Christians marginalized in Lebanon crisis

Christians marginalized in Lebanon crisis

By Khaled Yacoub Oweis

BEIRUT (Reuters) - At an upmarket jeweller's in east Beirut's Ashrafieh
district, wealthy Lebanese Christians shop for gold and diamonds, far removed
from the upheaval that has sidelined their once-dominant community.

Last week's fighting, in which at least 81 people were killed, pitted the
opposition Shi'ite Muslim group Hezbollah against pro-government Sunni Muslim
and Druze factions. But no major Christian group took part in the fighting or
played a role in ending the violence.

"Times change. Once we ruled militarily, and now it is Hezbollah," said
80-year-old George Aoun.

Unlike the rest of the Arab World, Christians have traditionally been leading
players in Lebanon. At an estimated one-third of the population, they far
outweigh the proportion of Christians in any other Arab country.

But the Christians became divided over loyalties to rival leaders, leaving
them marginalized during the latest crisis. Lebanese political scientist As'ad
Abu Khalil said the community now had "no significant role" in Lebanese
politics.

The presidency, a post reserved for them under Lebanon's sectarian political
system, has been vacant since November, depriving them of a platform to exercise
influence, Christian politicians say.

Members of the community, which is still dominant in business and finance,
hope that shunning violence during the latest upheaval will preserve the
Christians of Lebanon in the long run.

"The Christians will keep thriving by adopting non-violence. Hezbollah has
been exposed as a force ready to kill fellow Lebanese. Why doesn't it wait for
elections if it wants more power?" said Selim Mouzannar in his Ashrafieh
jewellery shop.

Aoun, who lost 11 members of his family during an attack by Palestinian
guerrillas on the town of Damur south of Beirut during the 15-year civil war,
said the latest violence would drive more Christians to leave Lebanon.

"If I was younger I would emigrate myself. Hezbollah has the numerical
superiority and the Christians are too divided. But the Christians can still
advance by not making an enemy of the Shi'ites," said Aoun, who owns a
restaurant in Ashrafieh.

During the civil war, Christian Maronites were at one stage allied to Syria,
but then switched allegiance to Israel. When the war ended in 1990, Christians
emerged with diminished political powers.

Inter-communal divisions deepened after former army commander Michel Aoun
allied with Hezbollah in 2006 in opposition to the governing coalition which is
composed of Druze, Sunni and Christian politicians, with a few Shi'ites.

In the Christian Gemaizeh district, life returned largely to normal on
Thursday.

"Lebanon is the Gate of the East because of its Christians, but it is time to
realize Shi'ite ascendancy. They have the numerical superiority," said Francois
Bassil, owner of Le Chef restaurant.

"We better not repeat mistakes of the civil war and ally with foreign
powers," he said. "By the time foreign help comes we will be under the
knife."