Word: druze
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Dates: during 1980-1989
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...more fitting epithet for his own tortured homeland. In Lebanon, moreover, even the fragments have - fragments. The country is split not just between Christians and Muslims. The Christian community is composed of both Maronites and Greek Orthodox; the Muslim one is made up of Sunnis, Shi'ites and Druze. In the chaotic redistribution of power now taking place, the most serious challenge has come from Lebanon's Shi'ites, who constitute some 40% of the population but have long been relegated to second-class citizenship. In the process of winning an enhanced status, however, the Shi'ites have become...
Amal became not only one of Lebanon's most potent military forces but also a major political influence. Both characteristics came into prominent display following Israel's invasion of Lebanon in 1982. Under the leadership of Nabih Berri, Amal has forged an on-again-off-again alliance with the Druze forces of Walid Jumblatt and sometimes serves as the agent of Syria, a major force in the Lebanese conflict. In February 1984, Berri persuaded Shi'ite members of the Lebanese Army to defect to Amal, which proceeded to take control of West Beirut...
Accordingly, Berri led Amal in armed clashes against Israelis, Maronite Christians, Palestinians, Sunni Muslims and former allies, the Druze. "Berri the moderate? That's absurd!" scoffs Joyce Starr, a Middle East expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies at Georgetown University. Agrees a U.S. Government source who has dealt with Berri: "He may be in the center but only because the center moved. He's not an extremist, but he's shown that he's quite willing to escalate his language -- and his actions -- to retain his position of authority in the Shia community." Still, there...
...victims were mostly from the predominantly Shi'ite Sixth Brigade, reports had it that the bombers were Sunni Muslims, who have sided with the Palestinians in the current struggle, and view with apprehension the Shi'ites' lust for a greater share of political power. The Shi'ites and the Druze were allies until about a month ago, but last week they were shooting at each other after a group of Amal militiamen tried to stop a car loaded with Druze. Druze Leader Walid Jumblatt agreed to a cease-fire but later, when asked how long it would last, replied, "Only...
United Nations refugee officials estimated that between 10,000 and 20,000 Christians were made homeless by the fighting. It was the Christians' worst setback since the Chouf Mountain war in 1983, when more than 100,000 were displaced as a result of Druze victories following the Israeli pullout from the mountains. The fighting cast a shadow over Lebanon's few moments of joy last week. They came when Israel pulled back its troops from the port city of Tyre, which has been occupied since the first day of the Israeli invasion of Lebanon on June 6, 1982. As Israeli...