Sabra and Shatila Massacre
President's assassination leads to Lebanon genocide
Ethnic Groups Involved
Time Magazine: Massacre in Lebanon
Bachir Gemayel
Sabra and Shatila Massacre
Causes of Conflict
The technical inception of the conflict was during the 1948 Israeli-Palestinian separation. Because of the hatred spawned from the subsequent Israeli-Arab wars, Palestinians succumbed to the control of hate groups like the PLO (Palestine Liberation Organization) and Hamas who promised a stronger and liberated Palestine (while using Hitler-esque rhetoric). These groups transcended beyond their original principles and initiated operations according to soothe their own political ambitions. Additionally, on the Israeli side, far-Right organizations took control of the government. With their vengeful and hateful rhetoric, they also quickly took of the hearts of Israelis. As the feelings of both sides ripened and evolved, all it took was a single event to set off both sides. This event was the assassination of the president of an Allied country with a like-minded organization of thought.
Major/Notable Events
The separation of Israel and Palestine
The subsequent Israeli-Arab wars
The positive Israeli relationship with the Lebanese President Bachir Gemayel
The assassination of President Bachir Gemayel
- The subsequent tempers of the Phalange
- Near the end of the large genocide, many villages were damaged and even destroyed, especially in South Lebanon
- About 18,000 to 19,000 people were killed and more than 30,000 people wounded, mostly civilians
Our Opinion
The Solution!
Right now, there are peace talks and conferences involving Israelis, Palestinians, and the UN. These talks are meant to exchange territory for peace, give Palestinians their right to return and compensate, and define certain settlements as legal or illegal. In an ideal world, an acceptable solution would be a scenario where the Lebanese government turns into a more functional, secular version of itself. It has to distance itself from Hezbollah, while also making sure that in its absence, religious conflicts don't arise. This will need an instant increase of multicultural education which will decrease the effects of social-dogma that the elders will throw at the children. Additionally, it would be ideal if the Israelis elected a left-wing President, or at least a Prime Minister less conservative than Menachem Begin. Another possible solution is the removal of Palestinian Terrorist organizations influence in Palestine.
How will this play out?
In our lifetime, the conflict between Israel and Palestine will either become peaceful or it will deteriorate to a situation where both sides openly use biochemical weapons. The Lebanese conflict has mostly died down. Israel and Palestine in its current state cannot coexist with the policies being presented to the leaders of both nations. Even now, chemical weapons like White Phosphorus are being deployed on innocent citizens due to the possibility of them being terrorists. This conflict is only destined to degrade.
Resources
Anziska, Seth. "A Preventable Massacre." The New York Times. The New York Times, 16 Sept. 2012. Web. 01 Feb. 2016.
"Elie Hobeika." The Guardian. N.p., 24 Jan. 2002. Web. 1 Feb. 2016.
Israel. Israel State Archives. Israel State Archives, n.d. Web. 1 Feb. 2016.
"Population Statistics - Israeli-Palestinian Conflict - ProCon.org." ProConorg Headlines. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Feb. 2016.
Bennis, Phyllis. "What Has Been the Role of the UN in the Israel-Palestine Struggle by Phyllis Bennis." What Has Been the Role of the UN in the Israel-Palestine Struggle by Phyllis Bennis. TARI, Jan. 2001. Web. 1 Feb. 2016.
World Map and Lebanon. Digital image. Maphill. Maphill.com, n.d. Web. 1 Feb. 2016.
Bachir Gemayel. Digital image. Total War HIstory. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Feb. 2016.
Lebanon. Digital image. BBC. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Feb. 2016.
TIME Cover Page. Digital image. TIME. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Feb. 2016.
Dead People from Genocide. Digital image. Wikipedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Feb. 2016.
Map of Lebanon. Digital image. Infoplease. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Feb. 2016.