Lebanese Front
Encyclopedia
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
. It was intended to act as a counter force to the Lebanese National Movement
(LNM) of Kamal Jumblatt
and others.
The Lebanese Front was presided by the charismatic former president of Lebanon, Camille Chamoun
, and its main participants were Pierre Gemayel
, the founder and leader of the then largest political party in Lebanon, the Kataeb Party
, president Suleiman Franjieh, who had just finished his presidential years in office. It also included first class intellectuals, such as distinguished professor of philosophy Charles Malik who had received 63 honorary doctoral degrees before presiding the United Nations General Assembly
, and Fouad Frem al-Boustani, the president of the Lebanese University
. The front also included religious figures such as Father
Charbel Qassis, who was later replaced by Father Bulus Naaman the “head of the permanent congress of the Lebanese monastic orders”. For a brief while the poet Said Aql was a member.
As soon as the war erupted in Lebanon, and before the Lebanese Front was formed, many of the future leaders of the Lebanese Front organized their political parties into militias, most notably Camille Chamoun
’s National Liberal Party
, Pierre Gemayel
’s Kataeb Party
, and Suleiman Franjieh’s Marada Brigade
. The total number of men summed to around 18,000, which is a relatively large number given that the total population in Lebanon was close to three million.
In 1978, Suleiman Franjieh's son, Tony, and his family were assassinated by armed Kataeb militiamen acting on orders from Bashir Gemayel, the son of Pierre Gemayel
. It was this turning point that made president Suleiman Franjieh resign from the Front.
In 1982, the Lebanese Front promoted Bashir Gemayel for presidency. Indeed he was elected as president as soon as the Israeli forces invaded Lebanon, only to be assassinated three weeks later.
During the second half of the 1980s, most of the prominent leaders of the Lebanese Front died (Pierre Gemayel in 1984, both Chamoun and Charles Malik in 1987) and were replaced by leaders of much less influence: George Saadeh and Karim Pakradouni
. The Lebanese Front then lived for a short period only, and its new leaders shifted towards Syria. Dany Chamoun
, son of deceased Camille Chamoun
, formed a new Lebanese Front that was not pro-Syrian, but a week after the end of the Lebanese Civil war in October 1990, Dany was assassinated and the Lebanese Front came to an end.
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...
, also known as the "Kufur Front", was a coalition of mainly Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
parties formed in 1976, during the Lebanese Civil War
Lebanese Civil War
The 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...
. It was intended to act as a counter force to the 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) of Kamal Jumblatt
Kamal 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...
and others.
The Lebanese Front was presided by the charismatic former president of Lebanon, Camille Chamoun
Camille Chamoun
Camille Nimr Chamoun was President of Lebanon from 1952 to 1958, and one of the country's main Christian leaders during most of the Lebanese Civil War ....
, and its main participants were Pierre Gemayel
Pierre Gemayel
Sheikh Pierre Gemayel , was a Lebanese political leader...
, the founder and leader of the then largest political party in Lebanon, the Kataeb Party
Kataeb Party
The Lebanese Phalanges , better known in English as the Phalange , is a traditional right-wing Lebanese political party. Although it is officially secular, it is mainly supported by Maronite Christians. The party played a major role in the Lebanese War...
, president Suleiman Franjieh, who had just finished his presidential years in office. It also included first class intellectuals, such as distinguished professor of philosophy Charles Malik who had received 63 honorary doctoral degrees before presiding the United Nations General Assembly
United Nations General Assembly
For two articles dealing with membership in the General Assembly, see:* General Assembly members* General Assembly observersThe United Nations General Assembly is one of the five principal organs of the United Nations and the only one in which all member nations have equal representation...
, and Fouad Frem al-Boustani, the president of the Lebanese University
Lebanese University
The Lebanese University is the only public institution for higher learning in Lebanon. Founded in 1951, it has 17 faculties as of 2006 and serves various cultural, religious, and social groups of students and teachers....
. The front also included religious figures such as Father
Clergy
Clergy is the generic term used to describe the formal religious leadership within a given religion. A clergyman, churchman or cleric is a member of the clergy, especially one who is a priest, preacher, pastor, or other religious professional....
Charbel Qassis, who was later replaced by Father Bulus Naaman the “head of the permanent congress of the Lebanese monastic orders”. For a brief while the poet Said Aql was a member.
As soon as the war erupted in Lebanon, and before the Lebanese Front was formed, many of the future leaders of the Lebanese Front organized their political parties into militias, most notably Camille Chamoun
Camille Chamoun
Camille Nimr Chamoun was President of Lebanon from 1952 to 1958, and one of the country's main Christian leaders during most of the Lebanese Civil War ....
’s National Liberal Party
National Liberal Party (Lebanon)
The National Liberal Party is a center-right political party in Lebanon, established by President Camille Chamoun in 1958...
, Pierre Gemayel
Pierre Gemayel
Sheikh Pierre Gemayel , was a Lebanese political leader...
’s Kataeb Party
Kataeb Party
The Lebanese Phalanges , better known in English as the Phalange , is a traditional right-wing Lebanese political party. Although it is officially secular, it is mainly supported by Maronite Christians. The party played a major role in the Lebanese War...
, and Suleiman Franjieh’s Marada Brigade
Marada Brigade
The Marada Movement is a Lebanese political party and a former militia active during the Lebanese civil war, named after the legendary Syriac Marada or Mardaites warriors of the early Middle Ages...
. The total number of men summed to around 18,000, which is a relatively large number given that the total population in Lebanon was close to three million.
In 1978, Suleiman Franjieh's son, Tony, and his family were assassinated by armed Kataeb militiamen acting on orders from Bashir Gemayel, the son of Pierre Gemayel
Pierre Gemayel
Sheikh Pierre Gemayel , was a Lebanese political leader...
. It was this turning point that made president Suleiman Franjieh resign from the Front.
In 1982, the Lebanese Front promoted Bashir Gemayel for presidency. Indeed he was elected as president as soon as the Israeli forces invaded Lebanon, only to be assassinated three weeks later.
During the second half of the 1980s, most of the prominent leaders of the Lebanese Front died (Pierre Gemayel in 1984, both Chamoun and Charles Malik in 1987) and were replaced by leaders of much less influence: George Saadeh and Karim Pakradouni
Karim Pakradouni
Karim Pakradouni , born in Beirut on August 18, 1944 to an Armenian Orthodox father and Maronite Catholic mother, is a Lebanese Christian attorney and politician. He has been a leading figure in the Kataeb Party since 1968 when he became head of its student wing...
. The Lebanese Front then lived for a short period only, and its new leaders shifted towards Syria. Dany Chamoun
Dany Chamoun
Dany Chamoun was a prominent Lebanese politician. A Maronite Christian and the younger son of former President Camille Chamoun, Dany Chamoun was also a politician in his own right, and was known for his opposition to the occupation of Lebanese territory by foreign forces, whether Syrian or...
, son of deceased Camille Chamoun
Camille Chamoun
Camille Nimr Chamoun was President of Lebanon from 1952 to 1958, and one of the country's main Christian leaders during most of the Lebanese Civil War ....
, formed a new Lebanese Front that was not pro-Syrian, but a week after the end of the Lebanese Civil war in October 1990, Dany was assassinated and the Lebanese Front came to an end.