Workers League (Lebanon)
Encyclopedia
The Toilers League or Ligue des Travailleurs (LT) in French
, is a Lebanese left-wing political party founded in Lebanon
at the late 1960s and currently led by former Shouf MP Zaher el-Khatib.
(AUB) in 1968 by the then student activist and Progressive Socialist Party
(PSP) militant Zaher el-Khatib. In 1974 the group broke away from the PSP and re-emerged as a separated political party under Khatib's leadership, who succeeded to be elected to the Lebanese Parliament as the socialist deputy for the Iqlim al-Kharrub district of the Shouf.
's Lebanese National Movement
(LNM) in early 1975, even raising a militia named the Zafer el-Khatib Forces – ZKF , also known as Les Forces de Zafer el-Khatib (FZK) in French
. After the collapse of the LNM alliance in 1982, the WL/ZKF switched their alligence to Syria
and established a close relationship with the Shia Amal Movement
.
Police stations or supplied by the PLO, along with a few armed jeeps, the League/ZKF operated mainly in central West Beirut, but heavy casualties and desertions led to the decline of their military role afterwards. By the late 1980s the League had lost what was left of its political support base, whilst its dwindling ZKF militia was reduced to a neighbourhood defense group confined to their Headquarters at Rue Hamra and adjacent Ras Beirut
sector – where they run a joint television service (Al-Machriq), with the Amal Movement
until 1990.
's 3rd electoral district.
Today, still led by the now-ageing Zaher el-Khatib, the Toilers League is existent in name only, being little more than a fringe political grouping deprived of any real support. The Party is also a member of the pro-Syrian March 8 Alliance
.
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 Lebanese left-wing political party founded in 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...
at the late 1960s and currently led by former Shouf MP Zaher el-Khatib.
Early history
The Toilers League originated from a previous socialist students association formed at the American University of BeirutAmerican University of Beirut
The American University of Beirut is a private, independent university in Beirut, Lebanon. It was founded as the Syrian Protestant College by American missionaries in 1866...
(AUB) in 1968 by the then student activist and Progressive Socialist Party
Progressive Socialist Party
The Progressive Socialist Party or PSP , also known as Parti Socialiste Progressiste in French, is a political party in Lebanon. Its current leader is Walid Jumblatt...
(PSP) militant Zaher el-Khatib. In 1974 the group broke away from the PSP and re-emerged as a separated political party under Khatib's leadership, who succeeded to be elected to the Lebanese Parliament as the socialist deputy for the Iqlim al-Kharrub district of the Shouf.
Political beliefs
Marxist-Leninist and Pan-Arab nationalist in ideology, the League joined Kamal JumblattKamal Jumblatt
Kamal Jumblatt ; was an important Lebanese politician. He was the main leader of the anti-government forces in the Lebanese Civil War until his assassination in 1977. He is the father of the present Lebanese Druze leader Walid Jumblatt.-Family background and education:Kamal Jumblatt was born in...
's Lebanese National Movement
Lebanese National Movement
The Lebanese National Movement or Mouvement National Libanais in French, was a front of parties and organizations active during the early years of the Lebanese Civil War...
(LNM) in early 1975, even raising a militia named the Zafer el-Khatib Forces – ZKF , also known as Les Forces de Zafer el-Khatib (FZK) in French
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...
. After the collapse of the LNM alliance in 1982, the WL/ZKF switched their alligence to Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
and established a close relationship with the Shia Amal Movement
Amal Movement
Amal Movement is short for the Lebanese Resistance Detachments the acronym for which, in Arabic, is "amal", meaning "hope."Amal was founded in 1975 as the militia wing of the Movement of the Disinherited, a Shi'a political movement founded by Musa...
.
The Toilers League in the Lebanese Civil War (1975-1990)
During the 1975-76 war the ZKF's strength peaked at about 200-500 male and female fighters who fought in the ranks of the LNM/Joint Forces. Equipped with infantry small-arms pilfered from Lebanese Army barracks and Internal Security ForcesInternal Security Forces
The Internal Security Forces – ISF or Forces de Sécurité Intérieure in French, are the national police and security force of Lebanon. Modern police were established in Lebanon in 1861, with creation of the Gendarmerie...
Police stations or supplied by the PLO, along with a few armed jeeps, the League/ZKF operated mainly in central West Beirut, but heavy casualties and desertions led to the decline of their military role afterwards. By the late 1980s the League had lost what was left of its political support base, whilst its dwindling ZKF militia was reduced to a neighbourhood defense group confined to their Headquarters at Rue Hamra and adjacent Ras Beirut
Ras Beirut
Ras Beirut is a luxurious residential neighborhood of Beirut. It is the most cosmopolitan and open-minded area of Beirut, where sizable populations of Christians, Muslims, and Druze coexist peacefully. It is known as the cultural and intellectual center of Beirut...
sector – where they run a joint television service (Al-Machriq), with the Amal Movement
Amal Movement
Amal Movement is short for the Lebanese Resistance Detachments the acronym for which, in Arabic, is "amal", meaning "hope."Amal was founded in 1975 as the militia wing of the Movement of the Disinherited, a Shi'a political movement founded by Musa...
until 1990.
The post-war years
After the end of the civilian strife in the early 1990s, the ZKF militia was disbanded although the Workers League remained politically active, even managing to pull some seats in the elections for the Lebanese Parliament on several occasions - from 2000 to 2005 their member of Parliament Nasser Kandil represented 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...
's 3rd electoral district.
Today, still led by the now-ageing Zaher el-Khatib, the Toilers League is existent in name only, being little more than a fringe political grouping deprived of any real support. The Party is also a member of the pro-Syrian March 8 Alliance
March 8 Alliance
The March 8 Alliance is a coalition of various political parties in Lebanon. It has been the ruling coalition since January 25, 2011 when the alliance managed to nominate Najib Mikati as the new prime minister.-History:...
.
See also
- Amal MovementAmal MovementAmal Movement is short for the Lebanese Resistance Detachments the acronym for which, in Arabic, is "amal", meaning "hope."Amal was founded in 1975 as the militia wing of the Movement of the Disinherited, a Shi'a political movement founded by Musa...
- Progressive Socialist PartyProgressive Socialist PartyThe Progressive Socialist Party or PSP , also known as Parti Socialiste Progressiste in French, is a political party in Lebanon. Its current leader is Walid Jumblatt...
- Lebanese Arab Army
- Lebanese National MovementLebanese National MovementThe Lebanese National Movement or Mouvement National Libanais in French, was a front of parties and organizations active during the early years of the Lebanese Civil War...
- 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...