November 21, 2006

Christian Lebanese Leader Murdered, Syria Implicated

Outspoken critic of Syria, cabinet minister, and one of the most influential Christian politicians in Lebanon Pierre Gemayel has been assassinated. Sources in Lebanon are already pointing the finger at Syria.

Lebanon is also already bracing for possible civil unrest and retaliation.

Gemayel was a member of the Kataeb Social Democratic Party, more commonly referred to as the Christian Phalange. The armed wing of the Phalange was the most important Christian faction during the Lebanese civil war. His father was the former President Amin Gemayel and his uncle, Bashir Gemayel, was also assassinated shortly after his election as President.

During the civil war the Phalangists forces were allies with Israel. In 1982 it was this same Christian militia, not Israel, that massacred Palestinian refugees in the Sabra and Shatila camps.

Reuters:

Gunmen opened fire as his convoy drove through the Christian Sin el-Fil neighbourhood, they said. Gemayel, who was in his 30s, was rushed to hospital where he later died of his wounds.

Local television footage showed angry and weeping supporters gathering at the hospital.

The killing is certain to deepen a political crisis pitting the anti-Syrian majority against the pro-Damascus opposition led by Hezbollah.

"We believe the hand of Syria is all over the place," Saad al-Hariri, son of assassinated former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri, said from Beirut shortly after Gemayel was shot dead.

Hat tip: Snapped Shot (at this writing the site is down)

UPDATE: Sunni jihadis? al Qaeda? This comes just days after Sunnis in Lebanon declared jihad.

UPDATE: Protests have already begun.

UPDATE: Way more at Hot Air.

By Rusty Shackleford, Ph.D. at 09:27 AM | |