Background

• Lebanon founded as a Christian nation after WW1

  (also had a large Muslim population)

  • Tensions between these two populations grew after WW2.

  Large numbers of Palestinians arrived in 1948 and again in the early 1970s, after Jordan ordered the PLO to leave its territory.

  By the 1970s, the majority of the population was Muslim and the Christians became a minority - although a large one.
• As relations between Christians + Muslims became more tense, each side developed its own political groups and militias. In the capital, Beirut, different religions lived in different quarters of the city, such as Christians in the east and Muslims in the west.
• Lebanese Muslims

  • Made up majority of population in 1973, but had fewer seats in parliament than Christians.
  • Divided into different sectors
  • Looked to other Arab nations for support
  • Muslim militia groups included the Lebanese National Movement and Druze militia
• Lebanese Christians

  • Large minority but held the majority of seats in parliament. Concerned about the Muslim majority and influx of Palestinians.
  • Tended to look to the USA and the West for support
  • Christian militia groups included the Phalange and South Lebanese army.
• PLO

  • Arrived in 1973 after having to leave Jordan. About 10% of Lebanon's population was Palestinian, living mainly in refugee camps.
  • PLO attacked Israel from Lebanon. It was supported by other Arab nations and had its own politics and hierarchy.
  • The PLO became a 'state within a state' and was hard to control.
• Israel

  • Invaded Lebanon in 1978 to take action against the PLO, which had been launching attacks on Israel from Lebanon.
  • Supported Christian militia - the Phalange, the South Lebanese Army - in their actions against the PLO and its supporters.
• Syria

  • Invaded Lebanon in 1976 to restrain the PLO from attacking Israel
  • Sided with Christian militia against PLO at first and then formed the Arab Deterrent Force (ADF) and supported the PLO again, despite the Lebanese government asking Syria to leave.