The situation in Lebanon has been difficult for some time and which continues to show internal strife, political discord, religious persecution, and the failure to achieve democratic reforms. The current situation developed over the history of the region and reflects some of the problems besetting much of the Middle East as well.
Lebanon has a lengthy history in the Middle East and a heritage extending back nearly to the beginning of humankind. The region first appears in history in the time of the Phoenicians, around 3000 B.C., and it has been under the rule of Egypt, Assyria, Babylonia, the Persian Empire, the Ottoman Empire, and others over its long history (Countries of the World Chapter 1). Lebanon became an independent nation in 1943, and the first need was to establish a government that would enable the various communities to live in harmony. The government that was instituted has a president who is traditionally a Maronite Christian, the prime minister a Sunnite Muslim, and the speaker of parliament a Shi'ite, reflecting the different communities to be included. Many defense ministers have been Druzes. The National Assembly is the one-house parliament, with members elected to four-year terms. They represent religious rather than political groups, and the president is chosen by parliament for a six-year term. He appoints the prime minister. By law, every parliament includes six Christians for every five Muslims, and each group is represented according to its numerical strength (Compton's Encyclopedia online edition).
Widespread unrest occurred with the emergence of the Arab nationalist movement after independence, with the birth of Israel in 1948, and with growing inequality among Lebanese factions. Discontented religious groups revolted against the government in 1958, when U.S. troops helped put down the insurrection. In 1970, the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) moved its headquarters to Lebanon after...