Maronite League
Encyclopedia
The Maronite League – ML (Arabic: Al-Rabitat al-Maroun) or Ligue Maronite in French
is a private, non-profit and ostensibly apolitical organization of Lebanese Christian notables, dedicated mainly to defend the independence and sovereignty of Lebanon
in the cadre of a democratic and pluralistic society.
Board meetings are held at the League's Headquarters, in the Central Maronite Council Building located at Rue Medawar in Beirut.
Being a non-profit organization, its primary source of funding comes from annual membership fees paid by its affiliates as well as private donations.
-oriented lobby
aimed at promoting Christian interests in the Lebanese Government and Parliament. Politically conservative, anti-communist and opposed to secularization
, the group since the 1950s manoeuvred to neutralize any mesures that might threaten the political status quo, quietly exerting pressure on the authorities to lift legal bans on Maronite Church
public activities or to restrict labour rights by curbing the Trade Unions.
by a group of Christian notables and intellectuals with Georges Tabet being elected as president in their first General Assembly, the Maronite League became more politicised towards the 1960s. The League strengthened its ties with Maronite Church
leaders and due to their clear hostility towards Pan-Arabism
, it also objected to the presence of Palestinian refugees and the PLO, advocating their total eviction from Lebanon.
Under the presidency of Shaker Abu Suleiman, an ardent supporter of Father Charbel Qassis, Superior General
of the Order of the Maronite Monks, the League in the early 1970s provided secret financial support and cadres to the Christian militias, notably the secretive Al-Tanzim
.
– even used the League’s funds to help that organization to raise their 200 men-strong militia, which later saw heavy action in Beirut
during the 1975-77 phase of the Lebanese Civil War, defending the Christian quarters against LNM/PLO forces’ attacks.
The League also helped in the founding the alliance of the Christian parties and militias known as the Lebanese Front
in 1976 and, despite having the Tanzim militia absorbed into the Lebanese Forces
in the following year, they managed to maintain themselves as a separate body.
Remaining active – again mostly behind the scenes – throughout the civil war, the League tried to encourage a rapprochement policy and reconciliation between the different Christian parties and militias during the violent inter-Christian strifes of the late 1970s and late 1980s.
and abroad. Its current President is Dr.Joseph Torbey, former CEO of the Credit Libanais Bank.
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
is a private, non-profit and ostensibly apolitical organization of Lebanese Christian notables, dedicated mainly to defend the independence and sovereignty of Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
in the cadre of a democratic and pluralistic society.
Composition
The League is often described as an exclusively Maronite “elitist group” whose membership was “automatic” for prominent figures in the public and private sector – Intellectuals, Businessmen, Bankers, Politicians (including former Heads of State, Members of Parliament, Government Ministers, and diplomats), Lawyers, Jurists, Public Servants, retired senior Army or Police officers, Presidents of Economic and Social Associations, Corporate Managers, and others.Structure and organization
The Maronite League is run by a counsel of appointed senior members, the Executive Board, which is headed by an elected President.Board meetings are held at the League's Headquarters, in the Central Maronite Council Building located at Rue Medawar in Beirut.
Being a non-profit organization, its primary source of funding comes from annual membership fees paid by its affiliates as well as private donations.
List of ML presidents (1952-present)
- Georges Tabet
- Dr.Elias Khoury
- Jean Abou Jaoudeh
- Shaker Abu Suleiman
- Ernest Karam
- Pierre Helou
- Michel Eddé
- Emir Hares Chehab
- Dr.Joseph Torbey
Political line
In reality, the ML is a PhoenicistPhoenicianism
Phoenicianism is a form of Lebanese nationalism, especially popular from the 1920s through the 1950s. It promotes the theory that Lebanese people are not Arabs and that the Lebanese speak a distinct language and have their own culture, separate from that of the surrounding Middle Eastern countries...
-oriented lobby
Lobby
Lobby may refer to:* Lobby , an entranceway or foyer in a building* Lobbying, the action or the group used to influence a viewpoint to politicians* Lobby , a thick stew made in North Staffordshire, not unlike Lancashire Hotpot...
aimed at promoting Christian interests in the Lebanese Government and Parliament. Politically conservative, anti-communist and opposed to secularization
Secularization
Secularization is the transformation of a society from close identification with religious values and institutions toward non-religious values and secular institutions...
, the group since the 1950s manoeuvred to neutralize any mesures that might threaten the political status quo, quietly exerting pressure on the authorities to lift legal bans on Maronite Church
Maronite Church
The Syriac Maronite Church of Antioch is an Eastern Catholic Church in full communion with the Holy See of Rome . It traces its heritage back to the community founded by Maron, a 4th-century Syriac monk venerated as a saint. The first Maronite Patriarch, John Maron, was elected in the late 7th...
public activities or to restrict labour rights by curbing the Trade Unions.
History
First established on August 21, 1952 in BeirutBeirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
by a group of Christian notables and intellectuals with Georges Tabet being elected as president in their first General Assembly, the Maronite League became more politicised towards the 1960s. The League strengthened its ties with Maronite Church
Maronite Church
The Syriac Maronite Church of Antioch is an Eastern Catholic Church in full communion with the Holy See of Rome . It traces its heritage back to the community founded by Maron, a 4th-century Syriac monk venerated as a saint. The first Maronite Patriarch, John Maron, was elected in the late 7th...
leaders and due to their clear hostility towards Pan-Arabism
Pan-Arabism
Pan-Arabism is an ideology espousing the unification--or, sometimes, close cooperation and solidarity against perceived enemies of the Arabs--of the countries of the Arab world, from the Atlantic Ocean to the Arabian Sea. It is closely connected to Arab nationalism, which asserts that the Arabs...
, it also objected to the presence of Palestinian refugees and the PLO, advocating their total eviction from Lebanon.
Under the presidency of Shaker Abu Suleiman, an ardent supporter of Father Charbel Qassis, Superior General
Superior general
A Superior General, or General Superior, is the Superior at the head of a whole religious order or congregation.The term is mainly used as a generic term, while many orders and congregations use other specific titles, notably:* Abbot general...
of the Order of the Maronite Monks, the League in the early 1970s provided secret financial support and cadres to the Christian militias, notably the secretive Al-Tanzim
Al-Tanzim
The Al-Tanzim, Al-Tanzym or At-Tanzim was the name of an ultra-nationalist secret military society and militia set up by right-wing Christian activists in Lebanon at the early 1970s, and which came to play an important role in the Lebanese Civil War.-Emblem:The emblem of the group, a map of Lebanon...
.
Civil War 1975-1990
Prior to 1975 Abu Suleiman – who was also secretly affiliated in the Al-TanzimAl-Tanzim
The Al-Tanzim, Al-Tanzym or At-Tanzim was the name of an ultra-nationalist secret military society and militia set up by right-wing Christian activists in Lebanon at the early 1970s, and which came to play an important role in the Lebanese Civil War.-Emblem:The emblem of the group, a map of Lebanon...
– even used the League’s funds to help that organization to raise their 200 men-strong militia, which later saw heavy action in Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
during the 1975-77 phase of the Lebanese Civil War, defending the Christian quarters against LNM/PLO forces’ attacks.
The League also helped in the founding the alliance of the Christian parties and militias known as the Lebanese Front
Lebanese Front
The Lebanese Front or Front libanais in French, also known as the "Kufur Front", was a coalition of mainly Christian parties formed in 1976, during the Lebanese Civil War...
in 1976 and, despite having the Tanzim militia absorbed into the Lebanese Forces
Lebanese Forces
The Lebanese Forces is a Lebanese political party. Founded as a militia by Bachir Gemayel during the Lebanese Civil War, the movement fought as the main militia within the Christian-dominated Lebanese Front...
in the following year, they managed to maintain themselves as a separate body.
Remaining active – again mostly behind the scenes – throughout the civil war, the League tried to encourage a rapprochement policy and reconciliation between the different Christian parties and militias during the violent inter-Christian strifes of the late 1970s and late 1980s.
The post-war years
Eventually, the ML emerged virtually unscathed in the post-war years as a powerful pressure group with some 700-1,300 current members, which continues to promote Christian interests in LebanonLebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
and abroad. Its current President is Dr.Joseph Torbey, former CEO of the Credit Libanais Bank.
See also
- Al-TanzimAl-TanzimThe Al-Tanzim, Al-Tanzym or At-Tanzim was the name of an ultra-nationalist secret military society and militia set up by right-wing Christian activists in Lebanon at the early 1970s, and which came to play an important role in the Lebanese Civil War.-Emblem:The emblem of the group, a map of Lebanon...
- Lebanese FrontLebanese FrontThe Lebanese Front or Front libanais in French, also known as the "Kufur Front", was a coalition of mainly Christian parties formed in 1976, during the Lebanese Civil War...
- Lebanese ForcesLebanese ForcesThe Lebanese Forces is a Lebanese political party. Founded as a militia by Bachir Gemayel during the Lebanese Civil War, the movement fought as the main militia within the Christian-dominated Lebanese Front...
- Lebanese civil warLebanese Civil WarThe Lebanese Civil War was a multifaceted civil war in Lebanon. The war lasted from 1975 to 1990 and resulted in an estimated 150,000 to 230,000 civilian fatalities. Another one million people were wounded, and today approximately 350,000 people remain displaced. There was also a mass exodus of...
- PhoenicianismPhoenicianismPhoenicianism is a form of Lebanese nationalism, especially popular from the 1920s through the 1950s. It promotes the theory that Lebanese people are not Arabs and that the Lebanese speak a distinct language and have their own culture, separate from that of the surrounding Middle Eastern countries...
Further reading
- Denise Ammoun, Histoire du Liban contemporain : Tome 2 1943-1990, Fayard, Paris 2005. ISBN 978-2213615219 (in FrenchFrench languageFrench is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
) - Edgar O'BallanceEdgar O'BallanceColonel Edgar O'Ballance was a British military journalist, researcher, defence commentator and academic lecturer specialising in international relations and defence problems.He served in the British and Indian armies until 1948...
, Civil War in Lebanon, 1975-92, Palgrave Macmillan, 1998. ISBN 978-0333729757 - Jean Sarkis, Histoire de la guerre du Liban, Presses Universitaires de France - PUF, Paris 1993. ISBN 978-2130458012 (in FrenchFrench languageFrench is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
) - Rex Brynen, Sanctuary and Survival: the PLO in Lebanon, Boulder: Westview Press, 1990.
- Robert FiskRobert FiskRobert Fisk is an English writer and journalist from Maidstone, Kent. As Middle East correspondent of The Independent, he has primarily been based in Beirut for more than 30 years. He has published a number of books and has reported on the United States's war in Afghanistan and the same country's...
, Pity the Nation: Lebanon at War, London: Oxford University Press, (3rd ed. 2001). ISBN 0192801309 - Marius Deeb, The Lebanese Civil War, Praeger, New York 1980.