Overview

History Overview It is assumed that the region of Lebanon has been inhabited for more than 200,000 years. Around 2500 BC: First traces of settlements of the Phoenicians.The Phoenicians, a faction of the Kenaans- Arab ancestors, were traders, involved in international trade between the Middle Eastern hinterland, and countries around the Mediterranean. The Phoenicians were also transmitters of culture, new inventions, alphabet, money, and more. The Phoenicians did not establish larger kingdoms, but remained city states, that accepted compromises with stronger neighbors, paying for peace and freedom to trade.They, however, established other flourishing extraterritorial city-states such as Carthage in North Africa and Marseilles in Europe.

From 1516 to 1918 Lebanon was under the administrative rule and political sovereignty of the Ottoman Empire. In 1920, the territory defined by the present-day boundaries became a state called "Grand-Liban" (Greater Lebanon) by decree of General Gourau, head of the French troops in the Levant. A constitution was adopted on May 23, 1926 establishing a democratic republic with a parliamentary system of government. Effective political independence of the Republic occurred on November 22, 1943 (Independence Day). In 1945 Lebanon became a founding member of the League of Arab States, then of the United Nations. Departure of the foreign troops then on the Republic's territory was completed on December 31, 1946.

Over the next 30 years, Lebanon became a melting pot with a diverse cultural heritage. The instability in surrounding countries caused Lebanon to experience large waves of immigration from neighboring countries and attracted thousands of skilled laborers, entrepreneurs and intellectuals. The economic force of the Republic has mainly revolved around its entrepreneurs. In addition, Lebanon's democratic traditions, its attachment to freedom of speech and expression and its educated population enabled the Republic to become the cultural, academic and medical center of the region.

A combination of internal and external factors ,mainly the Israeli occupation of the Arab lands and the incessant aggressions carried on by Israel against Lebanon led to the outbreak of conflict in 1975. This regional instability contributed to destabilizing the domestic political and economic situation. Successive rounds of fighting took place, aggravated by two Israeli military invasions in 1978 and 1982. The period of conflict witnessed a significant reduction of government authority, large losses in human lives, substantial physical and infrastructure damage and a considerable emigration of skilled labor from the country.

In the aftermath of the Taif Reconciliation Accord (the "Taif Agreement") signed in Saudi Arabia in 1989, military hostilities effectively came to an end in October 1990. President Elias Hrawi assumed office with Dr. Salim Al Hoss as Prime Minister. In 1992 Mr Rafik Hariri was appointed as Prime Minister and the first parliamentary elections in 20 years were held. In 1995, President Hrawi’s term of office was extended for an additional three year period, after a constitutional amendment.

In October 1998, His Excellency General Emile Lahoud was elected President and appointed Dr. Salim Al Hoss as Prime Minister. The President of the Republic, in his inaugural speech before The Parliament presided by His Excellency Mr.Nabih Berri, emphasized the preeminence of the rule of law, the strengthening of governmental institutions, the requirement for transparency and accountability in the conduct of public affairs and the promotion of social justice and equality. In October 2000, His Excellency Mr. Rafik Hariri was reappointed as Prime Minister.

On May 25, 2000, after 22 years of occupation and of defying the international will and the UN resolutions, Israel withdrew its troops from Lebanon in response to the heavy losses it sustained as a result of continuous and successful phases of the "All-out Resistance". Some issues related to the withdrawal remain unsettled, such as the adjacent villages known as "Sheba'a Farms" which are still unlawfully occupied by Israel and the border delineation as well as the Lebanese nationals who are still illegally held in the Israeli jails.