The Conscience of Lebanon: A Political Biography of Etienne Sakr (Abu-Arz) (Cass Series--Israeli History, Politics, and Society)

This work is a combination of an account of a most captivating Lebanese personality with a penetrating analysis of the historical and religious contours of Lebanon. Mordechai Nisan spent much time with Etienne Sakr between 2000 and 2001. Set within the context of the national political narrative of Lebanon, this volume offers a portrait of Sakr and the times in which he lived before his exile to Israel in May 2000. Personal testimonies from Lebanese residents and conversations with others outside of Lebanon who knew Abu-Arz, in addition to interviews with Israelis aquainted with him, provide the authenticity to the portrait of this remarkable man. Book Cover......Page 1 Half-Title......Page 2 Title......Page 4 Copyright......Page 5 Contents......Page 7 Maps and Illustrations......Page 8 Names and Abbreviations......Page 10 Preface......Page 11 Prologue......Page 14 Introduction......Page 22 1 The Early Years, 1937–61......Page 30 2 The Interval Years, 1962–1975......Page 37 3 The Founding and Ideology of Herraas Al-Arz, 1975–82......Page 44 RELIGION, HOMELAND, NATIONHOOD......Page 46 THE PARTY SPIRIT......Page 57 4 The Fighting and Politics of Herraas Al-Arz, 1975–1982......Page 59 PROTEST WITHOUT REVOLUTION......Page 67 THE ISRAELI CONNECTION......Page 71 THE MARONITE HOUSE DIVIDED......Page 72 TOWARD THE 1982 WAR......Page 77 5 Lebanon’s Missed Opportunities, 1982–90: Abu-Arz Faces Rivals and Enemies......Page 81 OBSTACLES ON THE LEBANESE-ISRAELI PATH......Page 85 CHRISTIAN DIVISIVENESS AND SELF-DESTRUCTION......Page 94 THE SYRIAN TAKEOVER OF LEBANON......Page 102 6 Banishment and Betrayal in South Lebanon, 1990–2000......Page 113 SOUTH LEBANON: MILITARILY FREE, POLITICALLY STRANGLED......Page 119 POLITICAL ACTIVITIES......Page 133 THE END OF THE SLA......Page 138 7 Nationhood and Politics in Lebanon: The Place of Abu-Arz......Page 143 PROBING LEBANESE NATIONALITY......Page 151 LEBANESE PATRIOT, ISRAELI ALLY......Page 152 THE NOW AND THE ETERNAL......Page 161 Epilogue......Page 164 SYRIAN OCCUPATION, ISRAELI MYOPIA, PALESTINIAN INTIFADA......Page 171 ABU-ARZ: AWAITING THE RETURN......Page 183 Afterword......Page 185 Appendix: The Massacres and Crimes Committed by the Palestinians and the Syrians Against the Lebanese (1975–90)......Page 187 CHAPTER 2......Page 193 CHAPTER 4......Page 194 CHAPTER 5......Page 195 CHAPTER 6......Page 196 EPILOGUE......Page 197 GENERAL WORKS ON LEBANON......Page 199 Index of Names and Places......Page 201 "The Conscience of Lebanon: A Political Biography of Etienne Sakr combines an account of a Lebanese personality with a penetrating analysis of the historical and religious contours of Lebanon. His life is part of the national epic with elements of Christian faith and Maronite sophistication, interconfessional modes of partnership, and violence tearing apart the fabric of social and economic life. Integral to the narrative and incisively unconventional interpretation is the complex politics of Lebanon intermixed with the war that erupted in 1975." "Personal testimonies from Lebanese residents and conversations with others outside Lebanon, who knew Abu-Arz, in addition to interviews with Israelis acquainted with him, provide a dimension of authenticity to the portrait drawn of this remarkable man. Etienne Sakr, with a steadfast ideological commitment to a non-Arab Lebanese identity and political independence, fought the Syrian and Palestinian intruders, and with his Guardians of the Cedars Party cooperated with Israel. While ineluctably embroiled in the inter-Christian power struggles, Abu-Arz acquired a reputation as the conscience of Lebanon, but without achieving a position of power ascendancy. But he was present in the Lebanese Forces decision-making councils, and his own revelatory evidence contributes to an understanding of the agony and divisiveness that characterized the Christian leadership in the turmoil of war. His moral stance was clear and his political judgment filled with foresight, but his compatriots often preferred to ignore his message and marginalize his role."--Jacket.