The Hizbollah (Party of God) strife. politico-military army 1975-76
role in the latest Camps War and is
making steady inroads into Amal
support among the Shiites.
The other "political" parties, which
played a role in the political life of
country were essentially a
collection of individuals around one leader (Zaim) or another.
7. The Constitution Union Party founded in 1930 by the Maronite
Beshara al-Khouri has little influence
"The National Bloc Party" - an Christian party founded in 1934 by the Maronite leader Emile Edde was an early rival of the Maronites. Raymond Edde, his son, tried unsuccessfully three times to capture the office of president - in
Othe candidate of the The national Liberal Party in 1958 by Camille
The third type of parties are those with external affiliations:
The Syrian Nationalist Socialist Party (PPS) advocates the unification of Lebanon with Syria. Founded in 1934 by Antoon Saade, the SNSP has taken from the start an anti-denominational and anti-
stand, and has members from all ethnic communities.
11. The Lebanese Baath Party is an affiliate of the Syrian and Iraqi Baath Party and is influenced by
12. The Communist Party which is a pro-Moscow Stalinist party.
The "Union of Lebanese party friendly towards Syria and led by Nakhle
The "Kurdish Progressive Kaari" and led by Faisal Fakhru.
As the Lebanese state is based upon sectarian lines, its executive
parliament could considerations. In reality, power did not lie with the state institutions, clerics, semifeudal Lords, political
Tand bankers, businessmen and professionals.
Confessionalism was the cornerstone on which the whole state
Despite a formal status quo, the inbuilt instability made the country since its inception almost
Between 1926 and Lebanon had 46 different Between 1964 and 1979, 22 different cabinets have been
The epitome of this instability has
Othe disintegration of the Lebanese Army torn by sectarian
Predominantly a Maronite (62% of the officers were Maronites), the army split during the
civil war: the Muslims formed the "Arab Army of Lebanon" under Ahmed Khatib and joined the "National Movement" , another group
PLO chief Arafat joined the right wing militias under the Maronite colonels Barakat and Malik. The bulk of the remained neutral while a fourth group deserted.
At a maximum of 20,000 soldiers, they were match for 100,000-strong militias dominated Lebanon since the 1970s.
Most of the political parties have powerful territorial strongholds in their respective communities. Almost all of them have recruited their own militias to defend their interests along communal lines.
As well as the Lebanese militias, Palestinian organisations have also been an important influence in the political life of Lebanon since their defeat in Jordan in 1970. All PLO organisations have established bases in the Lebanon and prominent role in the radicalisation of some communities and the erosion of the Lebanese state.
The fragmentation communities was not only the result of the sectarian divide, nurtured and encouraged Imperialism, but also a expression of economic structures. The division into social overlapped the religious divide, and economic inequalities had sectarian and regional expression.
The economy of Lebanon founded on total free enterprise for all, and almost no government intervention in the conomy strongly service-oriented dependent on income from abroad. The most important Lebanon's post-war development was its emergence as a major centre of finance. It became a medium between Europe and the oil economies of the Middle East, based on favourable interest rates banking secrecy - the "Switzerland" of the Middle East.
But this free-for-all economy only benefitted a tiny proportion of the
Amin Gemayel population. Because of the sectarian political divide, the distribution of officers wealth was uneven across divides. the branches of the economy, we that the which played a of the which was by direct nearest contact. classes magazine both Name .. was Address and factor in Trade Union economic Labour Party Telephone and Socialist Viewpoint No. 16 April 1987 p31
Christians. these If we look at the distribution of Christians and Muslims in different find majority of medium and SOCIALIST VIEWPOINT Our new magazine will have supporters and sellers in many towns in England, Scotland and Wales. If you wish to find out more about our politics and our work in the labour movement in your area, contact us at BCM Box 3956. London WCIN 3XX, and we will put you in touch with your Please send me further details of the new Keep in touch with Socialist Viewpoint. For further details of our new magazine, write to BM Box 3956. London WIN 3XX.
Nabih Birry large-sized enterprises are owned by
Shipping, and much of the rail and wholesale trade are in the hands of Sunni Muslims. Many of the shopowners and artisans are Greek orthodox and Catholics. Druze are numerous in the agricultural sector
many as small landowners. Shiites
are usually found among the ranks of unskilled workers.
It however emphasise that Lebanese capitalism is not entirely based on the Maronites
Tit also includes Armenians, Catholics, Orthodox and even a tew Shiites. But in essence the Christians are better off and the Shiites are the poorest. The income of Christians is 16% higher than that of the Druze and 58% higher than that of the Shiites!
In most instances, deprivation has been powerful catalyst radicalisation of communities who fought for their class interests across the sectarian divide and the religious differences.
The intervention of foreign powers THOrOGRAMS AND WAK -FREE: Hangers gratitude to all our supporters who have months. Dispute, Wessex House, 520 London Road, Mitcham, Surrey. 01-646-0260.
particular important to principled Sunnis, result of its social economic economic the most for the whose whole oppressed solution masses. The sacked limbmakers wish to express their demonstrated their solidarity over the last 7 All donations/cheques payable to TASS: Hangers Socialist Viewpoint No. 16 April 1987 p32
Zionism and Imperialism in has also triggered - alliances that Joined together what was normally seen as irreconcilable enemies. Lebanon has experienced two civil wars, in 1958 and 1975-76. The latest round of fighting since 1985 will degenerate sooner or later into a fully-fledged war. The destruction of the Lebanese state is an unavoidable political and structures and will continue to suck in foreign powers keen to prop up bourgeois order - final collapse would be a disaster for their plans in the area, but a prerequisite for any progressive to the problems of the PATTERSOI FROM DENIES PATIEA
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