With its unique geographic location at the crossroads of three continents, Lebanon has always been a passageway to many different peoples and cultures. The coexistence of a dozen and a half of different religions in such a tiny territory has been a model for diversity. However, this diversity has also partly resulted in devastating civil wars throughout the modern history of Lebanon, from which a system of political sectarianism has emerged and the current system is in crisis. For 15 years after the end of the civil war, Lebanon sought to rebuild itself, but the recent changes in the international, regional, and national arena have broken the fragile equilibrium on which Lebanon had been surviving. New political forces have emerged, such as the Hizbullah, and the demographics have changed. Syria and Israel have withdrawn their troops, and social and economic factors have become politicized issues with religion.
[...] According to Traboulsi, although Syria is probably involved in some way in the killing, the preliminary results of U.N. investigators have not clearly established a link between the Syrian regime and the assassinations.[30] However, this international tribunal is highly threatening for Assad's regime (especially considering the growing internal dissent in Syria) and pro-Syrian leaders in Lebanon are using various pretexts to stop the implementation of such a tribunal. This issue has become a major point of friction between pro and anti- Syrian leaders, resulting in an institutional standoff and a constitutional crisis since neither the President Emile Lahud nor the Speaker of the Parliament are willing to accept the ratification of the tribunal. [...]
[...] Traboulsi International Crisis Group. Hizbollah: Rebel Without a Cause? Middle East Briefing. ICG: Amman/Brussels July 2003. ICG, op. cit. Traboulsi Traboulsi The name of the Alliance is inspired from the March demonstration that brought together one million Lebanese citizens condemning Hariri's assassination and demanding the truth. International Crisis Group. Lebanon at a Tripwire. [...]
[...] Works cited Corm, Georges. Le Proche-Orient éclaté II: Mirages de paix et blocages identitaires 1990-1996. La Découverte/Essais : Paris International Crisis Group. Hizbollah: Rebel Without a Cause? Middle East Briefing. ICG: Amman/Brussels July 2003. International Crisis Group. Lebanon at a Tripwire. Middle East Briefing nb ICG: Beirut/Brussels December 2006. [...]
[...] Syria & Iran Both Syria and Iran support Hizbullah politically and logistically. They have both gained from the relative military victory of Hizbullah over Israel in last summer's war: Syria demonstrated its nuisance power in Lebanon and control over Hizbullah (and thus the security of Israel) while Iran sought to deter the United States from using force on its nuclear facilities, by demonstrating its military power against the Israeli Army, one of the best in the world.[37] 5. Israel Israel's policy towards Lebanon is mainly focused on ensuring Israel's security. [...]
[...] The current system is in crisis. For 15 years after the end of the civil war, Lebanon sought to rebuild itself, but the recent changes in the international, regional, and national arena have broken the fragile equilibrium on which Lebanon had been surviving. New political forces have emerged, such as the Hizbullah; the demographics have changed; Syria and Israel have withdrawn their troops, and social and economic factors have become politicized issues alongside religion. The assassination of Prime Minister Rafic Hariri in 2005 has triggered internal turmoil in a very sensitive international context, and Lebanon is currently facing a serious institutional crisis that can lead to renewed fighting. [...]
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