CV NEWS FEED // The Israeli offensive that began on September 23 has thrown Lebanon into a crisis, straining the country with hundreds of thousands of displaced people and straining Christian/Muslim relations.
Beyond the urgent need to relocate displaced individuals, Lebanon faces severe challenges concerning food security, healthcare, and the continuation of the school year for students at public and private institutions. AsiaNews reported that the crisis has led to widespread expropriation and illegal occupation of properties, including educational facilities, worsening tensions between displaced Shiite communities and their Christian hosts and raising fears of instability.
In response to these tensions, Sheikh Ali el-Jhatib, vice-president of the Shia High Council, publicly criticized the language used by Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Beshara Raï in a recent sermon, where Raï called for public schools used to shelter displaced families to be “liberated” and returned to their educational purpose.
The term sparked controversy, with critics interpreting it as an intent to forcibly remove displaced families. However, sources close to the cardinal clarified that his words were misinterpreted, assuring that the cardinal meant that “alternative accommodation must be found” before displacing families from schools, according to AsiaNews. The Maronite Patriarchate emphasized that responsibility for finding such alternatives lies with everyone.
Many schools, including those operated by religious communities, have been occupied by displaced Shiite individuals.
The Saint-Vincent de Paul school in Beirut, run by the Daughters of Charity, and a school managed by the Sisters of Saint Joseph de l’Apparition, have been taken over by Shiite families fleeing violence, according to AsiaNews.
The panic among the displaced reportedly worsened after the Israeli army’s evacuation order targeting Beirut’s southern suburbs. Along with Catholic schools, Greek Orthodox and secular schools have also been occupied.
Reports indicate that facilities, including the principal’s office at Saint-Vincent de Paul, were overrun, and some nuns were forced out of their living quarters. Despite the disruption, school staff and nuns have continued to assist the displaced, although the occupation has prevented around 800 families from sending their children to school.
Patriarch Raï warned that the issue of displaced people, if not managed, would lead to significant social and economic challenges, stressing the need to protect both private property and social coexistence.
AsiaNews reported that the situation is further exacerbated by incidents like the blockade of illegal construction in Lassa, a Shia-majority village in Jbeil, and resistance to evacuation orders for a hotel on Beirut’s Hamra Street. In the northern suburb of Dékouané, Christian leaders expressed concerns about a potential security zone forming around Hezbollah, noting the presence of sandbags intended for water tank installations, which heightened fears among local residents.
The Druze community has reportedly taken proactive steps to manage these tensions.
On November 2, Druze leaders, including Sheikh Akl, Walid Joumblatt, and Talal Arslan, convened in Baadaran, Chouf, to establish guidelines for hosting displaced people and to emphasize the importance of security and hospitality. Sheikh Akl assured cooperation with security forces and the army to maintain stability, while Jumblatt recognized the likelihood of a prolonged conflict and called for maximizing services to both displaced persons and residents.
Shia Muslims are a significant group in Lebanon, though they are not an outright majority of the entire population. Lebanon has a diverse religious composition, with Shia Muslims, Sunni Muslims, and Christians being the largest groups. Shia Muslims are estimated to be one of the largest single sects within the country, particularly influential in the southern regions, the Bekaa Valley, and parts of Beirut.
Shia Islam is one of the two main branches of Islam, distinguished by belief in the succession of leadership after the Prophet Muhammad.
Hezbollah is a political and militant organization in Lebanon with strong Shia Muslim roots. Formed in the early 1980s during the Lebanese Civil War, it was initially established with support from Iran to resist Israeli occupation in southern Lebanon. Hezbollah represents many within the Shia Muslim community in Lebanon and has grown into a significant political force, holding seats in the Lebanese parliament and wielding considerable influence in Lebanese politics.
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