Lebanon

This article is part of the series: Politics and government of Lebanon

Constitution Constitution of 1926 Presidency President Michel Suleiman Government Prime Minister Najib Mikati Cabinet Legislature Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri Current members Political parties Lebanese Forces Movement of the Future Kataeb Party Hezbollah Free Patriotic Movement Syrian Social Nationalist Party Elections Presidential 2008 Parliamentary 2009 Local 2010 Other issues Governorates Districts Municipalities Armed Forces Human rights Foreign relations

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The governorates of Lebanon are divided into 25 districts (Aqdya, singular – qadaa). The Beirut Governorate is not subdivided. (Capitals of districts are in parentheses)

Districts of Lebanon

Beirut Governorate

• Beirut

Mount Lebanon Governorate

• Baabda (Baabda)
• Aley (Aley)
• Matn (Jdeideh)
• Keserwan (Jounieh)
• Chouf (Beiteddine)
• Jbeil (Byblos)

North Governorate

• Tripoli (Tripoli)
• Akkar (Halba)
• Zgharta (Zgharta / Ehden)
• Bsharri (Bsharri)
• Batroun (Batroun)
• Koura (Amioun)
• Miniyeh-Danniyeh District (Miniyeh-Danniyeh) (Minyeh / Sir Ed-Danniyeh)

Beqaa Governorate

• Baalbek (Baalbek)
• Hermel (Hermel)
• Zahle (Zahlé)
• Rashaya (Rashaya)
• Western Beqaa (Jebjennine / Saghbine)

South Governorate

• Sidon (Sidon)
• Jezzine (Jezzine)
• Tyre (Tyre)

Nabatiye Governorate

• Nabatiyeh (Nabatiyeh)
• Marjeyoun (Marjeyoun)
• Hasbaya (Hasbaya)
• Bint Jbeil (Bint Jbeil)

The districts are further divided into municipalities.

Lebanese Republic الجمهورية اللبنانية al-Jumhūrīyah al-Libnānīyah
Flag Coat of arms
Anthem: كلّنا للوطن    Kulluna lil-watan   All Of Us, For Our Country! File:Lebanese national anthem.ogg
Location of Lebanon
Capital (and largest city)		Beirut 33°54′N 35°32′E / 33.9°N 35.533°E / 33.9; 35.533
Official language(s)		Arabic1
Recognised national languages		Arabic as primary language, French, English and Armenian languages.
Demonym		Lebanese
Government		Unitary confessionalist and Parliamentary republic[1]
-	President	Michel Suleiman
-	Prime Minister	Najib Mikati
-	Deputy Prime Minister	Samir Mouqbel
-	Speaker of Parliament	Nabih Berri
-	Deputy Speaker of Parliament	Farid Makari
Legislature		Parliament
Independence		End of French League of Nations Mandate
-	Declaration of Greater Lebanon	1 September 1920
-	Constitution	23 May 1926
-	Declared	26 November 1941
-	Recognized	22 November 1943
-	Withdrawal of Allies Forces	31 December 1946
Area
-	total	10,452 km2 (166th) 4,036 sq mi
-	Water (%)	1.6
Population
-	2008 estimate	4,224,000[2] (126th)
-	Density	404/km2 (25th) 1,046/sq mi
GDP (PPP)		2011 estimate
-	Total	$61.444 billion[3] (83rd)
-	Per capita	$15,522[3] (57th)
GDP (nominal)		2011 estimate
-	Total	$39.039 billion[3] (80th)
-	Per capita	$9,862[3] (63rd)
HDI (2011)		0.739[4] ( high) (71st)
Currency		Lebanese pound (LBP)
Time zone		EET (UTC+2)
-	Summer (DST)	EEST (UTC+3)
Drives on the		right
ISO 3166 code		LB
Internet TLD		.lb
Calling code		961[5]
1Article 11 of the Constitution of Lebanon states that "Arabic is the official national language. A law determines the cases in which the French language is to be used."

Lebanon (ⁱ/ˈlɛbənɒn/ or /ˈlɛbənən/; Arabic: لبنان‎ Libnān or Lubnān, Lebanese Arabic: [lɪbˈneːn]), officially the Lebanese Republic^{[nb 1]} (Arabic: الجمهورية اللبنانية‎ al-Jumhūrīyah al-Libnānīyah, Lebanese Arabic: [elˈʒʊmhuːɾɪjje l.ˈlɪbneːnɪjje]), is a country in the East Mediterranean. It is bordered by Syria to the north and east, and Israel to the south. Lebanon's location at the crossroads of the Mediterranean Basin and the Arabian hinterland has dictated its rich history, and shaped a cultural identity of religious and ethnic diversity.^[6]

The earliest evidence of civilization in Lebanon dates back more than 7,000 years—predating recorded history.^[7] Lebanon was the home of the Phoenicians, a maritime culture that flourished for nearly 2,500 years (3000–539 BC). Following the collapse of the Ottoman Empire after World War I, the five provinces that comprise modern Lebanon were mandated to France. The French expanded the borders of Mount Lebanon, which was mostly populated by Maronite Catholics and Druze, to include more Muslims. Lebanon gained independence in 1943, and established a unique political system, known as confessionalism, a power-sharing mechanism based on religious communities – Bechara El Khoury who became independent Lebanon's first President and Riad El-Solh, who became Lebanon's first prime minister, are considered the founders of the modern Republic of Lebanon and are national heroes for having led the country's independence. French troops withdrew from Lebanon in 1946.^[8]

Before the Lebanese Civil War (1975–1990), the country experienced a period of relative calm and prosperity, driven by tourism, agriculture, and banking.^[9] Because of its financial power and diversity, Lebanon was known in its heyday as the "Switzerland of the East".^[10] It attracted large numbers of tourists,^[11] such that the capital Beirut was referred to as "Paris of the Middle East." At the end of the war, there were extensive efforts to revive the economy and rebuild national infrastructure.^[12]

Lebanon is known for its efforts in the Middle East to guarantee civil rights and freedom to its citizens, ranking first in the Middle East and 26th worldwide (out of 66 countries) in the The World Justice Project's Rule of Law Index 2011.^[13] Lebanon is an emerging economy, with a private sector that contributes to 75% of aggregate demand and a large banking sector that supports this demand.

Etymology[link]

The name Lebanon comes from the Semitic root lbn, meaning "white", likely a reference to the snow-capped Mount Lebanon. Upon his arrival to Lebanon around 47 BC, Julius Caesar proclaimed "Lub" "Na'an", meaning "White-Land" in Semitic.^[14]

Occurrences of the name have been found in texts from the library of Ebla,^[15] which date to the third millennium BC, nearly 70 times in the Hebrew Bible, and three of the twelve tablets of the Epic of Gilgamesh (perhaps as early as 2100 BC).^[16]

The name is recorded in Ancient Egyptian as Rmnn, where R stood for Canaanite L.^[17]

Geography[link]

Lebanon from space. Snow cover can be seen on the western and eastern mountain ranges

Lebanon is located in Western Asia between latitudes 33° and 35° N, and longitudes 35° and 37° E.

The country's surface area is 10,452 square kilometres (4,036 sq mi) of which 10,230 square kilometres (3,950 sq mi) is land. Lebanon has a coastline and border of 225 kilometres (140 mi) on the Mediterranean sea to the west, a 375 kilometres (233 mi) border shared with Syria to the north and east and a 79 kilometres (49 mi) long border with Israel to the south.^[18] The border with the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights is disputed by Lebanon in a small area called Shebaa Farms.^[19]

Lebanon is divided into four distinct physiographic regions: the coastal plain, the Lebanon mountain range, the Beqaa valley and the Anti-Lebanon mountains.

Mountain scenery in Barouk

The narrow and discontinuous coastal plain stretches from the Syrian border in the north where it widens to form the Akkar plain to Ras al-Naqoura at the border with Israel in the south. The fertile coastal plain is formed of marine sediments and river deposited alluvium alternating with sandy bays and rocky beaches. The Lebanon mountains rise steeply parallel to the Mediterranean coast and form a ridge of limestone and sandstone that runs for most of the country's length. The mountain range varies in width between 10km and 56 km; it is carved by narrow and deep gorges. The Lebanon mountains peak at 3,088 metres (10,131 ft) above sea level in Qurnat as Sawda' in North Lebanon and gradually slope to the south before rising again to a height of 2,695 metres (8,842 ft) in Mount Sannine. The Beqaa valley sits between the Lebanon mountains in the west and the Anti-Lebanon range in the east; it's a part of the Great Rift Valley system. The valley is 180km long and 10 to 26 km wide, its fertile soil is formed by alluvial deposits. The Anti-Lebanon range runs parallel to the Lebanon mountains, its highest peak is in Mount Hermon at 2,814 metres (9,232 ft).^[18]

The mountains of Lebanon are drained by seasonal torrents and rivers foremost of which is the 145 kilometres (90 mi) long Leontes that rises in the Beqaa Valley to the west of Baalbek and empties into the Mediterranean Sea north of Tyre.^[18]

Climate[link]

Nahr Ibrahim running through the lush Adonis gorge

Lebanon has a moderate Mediterranean climate. In coastal areas, winters are generally cool and rainy whilst summers are hot and humid. In more elevated areas, temperatures usually drop below freezing during the winter with heavy snow cover that remains until early summer on the higher mountaintops.^[20][18] Although most of Lebanon receives a relatively large amount of rainfall annually (compared to its arid surroundings), certain areas in north-eastern Lebanon receive little because of rain shadow created by the high peaks of the western mountain range.^[21]

Environment[link]

In ancient times, Lebanon was covered by large forests of Cedar, the national emblem of the country.^[22] As a result of longstanding exploitation, few old Cedar trees remain in pockets of forests in Lebanon, but there is an active program to conserve and regenerate the forests. The Lebanese approach has emphasized natural regeneration over planting, and this by creating the right conditions for germination and growth. The Lebanese state has created several nature reserves that contain cedars, including the Shouf Biosphere Reserve, the Jaj Cedar Reserve, the Tannourine Reserve, the Ammouaa and Karm Shbat Reserves in the Akkar district, and the Forest of the Cedars of God near Bsharri.^[23][24][25] In 2010, the Environment Ministry set a 10-year plan to increase the national forest coverage by 20% that is equivalent to the planting of two million new trees each year.^[26] The plan, which was funded the U.S. development agency, USAID, and overseen by the U.S. Forest Service, and the Lebanon Reforestation Initiative, was inaugurated in 2011 by planting of seedlings, such as cedar, pine, wild almond, juniper, fir and oak, in five regions around Lebanon.^[26] The forests cover 13.4% of the Lebanese land area;^[27] they are under constant threat from wildfires caused by the long dry summer season.^[28]

History[link]

Ancient history[link]

Map of Phoenicia and trade routes

Evidence of an early settlement in Lebanon was found in Byblos, which is considered to be one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world,^[7] and date back to earlier than 5000 BC. Archaeologists discovered remnants of prehistoric huts with crushed limestone floors, primitive weapons, and burial jars left by the Neolithic and Chalcolithic fishing communities who lived on the shore of the Mediterranean Sea over 7,000 years ago.^[29]

Lebanon was a part of northern Canaan, and consequently became the homeland of Canaanite descendants - the Phoenicians, a seafaring people that spread across the Mediterranean before the rise of Cyrus the Great.^[30] After two centuries of Persian rule, Macedonian ruler Alexander the Great attacked and burned Tyre, the most prominent Phoenician city. Throughout the subsequent centuries leading up to recent times, the country became part of numerous succeeding empires, among them Egyptian Empire, Persian, Assyrian, Hellenistic, Roman, Eastern Roman, Arab, Seljuk, Mamluk, Crusader, and the Ottoman Empire.

Ottoman Era[link]

In 1590, Fakhr-al-Din II became successor to Korkmaz. He was a skilled politician and described as a pupil of Machiavelli. Fakhr-al-Din II adjusted to the lifestyles of the Druze, Christianity and Islam, according to his needs. He paid tribute to the Sultanate of the Ottoman Empire and shared the spoils of war with his masters. Eventually, Fakhr-al-Din II was appointed Sultan of Mt. Lebanon, with full authority. He was considered one of the greatest rulers of the region, also across the Middle of Lebanon. But, his enemies and governors angered the Ottoman Sultanate. Hence, a campaign, calling for the arrest of Fakhr-al-Din II, found the deposed leader in Istanbul, where he was executed by hanging.^[31] Shortly afterwards, the Emirate of Mt. Lebanon that lasted more than 500 years was replaced, instead of the emirate meteor.

World War I and its aftermath[link]

Lebanon was part of the Ottoman Empire for over 400 years, until 1918 when the area became a part of the French influence, following World War I. By the end of the war, famine had killed an estimated 100,000 people in Beirut and Mount Lebanon, about 30% of the total population.^[32]

In the first half of 1920, Lebanese territory was claimed as part of the Arab Kingdom of Syria, but shortly the Franco-Syrian War resulted in Arab defeat and capitulation of the Hashemites.

French mandate[link]

Map of the autonomous areas under the French Mandate of Syria before 1937

On 1 September 1920, France reestablished Greater Lebanon after the Moutasarrifiya rule removed several regions belonging to the Principality of Lebanon and gave them to Syria.^[33] Lebanon was a largely Christian (mainly Maronite territory with some Greek Orthodox enclaves) but it also included areas containing many Muslims (including Druze). On 1 September 1926, France formed the Lebanese Republic. A constitution was adopted on 25 May 1926 establishing a democratic republic with a parliamentary system of government.

Republic of Lebanon[link]

During WWII[link]

Lebanon gained independence in 1943, while France was occupied by Germany.^[34] General Henri Dentz, the Vichy High Commissioner for Syria and Lebanon, played a major role in the independence of the nation. The Vichy authorities in 1941 allowed Germany to move aircraft and supplies through Syria to Iraq where they were used against British forces. The United Kingdom, fearing that Nazi Germany would gain full control of Lebanon and Syria by pressure on the weak Vichy government, sent its army into Syria and Lebanon.

After the fighting ended in Lebanon, General Charles de Gaulle visited the area. Under political pressure from both inside and outside Lebanon, de Gaulle recognized the independence of Lebanon. On 26 November 1941 General Georges Catroux announced that Lebanon would become independent under the authority of the Free French government. Elections were held in 1943 and on 8 November 1943 the new Lebanese government unilaterally abolished the mandate. The French reacted by throwing the new government into prison. In the face of international pressure, the French released the government officials on 22 November 1943 and recognized the independence of Lebanon.

The allies kept the region under control until the end of World War II. The last French troops withdrew in 1946. Lebanon's unwritten National Pact of 1943 required that its president be Maronite Christian, its speaker of the parliament to be a Shiite Muslim, its prime minister be Sunni Muslim, and the deputy speaker of Parliament and the deputy prime minister be Greek Orthodox.^[35]

Stability and growth[link]

Lebanon's history since independence has been marked by alternating periods of political stability and turmoil (including a civil conflict in 1958) interspersed with prosperity built on Beirut's position as a regional center for finance and trade.^[36]

In May 1948, Lebanon supported neighbouring Arab countries against Israel. While some irregular forces crossed the border and carried out minor skirmishes against Israel, it was without the support of the Lebanese government, and Lebanese troops did not officially invade.^[37] Lebanon agreed to support the forces with covering artillery fire, armored cars, volunteers and logistical support.^[38] On 5–6 June 1948, the Lebanese army captured Al-Malkiyya. This was Lebanon's only success in the war.^[39]

During the war, some 100,000 Palestinians fled to Lebanon, while Israel did not permit their return at the end of hostilities.^[40] Palestinians, previously prevented from working at all due to denial of citizenship, are now forbidden to work in some 20 professions after liberalization laws.^[41] Today, more than 400,000 refugees remain in limbo, about half in camps.^[42]

With the defeat of PLO in Jordan, many Palestinian militants relocated to Lebanon, increasing their violent campaign against Israel. The relocation of Palestinian bases also led to increasing sectarian tensions between Palestinians vs. the Maronites and other Lebanese factions.

Civil war[link]

The Green Line that separated west and east Beirut, 1982

In 1975, following increasing sectarian tensions, a full scale civil war broke out in Lebanon. The Lebanese Civil War lasted fifteen years, devastating the country's economy, and resulting in massive loss of human life and property. It is estimated that 150,000 people were killed and another 200,000 wounded.^[43] Some 900,000 people, representing one-fifth of the pre-war population, were displaced from their homes.^[44] The war ended in 1990 with the signing of the Taif Agreement and parts of Lebanon were left in ruins.^[45]

GDP Change in Lebanon before and during the civil war (in real terms)^[46]

Occupation period[link]

Following the civil war, Syria remained to occupy large parts of Lebanon until 2005, while Israel remained in control of Southern Lebanon until 2000, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak led its full withdrawal a belief that the violence would diminish and dissolve without the Israeli presence in Lebanon.^[47] Hezbollah, however declared that it would not stop its operations against Israel until this area was liberated.^[48]

Internal political situation in Lebanon significantly changed in early 2000s. After the Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon and the death of Hafez Al-Assad in 2000, the Syrian military presence faced criticism and resistance from the Lebanese population.^[49]

Part of Rue Minet al Hosn, where Rafik Hariri was assassinated on 14 February 2005

On 14 February 2005, former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri was assassinated in a car bomb explosion near the Saint George Hotel in Beirut.^[50] Leaders of the March 14 Alliance, a pro-Western coalition, accused Syria of the attack^[51] because of its extensive military and intelligence presence in Lebanon, and the public rift between Hariri and Damascus over the Syrian-backed constitutional amendment extending President Lahoud's term in office. Others, namely the March 8 Alliance and Syrian officials, claimed that the assassination may have been executed by the Israeli Mossad in an attempt to destabilize the country.^[52]

This incident triggered a series of demonstrations, dubbed the 'Cedar Revolution,' which demanded the withdrawal of Syrian troops from Lebanon and the establishment of an international commission to investigate the assassination. The United Nations Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 1595 on 7 April 2005, which called for an investigation into the assassination of Rafik Hariri.^[53] Preliminary findings of the investigation were officially published on 20 October 2005 in the Mehlis report, which cited indications that high-ranking members of the Syrian and Lebanese governments were involved in the assassination.^[54] Eventually, and under pressure from the West, Syria began withdrawing its 15,000-strong army troops from Lebanon.^[55] By 26 April 2005, all uniformed Syrian soldiers had already crossed the border back to Syria.^[56] The Hariri assassination marked the beginning of a series of assassination attempts that resulted in the loss of many prominent Lebanese figures.^[57]

In 2005, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan appointed Mehlis as the Commissioner of the UN International Independent Investigation Commission (UNIIIC) into the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and 21 other people in Beirut.^[58] In October 2005, Jund al-Sham threatened to kill Detlev Mehlis while he was heading the UN inquiry into the assassination of Rafik Hariri, claiming that Mehlis was connected with Israel and the CIA.^[59]

The Mehlis report was presented to the Secretary General on 20 October 2005. It implicated Lebanese and Syrian Military Intelligence in the assassination, and it accused Syrian officials, including now Foreign Minister Muallem, of misleading the investigation.^[60] A second report was submitted on 10 December 2005. On 11 January 2006 Mehlis, upon his own suggestion, was replaced by Serge Brammertz.^[61]

Liberated Lebanon (2005-present)[link]

With adoption of UN resolution 1559 Syria was forced to announce its full withdrawal from Lebanon on April 30, 2006.^[62] Syrian military withdrawal reshuffled the politic landscape of Lebanon, though still remaining an influential power, through its former allies - most notably the Shia party of Hizbollah.

Areas in Lebanon targeted by Israeli bombing, 12 July to 13 August 2006

On 12 July 2006, Hezbollah launched a series of rocket attacks into Israeli towns and cities in proximity to the Israeli Lebanese border. This was combined with a cross border raid into Israeli territory where Hezbollah operatives killed three Israeli soldiers and captured a further two.^[63] Hezbollah claims that the objectives of the operation were to free Lebanese prisoners held in Israel. Israel responded with airstrikes and a ground incursion into Lebanon aimed at halting Hezbollah's rocket fire, reducing Hezbollah's military capacity and rescuing the two abducted Israeli soldiers. The 34 day campaign caused wide spread damage to Lebanon's infrastructure (including Beirut's airport). Beirut's southern suburb was heavily damaged by Israeli airstrikes where Hezbollah military infrastructure was deeply embedded among the civilian population.^[64]

The month-long conflict caused significant loss of life; some 1,191 Lebanese^[65] and 160 Israelis^[66] were killed in the conflict. While figures are debated, between one third and two thirds of Lebanese deaths are believed to have been civilians. 43 Israeli civilians were killed by Hezbollah rocket fire.^[66] Throughout the conflict, between 3,900 and 4,228 Hezbollah rockets landed on northern Israel, mainly in civilian areas. A number of rockets landed on Israeli forested areas causing wide spread bush fires. The conflict officially ended on 14 August 2006, when the United Nations Security Council issued resolution 1701 ordering a ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel.^[67]

On 16 July 2008, Israel exchanged 5 Lebanese militants and the remains of 199 Palestinian and Lebanese militants killed in conflicts with Israel for the remains of the two captured Israeli soldiers, whose fates were unknown.^[68]

hich was named after the river that runs south of the camp. The camp was established in December 1949 by the League of Red Cross Societies in order to accommodate the Palestinian refugees suffering from the difficult winter conditions in the Beqaa Valley and the suburbs of Tripoli. The Lebanese Army is banned from entering all Palestinian camps under the 1969 Cairo Agreement.

Severe fighting erupted in 2007 in Nahr al-Bared, a Palestinian refugee camp in northern Lebanon, 16 km from the city of Tripoli. The camp became the center of the fighting between the Lebanese Army and Fatah al-Islam. It sustained heavy shelling while under siege. UNRWA estimates the battle between the army and Islamic militant group Fatah al-Islam destroyed or rendered uninhabitable as much as 85% of homes in the camp and ruined infrastructure. The camp’s up to 40,000 residents were forced to flee, many of them sheltering in the already overcrowded Beddawi camp, 10 km to the south. At least 169 soldiers, 287 insurgents and 47 civilians were killed in the army’s battle with the al-Qaeda-inspired militants. Funds for the reconstruction of the area have been slow to materialize, and life for the displaced refugees is difficult.^[69]

When Émile Lahoud's presidential term ended in October 2007, the opposition refused to vote for a successor unless a power-sharing deal was reached, leaving Lebanon without a president. On 9 May 2008, Hezbollah and Amal forces, sparked by a government declaration that Hezbollah's communications network was illegal, seized western Beirut^[70] in Lebanon's worst internal violence since the 1975–90 civil war.^[71] Moreover, the violence, decried by the Lebanese government as an attempted coup,^[72] threatened to escalate into another civil war.^[73] At least 62 people died in the resulting clashes between pro-government and opposition militias.^[74]

On 21 May 2008, after five days of negotiation under Arab League mediation in Qatar, all major parties signed the Doha Agreement, which ended the fighting.^[70][74] Under the accord, both sides agreed to elect former army head Michel Suleiman president and establish a national unity government with a veto share for the opposition.^[70] This ended 18 months of political paralysis.^[73] The agreement was a victory for opposition forces, who received concessions regarding the composition of the cabinet, Hezbollah's telecommunications network, and the airport security chief, increasing their political clout.^[74]

Following tensions amid reports of an indictment of "rogue" members of Hezbollah for Rafic Hariri's murder, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah presented evidence, consisting of intercepted Israeli spy-drone video footage, which he said implicated Israel in the assassination of Hariri.^[75]. He claimed that the Mossad planned the assassinaton as a means of expelling the Syrian army from Lebanon. After an altercation between male Tribunal staff and women at a gynecology clinic in October 2010, Hezbollah demanded that the Lebanese government stop all cooperation with the Special Tribunal, claiming the tribunal to be an infringement on Lebanese sovereignty by western governments. On November 1, 2010, a report was leaked by Al-Akhbar, a local secular, leftist newspaper, stating that Hezbollah has drafted plans for a quick takeover of the country in the case an indictment against its members is issued by the UN Special Tribunal.^[76].

In early January 2011, the national unity government collapsed after all ten opposition ministers and one presidential appointee resigned due to growing tensions stemming from the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, which was expected to indict Hezbollah members in the assassination of former prime minister Rafic Hariri.^[77] The collapse plunged Lebanon into its worst political crisis since the 2008 fighting, and indicated further political gains for the Hezbollah-led opposition March 8 Alliance, which gained a parliamentary majority. The parliament elected Najib Mikati, the 8 March candidate, Prime Minister of Lebanon, making him responsible for forming a new government.^[78]

Government and politics[link]

The Lebanese parliament building at the Place de l'Étoile.

The Grand Serail, the government headquarters in downtown Beirut.

Lebanon is a parliamentary democracy, which implements a special system known as confessionalism.^[79] This system is intended to deter sectarian conflict and attempts to fairly represent the demographic distribution of the 18 recognized religious groups in government.^[80][81] High-ranking offices are reserved for members of specific religious groups. The President, for example, has to be a Maronite Christian, the Prime Minister a Sunni Muslim, the Speaker of the Parliament a Shi’a Muslim, the Deputy Prime Minister and the Deputy Speaker of Parliament Greek Orthodox.^[82][83]

Lebanon's national legislature is the unicameral Parliament of Lebanon. Its 128 seats are divided equally between Christians and Muslims, proportionately between the 18 different denominations and proportionately between its 26 regions.^[84] Prior to 1990, the ratio stood at 6:5 in favor of Christians; however, the Taif Accord, which put an end to the 1975–1990 civil war, adjusted the ratio to grant equal representation to followers of the two religions.^[82] The Parliament is elected for a four-year term by popular vote on the basis of sectarian proportional representation.^[5]

The executive branch consists of the President, the head of state, and the Prime Minister, the head of government. The parliament elects the president for a non-renewable six-year term by a two-third majority. The president appoints the Prime Minister,^[85] following consultations with the parliament. The President and the Prime Minister form the Cabinet, which must also adhere to the sectarian distribution set out by confessionalism.

On 27 June 2009, Lebanon's president Michel Suleiman appointed parliamentary majority leader Saad Hariri as prime minister after his pro-Western coalition, the March 14 Alliance, defeated a Hezbollah-led alliance in a June 2009 election.^[86] In November, after five months of cabinet negotiations, Hariri formed a national unity government.^[87] In January 2011, the government collapsed after all ten opposition ministers and one presidential appointee resigned due to tensions stemming from the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, which was expected to indict Hezbollah members in the assassination of former prime minister Rafic Hariri.^[77]

Lebanon's judicial system is a mixture of Ottoman law, Napoleonic code, canon law and civil law. The Lebanese court system consists of three levels: courts of first instance, courts of appeal, and the court of cassation. The Constitutional Council rules on constitutionality of laws and electoral frauds. There also is a system of religious courts having jurisdiction over personal status matters within their own communities, with rules on matters such as marriage and inheritance.^[88]

Foreign relations[link]

Lebanon concluded negotiations on an association agreement with the European Union in late 2001, and both sides initialed the accord in January 2002. Lebanon also has bilateral trade agreements with several Arab states and is working toward accession to the World Trade Organization.

Lebanon enjoys good relations with virtually all of the other Arab countries (despite historic tensions with Libya, the Palestinians, Syria and Iraq), and hosted an Arab League Summit in March 2002 for the first time in more than 35 years. Lebanon is a member of the Francophone countries and hosted the Francophone Summit in October 2002 as well as the Jeux de la Francophonie in 2009.

Military[link]

The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) has 72,000 active personnel,^[89] including 1,100 in the air force, and 1,000 in the navy.^[90] The motto of the Lebanese Armed Forces is "Honor, Sacrifice, Loyalty" (Arabic: "شرف · تضحية · وفاء"‎ – Sharaf.Tadhia.Wafa'). The Lebanese Armed Forces Emblem consists of a Lebanon Cedar tree surrounded by two laurel leaves, positioned above the symbols of the three branches: the ground forces represented by the two swords, the navy represented by an anchor, and the air force represented by two wings.

The Lebanese Armed Forces' primary missions include defending Lebanon and its citizens against external aggression, maintaining internal stability and security, confronting threats against the country's vital interests, engaging in social development activities, and undertaking relief operations in coordination with public and humanitarian institutions.^[91]

Lebanon is a major recipient of foreign military aid.^[92] With $400 million since 2005, it is the second largest per capita recipient of American military aid behind Israel.^[93]

Governorates and districts[link]

Lebanon is divided into six governorates (mohaafazaat, Arabic: محافظات —‎;singular mohafazah, Arabic: محافظة‎) which are further subdivided into twenty-five districts (aqdya—singular: qadaa).^[94] The districts themselves are also divided into several municipalities, each enclosing a group of cities or villages. The governorates and their respective districts are listed below:

North

Akkar

Miniyeh-
Danniyeh

Zgharta

Koura

Tripoli

Bsharri

Batroun

Mount
Lebanon

Jbeil

Kesrwan

Matn

Beirut

♦

Baabda

Aley

Chouf

South

Jezzine

Sidon

Tyre

Beqaa

Hermel

Baalbek

Zahle

Western
Beqaa

Rashaya

Nabatieh

Hasbaya

Nabatieh

Marjeyoun

Bint
Jbeil

• Beirut Governorate
  • The Beirut Governorate is not divided into districts and is limited to the city of Beirut
• Nabatieh Governorate (Jabal Amel)
  • Bint Jbeil
  • Hasbaya
  • Marjeyoun
  • Nabatieh
• Beqaa Governorate
  • Baalbek
  • Hermel
  • Rashaya
  • Western Beqaa (al-Beqaa al-Gharbi)
  • Zahle
• North Governorate (al-Shamal)
  • Akkar
  • Batroun
  • Bsharri
  • Koura
  • Miniyeh-Danniyeh
  • Tripoli
  • Zgharta
• Mount Lebanon Governorate (Jabal Lubnan)
  • Aley
  • Baabda
  • Byblos (Jbeil)
  • Chouf
  • Keserwan
  • Matn
• South Governorate (al-Janoub)
  • Jezzine
  • Sidon (Saida)
  • Tyre (Sur)

Health[link]

As of 2011 the average life expectancy in Lebanon was 79.5 years old with 84 years old for the females and 77 for males.

Economy[link]

Economy of Lebanon
Tourism Agriculture Beirut Stock Exchange Companies listed on BSE Companies Banque du Liban Shipping
Topics of Lebanon
Culture - Geography History - Politics
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The urban population in Lebanon is noted for its commercial enterprise.^[95] Over the course of time, emigration has yielded Lebanese "commercial networks" throughout the world.^[96] As a result, remittances from Lebanese abroad to family members within the country total $8.2 billion^[97] and account for one fifth of the country's economy.^[98] Lebanon has the largest proportion of skilled labor among Arab States.^[99]

Although Lebanon is ideally suited for agricultural activities in terms of water availability and soil fertility, as it possesses the highest proportion of cultivable land in the Arabic speaking world,^[100] it does not have a large agricultural sector. Attracting only 12% of the total workforce,^[101] agriculture is the least popular economic sector in Lebanon. It contributes approximately 11.7% of the country's GDP, also placing it in the lowest rank compared to other economic sectors. Major produce includes apples, peaches, oranges, and lemons.^[9]

Industry in Lebanon is mainly limited to small businesses that reassemble and package imported parts. In 2004, industry ranked second in workforce, with 26% of the Lebanese working population,^[101] and second in GDP contribution, with 21% of Lebanon's GDP.^[9]

Lebanese GDP real economic Growth

A combination of beautiful climate, many historic landmarks and World Heritage Sites continues to attract large numbers of tourists to Lebanon. In addition, Lebanon's strict financial secrecy and capitalist economy have given it significant, though no longer dominant, economic status among Arab countries. The thriving tourism and banking activities have naturally made the services sector the most important pillar of the Lebanese economy. The majority of the Lebanese workforce (nearly 65%)^[101] attains employment in the services sector as a result of the abundant job opportunities. The GDP contribution, accordingly, amounts to roughly 67.3% of the annual Lebanese GDP.^[9] However, dependence on the tourism and banking sectors leaves the economy vulnerable to political instability.^[102]

Graphical depiction of Lebanon 's product exports in 28 color coded categories.

The 1975–1990 civil war heavily damaged Lebanon's economic infrastructure, cut national output by half, and all but ended Lebanon's position as a West Asian entrepôt and banking hub.^[5] The subsequent period of relative peace enabled the central government to restore control in Beirut, begin collecting taxes, and regain access to key port and government facilities. Economic recovery has been helped by a financially sound banking system and resilient small- and medium-scale manufacturers, with family remittances, banking services, manufactured and farm exports, and international aid as the main sources of foreign exchange.^[103]

Until the 2006 Lebanon War, Lebanon's economy witnessed growth, with bank assets reaching over 75 billion US dollars,^[104] By the end of the first half of 2006, the influx of tourists to Lebanon had already registered a 49.3% increase over 2005 figures (which was a low figure, making the 49.3% increase seem more spectacular than it was).^[104] Market capitalization was also at an all time high, estimated at $10.9 billion at the end of the second quarter of 2006, just weeks before the fighting started.^[104]

The war severely damaged Lebanon's fragile economy, especially the tourism sector. According to a preliminary report published by the Lebanese Ministry of Finance on 30 August 2006, a major economic decline was expected as a result of the fighting.^[105]

Rafiq Hariri International Airport re-opened in September 2006, and the efforts to revive the Lebanese economy have proceeded at a slow pace. Major contributors to the reconstruction of Lebanon include Saudi Arabia (with US$ 1.5 billion pledged),^[106] the European Union (with about $1 billion)^[107] and a few other Persian Gulf countries with contributions of up to $800 million.^[108] Until July 2006, Lebanon enjoyed considerable stability, Beirut's reconstruction was almost complete,^[109] and increasing numbers of tourists poured into the nation's resorts.^[11] Then, the month-long 2006 war between Israel and Lebanon caused significant civilian death and heavy damage to Lebanon's civil infrastructure. Due to its tightly regulated financial system and the highest gold reserve in the Middle East, Lebanese banks largely avoided the financial crisis of 2007–2010. In 2009, despite a global recession, Lebanon enjoyed 9% economic growth and hosted the largest number of tourists in its history; however, by 2011, economic growth had slowed to below average for the region.^[110]

According to the CIA World Factbook, Lebanon's 2010 public debt exceeded 150.7% of GDP, ranking fourth highest in the world as a percentage of GDP, though down from 154.8% in 2009.^[5] Finance minister Mohammad Chatah stated that the debt reached $47 billion in 2008 and would increase to $49 billion if privatization of two telecoms companies did not occur.^[111] The Daily Star wrote that exorbitant debt levels have "slowed down the economy and reduced the government's spending on essential development projects."^[112]

Given the frequent security turmoil it has faced, the Lebanese banking system has adopted a conservative approach, with strict regulations imposed by the central bank to protect the economy from political instability. These regulations have generally left Lebanese banks unscathed by the Financial crisis of 2007–2010. Lebanese banks remain, under the current circumstances, high on liquidity and reputed for their security.^[113] Consequently, Lebanon is one of the only seven countries in the world in which the value of the stock markets increased in 2008.^[114] Moreover, in 2009, Lebanon hosted the largest number of tourists to date, eclipsing the previous record set before the Lebanese Civil War.^[115] The Lebanese economy grew 8.5% in 2008 and a revised 9% in 2009^[116] despite a global recession.^[117] Furthermore, the World Bank estimated GDP growth in 2010 at 7%.^[117] As of 31 August 2010, The Daily Star reported that The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) has released an updated outlook on the Lebanese economy, predicting real gross domestic produce (GDP) growth would reach 6.8% in 2010 and 5.8% in 2011.^[118]

Oil has recently been discovered inland and in the seabed between Lebanon, Cyprus, Israel and Egypt and talks are underway between Cyprus and Egypt to reach an agreement regarding the exploration of these resources.The seabed separating Lebanon and Cyprus is believed to hold significant quantities of crude oil and natural gas.^[119]

To boost the economy and increase foreign direct investments, the Lebanese government has established a national investment promotion agency, IDAL, the Investment Development Authority of Lebanon in 1994. It was established with the aim of promoting Lebanon as a key investment destination, and attracting facilitating, and retaining investments in the country. In 2001, Investment Law No.360^[120] was enacted to reinforce the organisation's mission, providing a framework for regulating investment activities in Lebanon, and providing local and foreign investors alike with a range of incentives and business support services. In addition to its role as an investment promotion agency, IDAL was entrusted with the active promotion and marketing of Lebanese exports including but not limited to agricultural and agro-industrial products. IDAL enjoys financial and administrative autonomy and reports to the President of the Council of Ministers who exercises a tutorial authority over it.

Tourism[link]

Baalbek Temple of Jupiter

Sunset in Raouche

Between 2005 and 2007, Lebanon was in a state of political turmoil, resulting in a sharp fall in tourism. Over the course of 2008 Lebanon rebuilt its infrastructure mainly in the real estate and tourism sectors resulting in a comparatively robust post war economy. In 2009, the New York Times ranked Beirut the No. 1 travel destination worldwide due to its Unique Nightlife and Hospitality.^[121] In January 2010, the Ministry of Tourism announced that 1,851,081 tourists had visited Lebanon in 2009, a 39% increase from 2008.^[122] Overall, Lebanon has seen an annual increase in tourism since 2006.^[122]

Recently, after the long years of the civil war and reoccurring periods of political unrest in Lebanon, Lebanon has become an increasingly popular destination for tourism. Its rich history, historic sites, mild climate, along with other factors, have all made Lebanon currently one of the most visited countries in the Middle East. Lebanon, even in its post-war state, has managed to attract around 1,333,000 tourists in 2008, thus placing it as rank 79 out of 191 participating countries.^[123] Statistics have shown that Lebanon's tourist attraction rate has been increasing rapidly and the Ministry of Tourism predicts that this ongoing trend will amplify in the coming years. Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and surprisingly Japan are the three most popular origin countries of foreign tourists to Lebanon.^[124] The recent influx of Japanese tourists is probably the reason for the recent rise in popularity of Japanese Cuisine in Lebanon.^[125]

Education[link]

Schools[link]

All Lebanese schools are required to follow a prescribed curriculum designed by the Ministry of Education. Some of the 1400 private schools offer IB programs,^[126] and may also add more courses to their curriculum with approval from the Ministry of Education. The main subjects taught are mathematics, sciences, Arabic, and at least one secondary language (either French or English).

The government introduces a mild form of selectivity into the curriculum by giving 11th graders choice between two "concentrations": sciences, humanities, and 12th graders choose between four concentrations: life sciences, general sciences, sociology and economics, and humanities and literature. The choices in concentration do not include major changes in the number of subjects taken (if at all). However, subjects that fall out of the concentration are given less weight in grading and are less rigorous, while subjects that fall within the concentration are more challenging and contribute significantly to the final grade.

Students go through three academic phases:

The first eight years are, by law, compulsory.^[9] Nevertheless, this requirement currently falls short of being fully enforced.

Higher education[link]

Following secondary school, Lebanese students may choose to study at a university, a college, or a vocational training institute. The number of years to complete each program varies. While the Lebanese educational system offers a very high quality and international class of education, the local employment market lacks sufficient opportunities, thus encouraging many of the young educated to travel abroad.

Lebanon has forty-one nationally accredited universities, several of which are internationally recognized.^[127][128] The American University of Beirut (AUB) and the Université Saint-Joseph (USJ) were the first Anglophone and the first Francophone universities to open in Lebanon, respectively.^[129][130] Another prestigious and internationally recognized university is the Lebanese American University^{[citation needed]}. Universities in Lebanon, both public and private, largely operate in French or English.^[131]

The American University of Beirut is one of the highest-ranked and oldest universities in the Middle East. In 1862 American missionaries in Lebanon and Syria, under the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, asked Dr. Daniel Bliss to establish a college of higher learning that would include medical training. On 24 April 1863, while Dr. Daniel Bliss was raising money for the new college in the United States and England, the State of New York granted a charter for the Syrian Protestant College. The college, which was renamed the American University of Beirut in 1920, opened with a class of 16 students on 3 December 1866. Dr. Bliss served as its first president, from 1866 until 1902. The American University of Beirut (AUB) has been accredited as an institution since 2004 by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (3624 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, Tel. 267-284-5000). AUB’s accreditation was most recently reaffirmed in June 2009, after the completion of an extensive self-study that was reviewed by educational experts chosen in consultation with Middle States. The University’s next full accreditation cycle is due in 2018–19. Over the last several years, a number of University programs and faculties have also sought accreditation with more specialized bodies. The Faculty of Health Sciences’ Graduate Public Health program became the first such program to be accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) outside of North America. Similarly, the Rafic Hariri School of Nursing became the first nursing school beyond American territories to have BSN and MSN programs accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). In April 2009, undergraduate and graduate programs at the Suliman S. Olayan School of Business were accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). Most recently, in July 2010, four undergraduate Engineering programs at AUB’s Faculty of Engineering and Architecture were accredited by ABET Inc. (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology). In general, the accreditation process is intended to strengthen and sustain the quality and integrity of a university, faculty, or program, confirming that it is worthy of public confidence. AUB has been registered with and recognized by the New York State Education Department (NYSED) since 1863. Its degrees are recognized by the Lebanese government through the equivalence committees of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education.

At the English universities, students who have graduated from an American-style high school program enter at the freshman level to earn their baccalaureate equivalence from the Lebanese Ministry of Higher Education. This qualifies them to continue studying at the higher levels. Such students are required to have already taken the SAT I and the SAT II upon applying to college, in lieu of the official exams. On the other hand, students who have graduated from a school that follows the Lebanese educational system are directly admitted to the sophomore year. These students are still required to take the SAT I, but not the SAT II. The university academic degrees for the first stage are the Bachelor or the Licence, for the second stage are the Master or the DEA and the third stage is the doctorate.

The United Nations assigned Lebanon an education index of 0.871 in 2008. The index, which is determined by the adult literacy rate and the combined primary, secondary, and tertiary gross enrollment ratio, ranked the country 88th out of the 177 countries participating.^[132]

Demographics[link]

Identifying all Lebanese as ethnically Arab is a widely employed example of panethnicity since in reality, the Lebanese “are descended from many different peoples who have occupied, invaded, or settled this corner of the world,” making Lebanon, “a mosaic of closely interrelated cultures”.^[133] While at first glance, this ethnic, linguistic, religious and denominational diversity might seem to cause civil and political unrest, “for much of Lebanon’s history this multitudinous diversity of religious communities has coexisted with little conflict”.^[133]

The population of Lebanon was estimated to be 4,125,247 in July 2010,^[5] however no official census has been taken since 1932 due to the sensitive confessional political balance between Lebanon's various religious groups.^[134]

Largest cities[link]

v t e Largest cities or towns of Lebanon http://www.geonames.org/LB/largest-cities-in-lebanon.html
	Rank	City name	Governorate	Pop.
Beirut Jounieh	1	Beirut	Beirut	1,916,100
	2	Jounieh	Mount Lebanon	951,739
	3	Zahle	Bekaa	320,000
	4	Sidon	South	163,554
	5	Tyre, Lebanon	South	135,204
	6	Nabatieh	Nabatieh	120,000
	7	Habbouch	Nabatieh	98,433
	8	Tripoli	North	98,433
	9	Batroun	Mount Lebanon	97,312
	10	Baalbeck	Bekaa	10,392

Population projection[link]

Lebanese fertility declined from 4.23 in 1978 to within decimal points of the 2.1 children per woman level in 2000, and this was because "most of the female population [fell] into the better-educated groups", making Lebanon's fertility rate the lowest in the Arabic-speaking world.^[135]

Religion[link]

See also: Religion in Lebanon

Lebanon is the second most religiously diverse Arab country after Syria. ^[138]

Khatem Al Anbiyya Mosque, downtown Beirut

Lebanon's population is estimated to be 59.7% Muslim (27% Sunni; 27% Shia; 5.7% Other (Shia, Sunni, Isma'ilite, Alawite, or Nusayri and non—Muslims with similar beliefs to the Muslim such as Druze, who do not consider themselves to be Muslims), 39% Christian (Maronite, Greek Orthodox, Melkite Catholic, Armenian Orthodox, Syriac Catholic, Armenian Catholic, Syriac Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Chaldean, Assyrian, Copt, Protestant), and 1.3% other.^[5]

Breakdown of the various religious groups in Lebanon, c. 2008

Over the past 60 years, there has been a steady decline in the number of Christians as compared to Muslims, due to higher emigration rates among Christians, and a higher birth rate among the Muslim population.^[139] The most recent study conducted by Statistics Lebanon, a Beirut-based research firm, found that approximately 27% of the population was Sunni, 27% Shi'a, 21% Maronite, 8% Greek Orthodox, 5% Druze, 5% Greek Catholic, and 7% other Christian sects such as Armenians who are 4% of the population and Syrian Orthodox.^[139] There are 18 state-recognized religious sects – 4 Muslim, 12 Christian, 1 Druze, and 1 Jewish.^[139]

Religions in Lebanon by sect (2010).^[139]

The Shi'a community is estimated to be 27%^[139] of Lebanon's total population. Shi'a residents primarily live in South Beirut, the Beqaa Valley, and southern Lebanon.^[140]

The Sunni community is estimated to be 27% of Lebanon's total population.^[139] Sunni residents primarily live in West Beirut, the southern coast of Lebanon, and northern Lebanon.^[140]

The Maronite community is estimated to be approximately 21% of Lebanon's total population.^[139] Maronite residents tend to live in East Beirut and the mountains of Lebanon.^[140] They are the largest Christian community in Lebanon.^[140]

The Greek Orthodox community is estimated to be approximately 8% of Lebanon's total population. Greek orthodox residents primarily live in Koura, Beirut, Zahleh, Rachaya, Matn, Aley, Akkar, Tripoli, Hasbaya and Marjeyoun. They are the second largest Christian community in Lebanon and the 4th largest religious community in the country.

Language[link]

Article 11 of Lebanon's Constitution states that "Arabic is the official national language. A law determines the cases in which the French language may be used".^[141] The majority of Lebanese people speak Lebanese Arabic, while formal Arabic is mostly used in magazines, newspapers, and formal broadcast media. Almost 40% of Lebanese are considered francophone, and another 15% "partial francophone," and 70% of Lebanon's secondary school use French as a second language of instruction.^[142] By comparison, English is used as a secondary language in 30% of Lebanon's secondary schools.^[142] The use of French is a legacy of the post-World War I League of Nations mandate over Lebanon given to France; as of 2004, some 20% of the population used French on a daily basis.^[143] It should be noted, however, that Arabic is increasingly becoming less and less used by Lebanon's youth, who prefer to speak in French and, to a lesser extent, English.^[144][145]

English is increasingly used in science and business interactions.^[146] Lebanese people of Armenian, Assyrian, or Greek descent often speak Armenian, Neo-Aramaic, or Greek with varying degrees of fluency. There are currently around 150,000 Armenians in Lebanon, or around 5% of the population.^[147]

Diaspora[link]

Main article: Lebanese diaspora

Millions of people of Lebanese descent are spread throughout the world, mostly Christians,^[148] especially in Latin America.^[149] Brazil has the largest expatriate population.^[150] (See Lebanese Brazilians). Large numbers of Lebanese migrated to West Africa, particularly to the Ivory Coast (home to over 100,000 Lebanese)^[151] and Senegal (roughly 30,000 Lebanese).^[152] Australia is home to over 270,000 Lebanese (1999 est.).^[153]

Refugees[link]

As of 2012, Lebanon was host to over 460,000 refugees and asylum seekers: 405,425 Palestinians,^[154] 50,000–60,000 from Iraq,^[154][155] and 4,500 from Sudan. Lebanon forcibly repatriated more than 300 refugees and asylum seekers in 2007.^[156]

In the last three decades, lengthy and destructive armed conflicts have ravaged the country. The majority of Lebanese have been affected by armed conflict; those with direct personal experience include 75% of the population, and most others report suffering a range of hardships. In total, almost the entire population (96%) has been affected in some way – either personally or because of the wider consequences of armed conflict.^[157]

Culture[link]

Overview[link]

Phoenicia and its colonies

The area including modern Lebanon has been home to various civilizations and cultures for thousands of years. Originally home to the Phoenicians, and then subsequently conquered and occupied by the Assyrians, the Persians, the Greeks, the Romans, the Arabs, the Crusaders, the Ottoman Turks and most recently the French, Lebanese culture has over the millennia evolved by borrowing from all of these groups. Lebanon's diverse population, composed of different ethnic and religious groups, has further contributed to the country's festivals, musical styles and literature as well as cuisine. When compared to the rest of the Southwest Asia, Lebanese society as a whole is well educated and 91%^[158] of the population was literate. Despite the ethnic, linguistic, religious and denominational diversity of the Lebanese, they “share an almost common culture. . . .”. Lebanese Arabic is universally spoken while food, music, and literature are deep-rooted “in wider Mediterranean and Levantine norms. . . .”.^[133] Lebanese society is very modern and similar to certain cultures of Mediterranean Europe as the country is "linked ideologically and culturally to Europe through France, and its uniquely diverse ethnic and religious composition [create] a rare environment that [is] at once Arab and European.^[159] It is often considered as Europe's gateway to Western Asia as well as Asia's gateway to the Western World.^[160]

Arts and literature[link]

Khalil Gibran (April 1913)

By the turn of the 20th century, Beirut was vying with Cairo to be the major center for modern Arab thought, with many newspapers, magazines and literary societies. Additionally, Beirut became a thriving epicenter of Armenian culture with varied productions^[161] that was exported to the Armenian diaspora.

In literature, Khalil Gibran (1883–1931), who was born in Bsharri, is particularly known for his book The Prophet (1923), which has been translated into more than twenty different languages.^[162] Several contemporary Lebanese writers have also achieved international success; including Elias Khoury, Amin Maalouf, Hanan al-Shaykh, and Georges Schehadé.

In art, Moustafa Farroukh was one of Lebanon's most prominent painters of the 20th century. Formally trained in Rome and Paris, he exhibited in venues from Paris to New York to Beirut over his career.^[163]

Many more contemporary artists are currently active, such as Walid Raad, a contemporary media artist currently residing in New York.^[164]

Two contemporary art exhibition centers, the Beirut Art Center and the Beirut Exhibition Center in the BIEL area reflect the vibrant Lebanese contemporary art scene. These two centers are intended to host exhibitions and are a must in the world of international as well as local contemporary art. Many art galleries also add to the local art scene, exhibiting the works of artists such as Ayman Baalbaki,^[165] Akram Zaatari,^[166] Marwan Sahmarani,^[167] Nadim Asfar,^[168] Lamia Joreige,^[169] Jean Marc Nahas,^[170][171] Ricardo Mbarkho,^[172] Mansour El-Habre,^[173] and many others. These galleries are run by gallerists such as Saleh Barakat^[174] (Agial), Galerie Mark Hachem,^[175] Fadi Mogabgab,^[176] Galerie Janine Rubeiz.^[177]

Located in Foch Street in the Solidere area, FFA Private Bank is home to many temporary exhibitions of contemporary local artists as well as to a permanent display of paintings by Lebanese artists (Sahmarani, Baalbaki, Hanibal Srouji...) or foreign artists such as Fabienne Arietti's "Nasdaq".^[178] A Jean Dubuffet's huge sculpture can also be seen when visiting the atrium of Bank Audi Plaza, located in a beautiful contemporary building designed by Kevin Dash. By Strolling through the streets of the city one can find some interesting works such as sculptures of Michel Basbous in the Bank of Lebanon street.

Ashkal Alwan,The Lebanese association for plastic arts and a platform for the creation and exchange of artistic practices.It was founded by Christine Tohme, Marwan Rechmaoui, Rania Tabbara, Mustapha Yamout and Leila Mroueh Initially, Ashkal Alwan promoted and introduced the work of artists who have been engaged in critical art practices within the context of post-war Lebanon. The Home Works Forum is a multidisciplinary platform that takes place in Beirut, Lebanon about every other year. it has evolved into one of the most vibrant platforms for research and exchange on cultural practices in the region and beyond.

Umam Documentation & Research runs an exhibition space (The Hangar) located at Haret Hreik, in Beirut's Southern suburb with extensive events.

In the field of photography, the Arab Image Foundation has a collection of +400,000 photographs from Lebanon and the Middle East. The photographs can be viewed in a research center and various events and publications have been produced in Lebanon and worldwide to promote the collection.

The main languages being taught in schools and universities are listed as: Arabic, French and English.

Festivals[link]

Beiteddine Palace, venue of the Beiteddine Festival

Music festivals, often hosted at historical sites, are a customary element of Lebanese culture.^[179] Among the most famous are Baalbeck International Festival, Byblos International Festival, Beiteddine International Festival, Broumana Festival, Batroun Festival, Dhour Chwer Festival and Tyr Festival.^[179][180] These festivals are promoted by Lebanon's Ministry of Tourism, Lebanon Hosts about 15 Concerts from International Performers Each Year Ranking Number one for Nightlife in the Middle east and 6th Worldwide.^[181]

Holidays[link]

Lebanon celebrates national and both Christian and Muslim holidays. Christian holidays are celebrated following both the Gregorian Calender and Julian Calender. Catholics, Protestant, and Melkite Christians follow the Gregorian Calendar and thus celebrate Christmas on 25 December. Greek Orthodox and Armenian Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas on 6 January, as they follow the Julian Calendar. Muslim holidays are followed based on the Islamic lunar calendar. Muslim holidays that are celebrated include Eid al-Fitr (the three-day feast at the end of the Ramadan month), Eid al-Adha (The Feast of the Sacrifice) which is celebrated during the annual pilgrimage to Mecca and also celebrates Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son to God,the Birth of the Prophet Muhammad, and Ashura (the Shiite Day of Atonement). Lebanon's National Holidays include Workers Day, Independence day, and Martyrs Day.

National flag[link]

The original flag design

The national flag of Lebanon, created shortly after independence in 1943,^[182] consists of three horizontal bands; the top and bottom bands are red and of equivalent size, each consisting of 1/4 of the flag's surface, while the larger, middle band is white with a green cedar tree fixed at its center and consists of 1/2 of the flag's surface.^[5] The cedar tree, an emblem of Lebanon, symbolizes survival,^[183] the white band symbolises the eternal snow on its mountain peaks and the peace that Lebanon seeks. Red symbolizes the blood shed for independence. The top and bottom of the cedar touch the edge of both red bands.^[184]

Music[link]

Music is pervasive in Lebanese society.^[185] While traditional folk music remains popular in Lebanon, modern music reconciling Western and traditional Arabic styles, pop, and fusion are rapidly advancing in popularity.^[186] Radio stations feature a variety of music, including traditional Lebanese, classical Arabic, Armenian^[187] and modern French, English, American, and Latin tunes.^[188] Prominent traditional musicians include Fairuz, an icon during the civil war, Sabah, Wadih El Safi, Majida El Roumi, and Najwa Karam who built an international audience for the genre.^[185] Marcel Khalife, a musician who blends classical Arab music with modern sounds, boasts immense^[189] popularity for his politically charged lyrics.^[185][186] Distinguished pop artists include Nancy Ajram, Haifa Wehbe, The 4 Cats—an all-female group—, Fadl Shaker, Elissa and Mika.^[185]

According to the World Intellectual Property Organization, Lebanon's music industry is growing and could attain leading status in the region.^[190] Lebanese performers are celebrated throughout the Arab World,^[191] and with the notable exception of Egypt enjoy increasing regional popularity.^[190] Rising demand for Arabic music outside Western Asia has provided Lebanese artists with a small but significant global audience. However, widespread piracy continues to inhibit the music industry's growth.^[190]

Sports[link]

Both summer and winter sports thrive in Lebanon because of the unique geography. In autumn and spring, for example, it is possible to go skiing in the morning and swimming in the Mediterranean Sea in the afternoon.^[192] At the competitive level, basketball and football are among Lebanon’s most popular sports. In recent years, Lebanon has hosted the AFC Asian Cup and the Pan Arab Games.

Lebanon has six ski resorts, with opportunities also available for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling. In the summer, skilifts can be used to access hiking trails, with views stretching as far as Cyprus to the west and Syria to the east on clear days. Canoeing, cycling, rafting, climbing, swimming, sailing and caving are among the other common leisure sports in Lebanon. Adventure and extreme sports are also possible throughout the country. The Beirut Marathon is held every fall, drawing top runners from Lebanon and abroad. Race day is promoted as a fun, family event, and it has become a tradition for many to participate in costumes or outlandish clothing.

Rugby league is a relatively new but growing sport in Lebanon. The Lebanon national rugby league team participated in the 2000 Rugby League World Cup, and narrowly missed qualification for the 2008 and 2012 tournaments. Lebanon also took part in the 2009 European Cup where, after narrowly failing to qualify for the final, the team defeated Ireland to finish 3rd in the tournament. Lebanon international Hazem El Masri holds the record as the all-time highest points scorer in Australia's National Rugby League, having moved from Lebanon to Australia as a child.

But the most important of sports, and the most popular in Lebanon is basketball, as the Lebanese National Team prevailed to qualify for the FIBA World Championship 3 times in a row. Considered as one of the basketball power houses in Asia, Lebanon was able to defeat strong teams such as Venezuela and France, in what was considered to be the upset of the tournament, winning an amazing encounter that proved them to be one of the most competitive teams in the tournament. In 2010 FIBA World Championship, Lebanon defeated Canada national men's basketball team but failed to qualify to the second round. Rony Seikalyand Fadi El Khatib are considered to be the best Lebanese basketball players of all time. Dominant Basketball teams in Lebanon are Sporting Al Riyadi Beirut, who are the current Arab and Asian champions, Club Sagesse who were able to earn the Asian and Arab championships before, along with Champville SC, Al Mouttahed Tripoli, and Hoops Club,and Byblos.

Dance is also a popular activity in Lebanon that may fall under the category of 'sports'.

Lebanon hosted the 2009 Jeux de la Francophonie from 27 September to 6 October.

Prominent Lebanese bodybuilders include Samir Bannout, Mohammad Bannout and Ahmad Haidar.

Theatre[link]

Theatre in Lebanon has its origin in passion plays. The musical plays of Maroun Naccache from the mid-1800s are considered the birth of modern Arab theatre.^[193] Some scholars like Abdulatif Shararah divided theatre in Lebanon into three phases: translations of European plays, Arab nationalism, and realism.^[194]

Media[link]

Lebanon is not only a regional center of media production but also the most liberal and free in the Arab world.^[195] According to Press freedom's Reporters Without Borders, "the media have more freedom in Lebanon than in any other Arab country".^[196] Despite its small population and geographic size, Lebanon plays an influential role in the production of information in the Arab world and is "at the core of a regional media network with global implications".^[197]

Film[link]

Cinema of Lebanon, according to film critic and historian, Roy Armes, was the only other cinema in the Arabic-speaking region, beside Egypt's, that could amount to a national cinema.^[198] Cinema in Lebanon has been in existence since the 1920s, and the country has produced over 500 films,^[199] some of which are:

• West Beirut – by Ziad Doueiri, released in 1998, received the Prix François Chalais at the Directors' fortnight of the Cannes Film Festival (1998)
• Mabrouk Again – by Hany Tamba, released in 2000
• The Kite– by Randa Chahal, released in 2003, received many prestigious awards including the Silver Lion, Prix de la paix- Gillo Pontecorvo and Prix de la Lanterne Magique at the Venice Film Festival (2003)
• After Shave – by Hany Tamba, released in 2005, received the 2006 French César Award for best foreign short film
• Bosta – by Philippe Aractingi, released in 2005
• Under the Bombs – by Philippe Aractingi, released in 2006
• Caramel – starring and directed by Nadine Labaki, released in 2007
• Where Do We Go Now? – starring and directed by Nadine Labaki, released in 2011, received the Cadillac People's Choice Award at the Toronto Film Festival (2011)

Internet[link]

Lebanon was one of the first countries in the Arabic-speaking world to introduce internet and Beirut's newspapers were the first in the region to provide readers with web versions of their newspapers. By 1996, three newspapers from Lebanon were online, Al Anwar, Annahar, and Assafir, and by 2000, more than 200 websites provided news out of Lebanon.^[197]

Publishing[link]

The history of publishing in Lebanon dates back to 1610 when the first printing press was established at the Convent of Saint Anthony of Qozhaya in the Kadisha Valley, making its first publication, Qozhaya Psalter -the Bible's book of psalms, which was in both Syriac and Arabic, the first publication in the Middle East.^[200] One of the first Arabic-script, printing presses in the region was founded in 1734 at The Convent of St. John in Khinshara where it remained in operation until1899.^[201] In the second half of the nineteenth century, Beirut had become not only a multi-religious, commercial center but also an intellectual one, especially after the establishment of two private, higher education institutes, the American University of Beirut in 1864 and the Saint Joseph University in 1875, and it was this period that marked the emergence of Beirut's prolific press.^[202] Lebanese publishers and journalists, along with Syrians, also played a major role in establishing the Egyptian press in the nineteenth century.^[203] After independence, Beirut emerged as the epicenter of publishing in the Arab world, characterized by free and liberal media and literary scenes.^[204] In the 1940s, Beirut was home to 39 newspapers as well as 137 periodicals and journals that were published in three languages.^[204] Beirut also hosted the first book fair in the Arab world in 1956. By the early sixties, there were close to a hundred publishers and more than 250 printing presses in Lebanon.^[204] Armenian publications also flourished in Beirut with over 44 publications, including dailies and periodicals.^[205] Authors from Syria, Palestine and elsewhere in the Arab world found refuge in Lebanon's free and liberal publishing industry.^[204] Lebanon's press became a huge industry despite the country's small size and has remained a haven for Arabic publishing.^[203] The establishment of modern printing presses and sophisticated book distribution channels made Beirut a regional publishing leader, and gave the Lebanese publishers a dominant role in Arab publishing.^[206] Lebanon hosts annually two important regional publishing events, the Beirut Book Fair and the Beirut Francophone Book Fair.^[207]

Television[link]

Television was introduced in Lebanon in 1959, with the launch of two privately-owned stations, CLT and Télé Orient that merged in 1977 into Télé Liban.^[208] Lebanon has ten national television channels, most channels in Lebanon are affiliated or supported by certain political parties or alliances.

See also[link]

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	Lebanon portal

	Book: Lebanon
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• Outline of Lebanon
• Index of Lebanon-related articles

Notes[link]

References[link]