Lebanon

Lebanon (in Arabic, لبنان‎ Lebnān), officially the Republic Lebanon (in Arabic, الجمهوريّة اللبنانيّة‎ Al-Ŷumhūriya Al-Lebnāniya), is a country in the eastern Nearby it limits to the south with Israel and to the north and east with Syria, and is bathed by the Mediterranean Sea to the west. In the cities of Baalbek, Tire and Byblos there are the oldest preserved Roman temples and Phoenician sanctuaries. The official language is the Arabic language, since it is the language most spoken by the citizens of Lebanon. It has one of the highest Human Development Index in the region, being the seventh highest in the Arab world. It is a country highly influenced by many cultures and this is reflected in the diversity of architecture and society. In Beirut there is the architectural influence typical of Arab countries, with large mosques for the Muslim population, and at the same time, with large churches, both for Orthodox and Maronites, and with modern skyscrapers.

Jupiter Temple in Baalbek.

It was part of the Ottoman Empire from 1516 until 1918, when it collapsed at the end of World War I. Later, the five provinces that constitute modern Lebanon were under the French Mandate. The French expanded the borders of the Maronite and Druze-populated Mount Lebanon Governorate to include more Muslims. Lebanon gained independence in 1943, establishing a unique political system, Confessionalism, a type of consociativism between religious communities. Bechara El Khoury, the first President of Lebanon, Riad Al-Solh, the first Prime Minister of Lebanon, and Emir Majid Arslan II, the Prime Minister of Defense, are considered to be the three founders of the modern Republic of Lebanon and national heroes for having achieved independence.. Foreign troops withdrew completely from the country on December 31, 1946. Until the 1970s, Lebanon was the financial center of the Middle East, earning it the nickname the Switzerland of the Near East. However, its economic importance disintegrated with the Lebanese civil war of 1975-1990, which destroyed the political balance. Since 1973 it has been a member of the International Organization of la Francophonie.

By mid-2006, the country had regained a considerable degree of stability and development, the reconstruction of Beirut was almost complete, and an increasing number of tourists were returning to the country. However, in the summer of 2006, the month-long war in Lebanon between the Israeli army and Hezbollah, which caused large numbers of civilian casualties and significant damage to the country's infrastructure. A ceasefire was reached on 14 August following a UN Security Council call for an end to hostilities.

Since then, the country has experienced almost constant instability, due to wars and internal or external conflicts (conflicts in nearby countries such as Syria, Israel or Palestine). Despite this, its capital Beirut is once again one of the largest and most modern financial, economic and commercial centers, and one of the most avant-garde and westernized cities in the Middle East. Lebanon is a very unequal country, where the richest 1% own 40% of the wealth.

History

Map of Fenicia.

Lebanon, heir to Phoenicia and a historic melting pot of Christian and Muslim communities, was occupied by the Ottoman Empire in the 16th century. The death of 12,000 Christians in the war between them and the Druze in 1860 prompted the landing of French troops to protect the Maronite Christians. After the Turkish defeat in the First World War, the protectorate of France lasted until 1943, the year in which the country was constituted as a State (although it had proclaimed its independence on November 26, 1941, but it was not recognized for two years). later). In 1946 French troops left Lebanon.

In 1958, civil war broke out between pan-Arab Muslims influenced by Egyptian President Nasser and forces from the Lebanese government of Christian Camille Chamoun, at whose request US troops landed in Beirut.

In 1970 the PLO settled in Beirut, expelled from Jordan, and increased attacks on Israel from southern Lebanon.

In 1975, the Lebanese civil war began between the Christian Maronite and Muslim communities, when Christian Phalangist forces attacked Palestinian PLO guerrillas. In 1976, after the increase in the killings (of Palestinians by Christian forces in Karantina and Tel el-Za'atar, and of Christians by Palestinian forces in Damour), the Arab League peacekeepers intervened. with thirty thousand soldiers, at the request of the Lebanese Parliament during the presidency of Suleiman Frangieh; they occupied the whole country except the extreme south and then withdrew leaving the Syrian army in charge. With Operation Litani in 1978, the Israeli army invaded southern Lebanon and occupied an area of 700 km². Balance: 1,186 civilian deaths, 285,000 displaced, 82 towns deeply affected and 6 totally destroyed. The same year the United Nations sent a multinational force, UNIFIL, to southern Lebanon; the Syrian army shelled the Christian sector of Beirut (East Beirut). Between 1980 and 1981 clashes between Israeli forces, Israeli-backed Lebanese militias and the PLO increased in the south of the country.

In 1982 Israel invaded southern Lebanon to expel the PLO guerrillas, led by Yasir Arafat, attacking Syrian forces in the Bekaa Valley and besieging the Muslim sector of Beirut (West Beirut); American, French, and Italian forces were stationed in the capital to assist in the evacuation of some eleven thousand PLO members; After the departure of international troops from Beirut, the Israeli army occupied the Muslim sector of the city (West Beirut) and the Israelis allowed the entry of Christian Phalangist forces that carried out the massacres in the Palestinian refugee camps of Sabra and Shatila (Beirut), forcing the Israeli withdrawal from West Beirut and the return of American, French and Italian forces. Operation Peace for the Galilee and the siege of Beirut caused nearly twenty thousand Lebanese and Palestinian civilian deaths and half a million displaced persons. In May 1983, Israel and Lebanon reached an agreement to withdraw Israeli troops. Finally, in May 2000, Israel unilaterally withdrew all its troops from southern Lebanon, trusting that UNIFIL would prevent future Hezbollah attacks on its territory.

The Lebanese government failed to enforce UN Security Council resolution 1559 which mandated it disarm Lebanese armed militias and seize control of its southern border, controlled by Hezbollah to protect the border with Israel. In July 2006, after a border incursion by Hezbollah into Israeli territory that resulted in the death of eight Israeli soldiers and the capture of two more, the Israeli-Lebanese crisis of 2006 took place with the bombing of a large part of the infrastructure of the country destroying much of it and an armed response by Hezbollah with weapons provided by Iran and Syria on the cities of northern Israel, once again making clear the interference of foreign military forces in internal Lebanese affairs.

Citing Lebanese government data, on August 6, UNHCR reported that 550,000 displaced people have been taken in by families, 130,000 are in makeshift shelters, and nearly 200,000 have crossed the border into Syria. a serious economic crisis. In August, a UN resolution decides to increase the multinational force UNIFIL and an agreement is reached to cease violence with the economy and infrastructure destroyed and some 1,271 Lebanese dead.

Lebanon suffered terrorist attacks that left 43 fatalities and 200 injured, after the explosion of two bombs in the Burj al-Barajneh area (Beirut), a Shiite and Hezbollah stronghold. The attack has been claimed by Daesh, against which Lebanon is fighting in neighboring Syria.

On August 4, 2020, two explosions in a warehouse with 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate in the Port of Beirut left more than 135 dead, 5,000 injured, and several missing. Due to strong protests over the precarious situation the country's economy, due to corruption and explosions, the entire Lebanese government resigned on August 10, 2020. Currently the country is submerged in a deep political, economic and social crisis, with a shortage of food products and lack of energy resources, experiencing one of the toughest situations in the short but intense history of the Lebanese state.

On September 10, 2021, after 13 months without a government, the Sunni businessman Nayib Mikati seized power from the Lebanese government, with the aim of finding a solution to the country's economic crisis and curbing the serious shortages of fuel and electricity that the country has. One of the first measures of the new government was the negotiation of a package of economic aid with the International Monetary Fund.

Politics and Government

The Republic of Lebanon is still governed by the 1926 Constitution, later amended and thoroughly revised in 1990 by the UN. Under the Constitution, the Assembly of Representatives (Majlis al-Nuwab in Arabic, "Le Parlement" in French) is the legislative body. It is elected for five-year terms by the Lebanese people through universal suffrage. The Assembly of Representatives is multi-religious.

Building of the City of Beirut or the Lebanese capital

Executive power rests with the President of the Lebanese Republic, who appoints the Prime Minister and the other members of the Cabinet, who is the one who exercises said function, reserving broad powers to the President of the Republic.

By law, the position of President of the Republic must always be held by a Maronite Christian, the position of Prime Minister by a Sunni, and the position of President of the Assembly of Representatives by a Shiite, so that no minority of the country may be discriminated against by the government.

The symbol of the country is the cedar, whose forests covered all of Lebanon in ancient times and whose wood was one of the main export products already in Phoenician times. The cedar solitarily presides over both the flag and the national shield.

Legal System

There are 18 officially recognized religious groups in Lebanon, each with its own family law legislation and its own set of religious courts.

The Lebanese legal system is partly based on the French system, and is a civil law country, with the exception of matters related to personal status (inheritance, marriage, divorce, adoption, etc.), which are governed by a set of independent laws designed for each sectarian community. For example, Islamic personal status laws are inspired by sharia. For Muslims, these courts deal with matters of marriage, divorce, custody and probate, and wills. For non-Muslims, personal status jurisdiction is divided: inheritance and wills law falls under national civil jurisdiction, while Christian and Jewish religious courts have jurisdiction over marriage, divorce and custody. In addition, Catholics can appeal to the Vatican Rota tribunal.

The Lebanese Parliament at the Place de l'Étoile in Beirut.

The most notable set of codified laws is the Code des Obligations et des Contrats promulgated in 1932 and equivalent to the French Civil Code. Capital punishment could still be applied to punish certain crimes, but in practice it is no longer applied.

The Lebanese judicial system consists of three levels: courts of first instance, courts of appeal, and a court of cassation. The Constitutional Council decides on the constitutionality of electoral laws and fraud. There is also a system of religious courts with jurisdiction over matters of personal status within their own communities, with rules on matters such as marriage and inheritance.

In 1990, article 95 was amended to provide that parliament will take the necessary steps to abolish the political structure based on religious affiliation, but that until then only the highest positions in the civil service, including the judiciary, the army, security forces and public and mixed institutions, will be divided equally between Christians and Muslims without taking into account the affiliation or confessional division within each community.

Human Rights

In terms of human rights, regarding membership of the seven bodies of the International Bill of Human Rights, which include the Human Rights Committee (HRC), Lebanon has signed or ratified:

Status of major international human rights instruments

Lebanon	International treaties
	CESCR		CCPR			CERD	CED	CEDAW		CAT		CRC			MWC	CRPD
	CESCR	CESCR-OP	CCPR	CCPR-OP1	CCPR-OP2-DP			CEDAW	CEDAW-OP	CAT	CAT-OP	CRC	CRC-OP-AC	CRC-OP-SC		CRPD	CRPD-OP
Pertenence
Signed and ratified, signed, but not ratified, neither signed nor ratified, without information, it has agreed to sign and ratify the body concerned, but also recognizes the competence to receive and process individual communications from the competent bodies.

Embassy of Lebanon in Paris, France

Foreign Policy

Lebanon's foreign policy reflects its geographic location, the composition of its population, and its dependence on trade. Until 2005, Lebanese foreign policy had been heavily influenced by Syria. The framework for relations was first codified in May 1991, when Lebanon and Syria signed a mutual cooperation treaty. This treaty grew out of the Taif Agreement, which stipulated that "Lebanon is linked to Syria by distinctive ties that derive from the strength of kinship, history and common interests." The Lebanon-Syria treaty calls for "coordination and cooperation between the two countries" that serves the "interests of the two countries within the framework of the sovereignty and independence of each one". Numerous agreements on political, economic and security matters. After the military withdrawal from Syria in 2005, Lebanese foreign policy charted a more independent course.

Lebanon concluded negotiations for an association agreement with the European Union at the end of 2001, and the agreement was initialed by both parties in January 2002. It is included in the European Union's European Neighborhood Policy (ENP), whose objective is to bring the EU and its neighbors closer together. Lebanon also has bilateral trade agreements with several Arab states and is working to join the World Trade Organization.

Lebanon is one of the main Mediterranean beneficiaries of Community aid and the EU, through its various instruments, is the main donor to Lebanon. Since 2007, financial support has been channeled through the European Neighborhood and Partnership Instrument. The EU has adopted a National Strategy Paper for Lebanon 2007-2013 and a National Indicative Program 2007-2010. The assistance provided was redirected after the Second Lebanon War to dedicate itself to really helping the government and society in the reconstruction and reform of the country.

Embassy of Ukraine in Beirut, Lebanon

Lebanon maintains good relations with virtually all other Arab countries (despite historical tensions with Libya and Syria), and in March 2002 hosted an Arab League Summit for the first time in more than 35 years. Lebanon is a member of the countries of the Francophonie and hosted the Summit of the Francophonie in October 2002, as well as the Jeux de la Francophonie in 2009.

Border disputes

In 2010, Israel discovered huge natural gas fields off its coast in the Mediterranean Sea. Although Israel's find is within its territorial exclusive economic zone, the dispute stems from the possibility that the gas field could extend as far as the Lebanese border. A general principle in such a situation is the capture rule, according to which each party can extract as much as it can from its side. Israel has already begun exploration and construction on its side, while the Lebanese authorities have yet to officially demarcate their exclusive economic zone or start a process to attract bids for exploration rights. Lebanese Energy Minister Gebran Bassil warned that Lebanon would not allow Israel or any company "serving Israeli interests" drill gas "which is in our territory". Beirut had previously warned the US company Noble Energy not to approach its territory. In response, Israeli Infrastructure Minister Uzi Landau warned Lebanon that Israel was prepared to use force to protect gas reserves discovered off its coast.

Lebanon and Israel maritime claims before the 2022 Agreement

On August 17, 2010, the Lebanese Parliament passed a law authorizing the exploration and drilling of offshore oil and gas fields. The law provided for the creation of a treasury and a committee to oversee exploration and drilling. President Nabih Berri's adviser, Ali Hamdan, said he expected the rights to go up for auction by the end of 2011. "It is certainly a cornerstone of Lebanese oil policy... and will help Lebanon divide their reserves in blocks and, over time, to call tenders and begin to study power-sharing agreements".

Negotiations on the dispute, sponsored by the UN and mediated by the United States, began on October 12, 2020 and led to an agreement resolving the maritime border dispute between Israel and Lebanon, signed on October 27, 2022.

Defense

The sovereignty of the country is guaranteed according to the constitution by the Lebanese Armed Forces (FAL), which has 72,000 active personnel, of which 1,100 belong to the Air Force and 1,000 to the Navy.

The main missions of the Lebanese Armed Forces include the defense of Lebanon and its citizens against external aggression, the maintenance of internal stability and security, the fight against threats against the vital interests of the country, the participation in activities of social development and carrying out relief operations in coordination with public and humanitarian institutions.

The LAF is an all-volunteer force. The three branches are directed and coordinated by the Commander of the LAF; a position usually held by a Maronite Catholic Christian, from the defense ministry which is located in Yarzeh, east of the Lebanese capital, Beirut. The current Commander-in-Chief of the Lebanese Armed Forces is General Joseph Aoun. Today, the Lebanese Armed Forces ranks sixth in the world in terms of growth, with the number of military personnel having doubled in the period from 1985 to 2000. The country has six military schools and colleges. Lebanese officers are sent to other countries such as the United States, Russia, or other parts of Europe for additional training.

A Lebanese Armed Forces helicopter

LAF equipment is outdated due to lack of funds, political disputes and, until the 2000s, the presence of foreign forces. The Lebanese government is working with its partners to improve the capabilities of the armed forces. Following the conclusion of the Lebanese civil war, the LAF decided to repair as much material as possible, while being helped by modest donations from other states. The United States remains a key partner for Lebanon in this process of improvement. About 85% of the LAF's equipment is American-made, while the rest is British, French, and Soviet-made.

During the period of the semi-autonomous province of the Mutasarrifate of Mount Lebanon, between 1861 and 1914, the province reportedly had its own army of volunteer militias, which drew the attention of a traveler in 1914, who stated: &# 34;the free and independent demeanor of these highlanders stood in stark contrast to that of the underpaid, underfed and poorly clothed recruits of the [Turkish] regular army".

The beginnings of the modern Lebanese Army date back to 1916, when the French government created the "Legion d'Orient", which included Lebanese soldiers. Following the establishment of a League of Nations mandate over Lebanon After World War I, in April 1920, France formed the Army of the Levant, which was later reorganized into the Troupes Spéciales du Levant (Special Troops of the Levant). These troops were diverse units made up of Lebanese, Syrian, Circassian, North African, French, Kurdish and Senegalese enlisted personnel, all commanded predominantly by French officers. In 1938, the Troupes Speciales numbered 10,000 troops and 306 officers, of whom only 88 were French.

Following Lebanon's independence in 1943, the Lebanese government formed an official delegation in 1944 to negotiate with the French the terms regarding the handover of the LAF. After almost three weeks of talks, the Franco-British joint command decreed that responsibility for the armed units under French control would pass to the Independent Government of Lebanon. These units were part of the Troupes Spéciales du Levant and numbered some 3,000 men. On August 1, 1945, at 00:00, the LAF became fully dependent on the Lebanese National Government; this day is commemorated annually as Lebanese Army Day.

Territorial organization

Provinces and governorates of Lebanon

Lebanon is divided into eight governorates (muḥāfaẓāt, sing. muḥāfaẓa); Since July 1, 2003, the country has two new provinces, Baalbeck-Hermel in eastern Lebanon and Akkar in northern Lebanon, adding the total of the eight mentioned, which in turn are divided into 25 spend.

• Akkar
• Baalbeck-Hermel
• Beirut
• Beqaa Valley
• Lebanon-North
• Lebanon-South
• Mount Lebanon
• Nabatiye

Geography

Lebanon ' s topographic map distinguishing the four areas of the country: the coast; the mountain range of Lebanon that runs from northeast to southwest; the Beka valley that separates it from the following easternmost mountain range, already shared with neighbouring Syria, that of the Anti-Lebanon; and this.

Lebanon is a state in the Middle East, west of Asia, located along the Mediterranean Sea, which bathes its western shores. To the north and east, Lebanon gives way to the semi-desert lands of Syria, and to the south the country's narrow border meets the borders of Israel.

View of the coast of Lebanon

Basically, the Lebanese relief, quite mountainous, can be divided into three large structural units, which follow one another from west to east; first, a fairly narrow coastal strip, where limestone population centers with a maximum altitude of more than 3000 m above sea level settle; second, the Bekaa syncline depression; and finally, the Anti-Lebanon mountain range, which constitutes the natural border with Syria. A series of terraces formed in the Pleistocene rise up to 100 meters above sea level along the coastal strip. The Lebanese mountain range, higher in the north than in the south, reaches its maximum altitude, and that of the entire country, at Kurnat as-Sauda (3,088 m). The Anti-Lebanon, further east, rises to 2,814 m in its southern extension. Both ranges are dominated by Mesozoic Jurassic and Cretaceous limestones, since they formed a single system that was divided in two by the formation process of the Great Rift Valley. The sunken part corresponds to the Bekaa depression, and extends between 800 and 1200 m altitude.

Climate

The Qadisha Valley is a World Heritage Site.

The climate of Lebanon is influenced by two factors: the relief and the proximity or distance from the sea. Therefore, a coastal climate is distinguished, quite arid and temperate, with clearly Mediterranean characters, a mountain climate and an arid and dry climate, further east. In Beirut, the annual rainfall ranges between 800 and 900 mm, and the average temperatures for January and August are 14.4 °C and 25.6 °C, respectively, and on the western slopes of the Lebanon mountain range they reach the 2000 mm per year. The syncline trench is much drier, with less than 400 mm of rainfall per year. The coastline has a Mediterranean climate with mild winters and long, hot summers. In Beirut the temperature ranges between 23° and 32°C in August and 11° and 17°C in January. In the mountains, winters are cold, with frequent frosts.

Vegetation and hydrography

Lebanese cedar in the forest of the cedars of God.

Forest covers 0.7% of the country's total area. The vegetation is typically desert in the coastal strip and also, in general, in the low-lying regions; Depending on the type of soil, maquis or garrigue predominate. Fir and cedar are found in some montane spots between 10 and 20 m, with beech, fir and cedar in the northern mountains; lush pine and holm oak forests cover the slopes of the southern mountains.

According to WWF, the territory of Lebanon is divided between two Mediterranean forest ecoregions based on altitude: the eastern Mediterranean forest in the lower areas and the southern Anatolian montane forest in the higher areas.

Regarding hydrography, rivers generally have a torrential regime; the two most important in the country, the Leontes Litani and the Orontes Assi, have perennial waters and a large volume.

Economy

Lebanese artisan in Tripoli

Agriculture is of the Mediterranean type —vines, olive trees, wheat, barley, fruit, vegetables, beetroot and tobacco— and accounts for 12% of its GDP. Livestock and fishing have little weight and the valuable cedar forests have been reduced. It has a textile industry and oil refineries. The services sector, with commerce as the main activity, generates 67% of GDP. The trade balance is very deficient due to low resources and the bulky foreign debt. In June 2009, it was reported that the new government of Lebanon will have to deal with its large external debt. However, Lebanon has a high proportion of skilled labor, similar to that of Europe, which makes it the highest among the Arab countries. The capital of the country was badly affected by the civil war. Considered at the time as a financial center in the region, it is currently undergoing a major reconstruction process and receives a large amount of foreign aid.

The economic crisis experienced by the country since 2019 has increased poverty among the Lebanese. According to a United Nations report, before the crisis, 30% of the citizens of Lebanon lived below the poverty line, figures that increased to 78% in 2021.

Agriculture

Agriculture is the least popular economic sector, attracting only 12% of the total workforce, contributing a small part of the country's GDP. Lebanon is in an enviable position for agriculture compared to its neighbors in terms of water availability and soil fertility. In fact, Lebanon has the highest proportion of arable land of any Arab country, allowing for a wide variety of crops. The main crops are fruits and vegetables, tobacco, olives and wheat.

Olive fields in Lebanon

In the 1970s, agriculture contributed about 30% of Lebanon's GDP, in 2017 it only contributed 5.7% (or about $2.5 billion), agricultural production even decreased by 12% between 1970 and 2008, while that of the European Union in the same period increased by 562%). This decline is probably attributable to the Lebanese civil war during the period 1975-1990 and the lack of competitiveness of the country's agriculture, due to the lack of sufficient financing from the State (agriculture receives less than 1% of the national budget in 2015).

Agriculture in Lebanon dates back to Phoenician times and the first commercial activities took place in the eastern Mediterranean. The wine tradition, with 5,000 years of history in the region, was a recognized skill for its ancient inhabitants. The Phoenicians cultivated vineyards, produced wine and exported a significant amount of product to neighboring countries such as Egypt, Greece and Assyria. Although commercial activity was active during this period, agriculture was not their main source of wealth, since most of the of the land was not arable; therefore, they concentrated on trade. However, they raised sheep and sold their wool.

During Arab rule in the Middle Ages, the country experienced an economic boom during which the Lebanese ports of Tire and Tripoli were dedicated to the transport of industrial and agricultural products. Lebanese products were in demand not only in Arab countries, but also throughout the Mediterranean basin. This period of economic growth was later stifled by the advent of Ottoman rule and heavy taxes on Lebanese production.

Industry

Lebanon lacks natural raw materials and is dependent on Arab countries for oil and the establishment of profitable productive industries, thus the focus of Lebanon's manufacturing and relocation of imported products. In 2004 the industrial sector was 26% of the labor force and has contributed to 21% of the GDP. Of the most important industries: the food industry, textiles, chemical products, cement, wood products, metal, jewelry, petroleum refining, and there are other natural resources such as limestone, iron ore, and salt.

Tourism

Beach in Biblos

The tourism industry accounts for around 10% of GDP. Lebanon managed to attract around 1,333,000 tourists in 2008, thus ranking 79 out of 191 countries. In 2009, The New York Times ranked Beirut as the number one tourist destination in the world due to its nightlife and hospitality. In January 2010, the Ministry of Tourism announced that 1,851,081 tourists had visited Lebanon in 2009, 39% more than in 2008. In 2009, Lebanon hosted the highest number of tourists to date, eclipsing the country's previous record set before the Lebanese Civil War. Tourist arrivals reached two million in 2010 but fell 37% during the first 10 months of 2012, a decline caused by the war in neighboring Syria. Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Japan are the three most popular source countries for foreign tourists to Lebanon. The recent influx of Japanese tourists has caused the recent rise in popularity of Japanese cuisine in Lebanon.

The main tourist places are:

• Anjar: the ancient city of Omeya, the only one in present Lebanon, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Ruins of the Grand Palace, the Mosque and the Small Palace.
• Baalbek: ancient Phoenician city, the Romans called it Heliopolis. It is registered in the UNESCO World Heritage List for its extraordinary Roman ruins: the Great Citadel, the Bacchus Temple (God of the Vine), the Temple of Venus, the Jupiter Temple dedicated to three divinities (Hadad, Atargatis, his wife and Mercury, his son).
• Batroun: castle of the Crusaders (force of Mseilha), ancient port, walls of the Phoenician era, amphitheater and Roman racetracks, ancient graves.
• 

  Sidon Castle built by the Crusaders in 1228
  Bcharré: city of Gibran Khalil Gibran. Located in the mountains, at 1,400 m altitude, at the edge of the Kadisha valley. It is near the forest of ancient cedars of Lebanon. In Bcharré you can ski in the high snowy mountains and practice cross-country skiing on the wooded trails as well as paragliding in summer. The Gibran Museum exhibits its paintings (original). You can also see your tomb and a nearby Phoenician tomb. On the way to the Cedros ski resort, you can go through the Kadisha cave and admire the water abundance of the area.
• Beaufort: ancient cross castle built on a "nose of eagles" in southern Lebanon.
• Bechouate: Interreligious pilgrimage site since August 200440.
• Beiteddine: palace (end of the centuryXVIII), summer residence of the President of the Lebanese Republic, museums and gardens, which can be visited at any time.
• Ministry of Tourism in Deir El-Qamar.
• Beirut: The five Roman columns, the Roman baths and the public baths, the Byzantine mosaics now exhibited at the National Museum of Beirut, the Great Serail, the Ottoman Military Hospital, the Clock Tower, the Omar Mosque (known first as the Cathedral of St. John), Zawiyat ibn al-Arraq (1517), the mosque of the Emir67 Assaf (intower), the cathedral),
• Biblos (or Jbeil): an authentic archeological and touristic "joya", highlighting the "primitive wall" and the foundations of the temple of al-Shaped, the 9 royal tombs...
• 

  The Basilica of Saint Paul in Harissa was visited by Pope Benedict XVI in 2012
  Deir-el-Qamar: former capital of the emirate of Mount Lebanon, the village has preserved a remarkable quaint look, with typical stone houses. The village has been classified as a historical monument since 1945.
• Harissa (Jounieh): place of Christian pilgrimage. Huge statue of Our Lady of Lebanon or Our Lady of Lebanon, 1904, near a chapel and a cathedral, cable car.

• Hermel: in northern Lebanon, on the banks of the Orontes. High mountain sports activities.
• Jeita: extraordinary caves of 650 meters in length, on two levels.
• Jezzine: South Lebanon city. Former barn of the Phoenicians who hid their treasures during the wars, Jezzine is today the administrative and political center of a hunt that spreads over a wooded terrain. Stunning waterfall and local handicrafts.
• Mzaar Kfardebian: one of the largest villages in Lebanon. It extends from 600 m above sea level to 2,850 m and houses the ruins of Fakra, one of the largest ski slopes in the world (Mzaar). The water springs and the Wadi Salib transport us to the ancient Lebanese life.
• Marjayoun: old cross castle, the Beaufort Fortress.
• 

  Kadisha Valley View in Lebanon
  Sidon (Saida): one of the most famous cities-state of Fenicia. His story goes back to more than 4,000 years before Christ. Temple of Eshmoun (centuryVIa. C.), the medieval city, the Khan el-Franj, the Castle of the Sea, the Castle of San Luis.
• Panoramic view of Zahlé in Lebanon, view from Wadi Al Aarayesh.
• Tannourine: a region full of greenery and mountains with a cold climate in northern Lebanon.
• Tibnine: large castle, the Toron des Chevaliers, the main base of the FINUL in southern Lebanon.
• Tripoli: The citadel of San Gil, the church of San Juan, the Great Mosque (1294), the mosque of Taynal (en) (1336), the mosque of Al-Mualaq (midth centuryXVI), the Madrasa Mosque of Burtasiyat (centuryXIV), the hammam izz ed-Dine (1298) in restoration, the hammam el-Abed (sixteenth century)XVII), the hammam al-Yadid or "new bath" (1740), the zoco al-haraj (sixteenth century)XIV), the Lion Tower built in the centuryXV.
• Tyre: ancient city-state fenicia founded according to Herodoto in 2750 a. C. Declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Old Phoenician port, Roman and Byzantine highways, Necropolis, Roman racetracks, Roman aqueducts, walls.
• Kadisha Valley: the "Sacred Value", declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, is one of the main enclaves of Eastern Christianity. This rugged place is covered with monasteries, some of which date from the early times of Christianity.
• Zahle: capital of the Bekaa and probably the largest Christian city in the Near East. Famous for its gastronomy (his mezze). Restaurants on the banks of the Nahr el-Berdawni River. Statue of the Virgin with panoramic view of the plain of the Bekaa.

Services

Most of the major economic sectors in Lebanon are in the service sector and in certain tourism and banking sectors. His capitalist regime and bank secrecy law in place attracted capital from many. And the nature of the country's attractions and tourism and cultural activities make it a magnet for tourists and a special destination for tourists from the Arabian Gulf, even during crises. 65% of the workforce works in the service sector, this sector contributes to 67.3% of GDP. Affected the Lebanese economy, hard hit by the civil war that ended in 1990. The economy has improved rapidly, in 2006, it registered bank assets of more than $75 billion, it also registered an increase in tourists to 49.3% compared to 2005, reaching the value of investing in the market up to 10.9%, but the July 2006 attack destroyed Lebanon's economy, particularly the tourism sector, but that tourism returned to high levels since the summer of 2007.

Transportation

Airports

Rafic Hariri International Airport

The Rafic Hariri airport, (formerly known as Beirut International Airport) is the only commercial airport in the country, it is next to the port of Beirut the main gateways to Lebanon, it has various connections to Europe, Africa and Asia. It is the hub of Lebanon's national airline, Middle East Airlines (MEA). The Airport is modern and meets the demand of large companies in the world, it serves as a stopover for flights that come from the West and go to the Middle East or the Far East, approximately 4,085,334 transit through it according to a census carried out in 2008. Lebanon has few airports, some of them being military air bases

Ports

The ports of Beirut and Tripoli are the main maritime entrances to Lebanon. In 2009, it inaugurated a modern bay-type port in the city of Jounieh, near Beirut, mainly to accommodate tourist cruises. Previously the Port of Beirut was a mandatory hub for shipping lines serving the Eastern Mediterranean.

Roads

There are a total of 6,300 km of roads in Lebanon. In Beirut, Jounieh and the main cities of the country there are highways and wide and paved avenues, however in mountainous towns more distant from the capital there are faults in the state of the asphalted roads.

Railways

The first railway line was built in 1895, when the country belonged to the Ottoman Empire, it established a connection between Beirut and Damascus. In 1906 a second line was built, running from Riayk to Aleppo. The railway line was destroyed during the Lebanese Civil War, the last train trip was made in 1977. Since the end of the civil war they want to recover the railway network, but so far nothing has been done.

View of Zahle a Christian majority city in Lebanon

Demographics

Lebanon has been a land of welcome for persecuted minorities such as the Armenians (4%) and the Palestinians (9.5%), the latter settled in refugee camps. After the start of the Syrian Civil War, Lebanon was one of the countries that absorbed the largest refugee population, increasing the percentage of the Muslim population in the country. According to the Lebanese government, around 1,500,000 Syrians currently live in Lebanon.

90.1% of Lebanese live in coastal cities. More than a million and a half people live in Beirut. Currently, the majority of Lebanese live outside their country.

Lebanese Diaspora

Millions of people of Lebanese origin are spread throughout the world, mostly Christians, especially in Latin America. Brazil is the country with the largest population of Lebanese expatriates in the world. Followed by other American countries such as the United States, El Salvador, Honduras, Argentina, Colombia, Mexico, Venezuela, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Paraguay among others. A large number of Lebanese who emigrated to West Africa, especially in Costa Ivory Coast (home to over 100,000 Lebanese) and Senegal (some 30,000 Lebanese) are part of the same diaspora.

The Cathedral of San Marón built by Lebanese immigrants in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Some English-speaking countries have Lebanese among their citizens and minorities as one of the most numerous; in that case Australia stands out, which is home to more than 270,000 Lebanese. Some French-speaking countries like France have more than 250,000 Lebanese citizens. Quebec, the French-speaking province of Canada, is home to the largest community of Lebanese within the limits of Canada and in Belgium and Switzerland with 7,000 and 5,800 respectively.

Other countries like Ecuador also have a significant population and had two former presidents of Lebanese origin, Abdalá Bucaram and Jamil Mahuad, Miss Ecuador Constanza Báez Jalil, and former vice president Alberto Dahik. The Dominican Republic also had two presidents of Lebanese origin, Jacobo Majluta and the current president Luis Abinader, among other personalities in the country. Among the Argentines of Lebanese origin, the actor Ricardo Darín and the textile businesswoman and former first lady Juliana Awada stand out. Colombia also had a former president of Lebanese origin Julio César Turbay and a singer of Lebanese descent, the singer Shakira. Among the famous Mexicans of Lebanese origin are the billionaire Carlos Slim, the Mexican actor and singer Antonio Badú, the actress and film director Salma Hayek and the actor Mauricio Férez Yázbek, known as Mauricio Garcés.

Languages

Article 11 of the Lebanese Constitution states that “Arabic is the official language of the country. A law determines the cases in which French will be used." Most Lebanese use the Lebanese dialect of Arabic, known as Lebanese Arabic, while Modern Standard Arabic is used mostly in the press and broadcast media. officers. Also, many Lebanese are fluent in French, which is the language of culture and communication. English has already become the most important and widespread language among young people. Spanish is also present but with less than 1% of the population, and is spoken basically by emigrants to Spanish-speaking countries and/or their descendants who have returned to the country. 4% of the population speaks Armenian because there is a minority of that origin. Thanks to the financial markets established in Lebanon, the nation has been characterized as a highly commercial country, where the knowledge of several foreign languages is usual in the upper and middle circles of the population and for this reason 45% of the Lebanese speak French. Recent government studies show that bilingual Arabic-French speakers make up 28.9% of the population. Thus, it can be said that Lebanon is a trilingual country, where Arabic is the native and vernacular language, French is the cultural language and English is the language used for foreign communications.

Mosque in Tripoli.

Religion

Two religions coexist in Lebanon: Christian and Muslim. There are no official data on a specific proportion of Muslims and Christians. The sources that mention this data are the following: some sources such as Euronews or the Spanish newspaper La Razón put the number of Christians at 53% (2012), The New York Times figures it at "more than 30%". Melchite, Armenian and Chaldean) and Orthodox. There are also Protestant, Armenian Orthodox and faithful communities of the Assyrian Church of the East. Finally, 6% are Druze. Extrapolating data from the 2018 general elections, a proportion of 63.6% Muslims (including Druze), 35.9% Christians and 0.5% Jews and others.

Maronite Catholic Cathedral of St. George, next to the Mosque Mohamed al Amin in Beirut

Lebanon is the most religiously diverse country in the Middle East. Based on 2014 figures, the CIA World Factbook estimates the following: Muslim 54% (27% Sunni, 27% Shiite), Christian 40.5% (includes 21% Maronite Catholic, 8% Greek Orthodox, 5% Melkite Catholic, 1% Protestant, 5.5% other Christian), Druze 5.6%, plus a very small number of Jews, Baha'is, Buddhists, Hindus, and Mormons. Extrapolating data from the 2018 general elections, the Lebanese population would be made up of 28.8% Sunnis, 28.4% Shiites, 19.5% Maronite Catholics, 6.9% Greek Orthodox, a 5.5% Druze, 4.6% Greek Catholics, 2.4% Armenian Orthodox, 0.8% Alawites and 3% other minorities. A study by the Information Center of the Lebanon and based on voter registration numbers shows that for 2011 the Christian population was stable compared to previous years, representing 34.35% of the population; Muslims, including Druze, were 65.47% of the population. The 2014 World Values Survey put the percentage of atheists in Lebanon at 3.3%.

It is believed that there has been a variation in the ratio of Christians to Muslims in the last 60 years, due to higher emigration rates of Christians and a higher birth rate in the Muslim population. When the last census was taken in 1932, Christians made up 53% of Lebanon's population. In 1956, the population was estimated to be 54% Christian and 44% Muslim. The arrival of Syrian refugees in the country has increased the percentage of Muslim population in the country. A study published in 2022 estimates that in 2010 there were 2,100 Christian converts from Islam.

A demographic study by the research firm Statistics Lebanon found that approximately 27% of the population was Sunni, 27% Shia, 21% Maronite, 8% Greek Orthodox, 5% Druze, 5% Melkite, and 1% Protestant., with the remaining 6% belonging mainly to smaller Christian denominations, not native to Lebanon.

Bellevue Medical Center in Lebanon

Health

In 2010, health spending represented 7.03% of the country's GDP. In 2009, there were 31.29 doctors and 19.71 nurses for every 10,000 inhabitants. Life expectancy at birth was 72.59 years in 2011, that is, 70.48 years for men and 74.80 years for the women.

At the end of the civil war, only a third of the country's public hospitals were functioning, each with an average of 20 beds. In 2009 the country had 28 public hospitals, with a total of 2,550 beds, while the country had approximately 25 public hospitals. In public hospitals, hospitalized patients without health insurance pay 5% of the bill, compared to 15% in private hospitals, and the Ministry of Public Health reimburses the rest. The Ministry of Public Health has contracts with 138 private hospitals and 25 public hospitals.

In 2011, there were 236,643 subsidized hospital admissions; 164,244 in private hospitals and 72,399 in public hospitals. Private hospitals receive more patients than public ones, because the supply of private beds is greater.

According to the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health, the 10 leading causes of hospital deaths reported in 2017 were: malignant neoplasm of the bronchus or lung (4.6%), acute myocardial infarction (3%), pneumonia (2, 2%), exposure to unspecified factor, unspecified site (2.1%), acute kidney injury (1.4%), intracerebral hemorrhage (1.2%), colonic malignancy (1.2%), malignant neoplasm of the pancreas (1.1%), malignant neoplasm of the prostate (1.1%), malignant neoplasm of the bladder (0.8%).

American University of Beirut

Recently, there has been an increase in foodborne illnesses in Lebanon. This has increased public awareness of the importance of food safety, including in the areas of food storage, preservation and preparation. More and more restaurants are seeking information and compliance with the International Organization for Standardization.

Education

The United Nations assigned Lebanon an education index of 0.871 in 2008. The index, determined by the adult literacy rate and the combined gross enrollment ratio in primary, secondary and tertiary education, ranked the country 88th in the world. 177 participating countries.

Islamic University of Tyre

All Lebanese schools must follow a prescribed curriculum designed by the Ministry of Education. Some of the 1,400 private centers offer IB programs[257], and can also add more courses to their curriculum with the approval of the Ministry of Education. The first eight years of education are, by law, compulsory[19].

Lebanon has forty-one nationally accredited universities, several of them internationally recognized. The American University of Beirut (AUB) and Saint Joseph University of Beirut (USJ) were the first Anglophone and the first Francophone universities to open in Lebanon, respectively. Universities in Lebanon, both public and private, also mostly operate in French or English.

The top-ranked universities in the country are the American University of Beirut (#242 worldwide, #2 in the Middle East in 2022), University of Balamand (#511 worldwide, #17 in the region), Lebanese American University (#581 worldwide, #17 in the region), Saint Joseph University of Beirut (531 in the world, 17 in the region), The Lebanese University (3,826 in the world) and the University of the Holy Spirit of Kaslik (600 in the world in 2020). The University of Notre Dame-Louaize NDU #701 in 2021.

Culture

The Bacchus Temple in Baalbek, built around 150 AD, is one of the best preserved Roman temples in the world.

Lebanon's culture has mainly Arab, Phoenician and Aramaic roots, with significant Western, mainly French, influence. Lebanon is a territory that has been inhabited by many peoples and cultures for thousands of years. The Lebanese technically come from many peoples (Phoenician, Assyrian, Greek, Roman, European, and Arab). The National Library is in the reconstruction phase after the last two wars.

Local culture reflects the legacy of various civilizations spanning thousands of years. Originally home to the Canaanite Phoenicians, and later conquered and occupied by the Assyrians, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Fatimids, Crusaders, Ottoman Turks, and more recently French and Lebanese culture has dominated millennia evolved borrowing from all of these groups. Lebanon's diverse population, made up of different ethnic and religious groups, has further contributed to the country's festivals, musical styles and literature, as well as cuisine. Despite the ethnic, linguistic, religious and denominational diversity of the Lebanese, they "share an almost common culture." Lebanese Arabic is universally spoken, while food, music and literature are deeply rooted "in broader Mediterranean and Levantine Arab norms"

Architecture

Lebanese architecture shows a strong Italian influence since the Renaissance. The sovereign Fachr ad-Dīn II (1572-1635) launched an ambitious development program for the country during this period. When the Ottomans sent Fachr ad-Dīn into exile in Tuscany in 1613, he sided with the Medici.

The Sursock Palace in Lebanon

After his return in 1618, he began to modernize Lebanon. It fostered the emergence of a silk industry, the expansion of olive oil production, and brought to the country many Italian engineers, who began to build mansions and residences everywhere. The cities of Beirut and Sidon, in particular, were built in the Italian style. These buildings, especially those at Dair al-Qamar, influenced the architectural style of Lebanon to this day. The appearance of many famous streets, such as Beirut's Gouraud Street, is characterized by historic houses in the Italian Renaissance style. One of the most striking recent examples of this style is the Sursock Museum building, built in the XIX.

Literature

In literature, Khalil Gibran is one of the best-selling poets of all time. He is particularly known for his book The Prophet (1923), which has been translated into more than twenty different languages and is the second best-selling book in the 20th century behind the Bible.

Ameen Rihani was an important figure in the mahjar literary movement developed by Arab emigrants in North America and an early theorist of Arab nationalism. Mikha'il Na'ima is widely recognized as one of the most important figures in modern Arabic letters and one of the most important spiritual writers of the century XX. Several contemporary Lebanese writers have also achieved international success; among them, Elias Khoury, Amin Maalouf, Hanan al-Shaykh and Georges Schehadé.

Gastronomy

A Lebanese Fatteh a popular dish in countries such as Egypt, Syria, Jordan and Lebanon

Lebanese gastronomy is the set of dishes and culinary customs of the inhabitants of Lebanon, this cuisine is extraordinarily diverse and has its own specialties adapted from the different countries around it. With fresh and tasty food, together with some spices, the Lebanese have adapted the best of Turkish and Arabic cuisine, seasoning it with a touch of French cuisine. Lebanese gastronomy mainly uses lamb meat, having among its best-known dishes in the world the diversity of Kibbeh, it is prepared raw, (Kibbeh nayeh) baked, fried, in various forms, the most common is stuffed Kibbeh, which It has an oval shape, it is stuffed with meat with onion and pine nuts.

The meze consists of a series of dishes that are ordered in restaurants, or served to receive visitors that consist of different vegetable creams such as chickpea (hummus), dry yogurt (labne), in some cases roasted paprika with walnuts, muhammara, which has some spiciness (Syrian heritage), and babaganoush, based on roasted aubergines. Additionally in the mezze there is raw meat, the famous Kibbeh nayeh which is lean fresh beef mixed with bulgur, salt and allspice to taste, it also includes salads such as tabuleh and fatush, kibbeh, roasted meats and various fried foods, among other things. It should be noted that Kibbeh is the national dish of Lebanon. Dolmas, stuffed vine leaves, stuffed zucchini, and a variety of dishes that contain rice and meat are also consumed. One of the most popular is the Maklube. Much of Lebanese cuisine is consumed with pita and labne bread.

Lebanese identity

Beyond the differences linked to the institutional and political importance of the communities, a set of structuring features common to the Lebanese can be identified: linguistic Arabity, political autonomy, common history and, for many of them, the French language.

Thus, the Lebanese entity finds its raison d'être in the experience of dialogue between religions. In times of globalization, it can offer a privileged meeting place between the West and the East and a cultural pluralism constituting a common heritage. The millennial search for Lebanese identity must, therefore, transcend disparate elements belonging to the same coherent group in order to guarantee this function of being a space for communication, autonomy, openness, influence, solidarity and "cultural resistance".

Lebanese writer Amin Maalouf has made "identity" the favorite subject of his essay Les Identités meurtrières. He describes identity as a panther that must be tamed through the principle of reciprocity. Finally, he recounts the dangers of the & # 34; identity vote & # 34; in democracy, which would only promote segregation between races and communities, and invites citizens and politicians to make identities coexist peacefully in a rich context and a common heritage.

In addition, regardless of their faith, Lebanese abroad are more aware of the ties that unite them and their common identity. The diaspora, active and influential, maintains privileged links with its origins, injecting money and knowledge, and is eager for Lebanese culture.

A Butcher representing the birth of Jesus and a Christmas Tree in Lebanon

Holidays and Festivals

Lebanon celebrates national holidays, both Christian and Muslim. Christian holidays are celebrated following both the Gregorian Calendar (the most used worldwide established by the Catholic Church) and the Julian Calendar (the most used in religious events in countries with an Orthodox Christian majority such as Russia or Greece). Orthodox Greeks (except at Easter), Catholics, various Protestant groups and Melkite Christians follow the Gregorian calendar and celebrate Christmas (the main Christian holiday) on December 25. Armenian Apostolic Christians celebrate Christmas on January 6, as they follow the Julian Calendar, which is out of step with the Gregorian Calendar. Muslim holidays are followed according to the Islamic lunar calendar.

Muslim festivals celebrated include Eid al-Fitr (the three-day festival at the end of the month of Ramadan), Eid al-Adha (the Feast of Sacrifice), which is celebrated during the annual pilgrimage to Mecca and it also commemorates what Muslims consider to be Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son to God, the Birth of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad, and Ashura (the Shiite Day of Mourning). National holidays in Lebanon include Workers' Day, Independence Day, and Martyrs' Day.

Music festivals, often held at historic sites, are a regular feature of Lebanese culture. Among the most famous are the Baalbeck International Festival, the Byblos International Festival, the Beiteddine International Festival, the Jounieh International, Broumana Festival, Batroun International Festival, Ehmej Festival, Dhour Chwer Festival and Tyr Festival. These festivals are promoted by the Lebanese Ministry of Tourism. Lebanon hosts some 15 concerts by international artists each year and ranks first in the Middle East in terms of nightlife and sixth in the world.

Music Festival in Beirut in 2015Fete de la Musique)

Music

The music of Lebanon has a long history. Beirut, the capital of Lebanon, has long been known, especially in the immediate post-World War II period, for its art and intellectualism. Several singers emerged at this time, among the most famous Fairuz, Sabah, Wadih El Safi, Nasri Shamseddine, Melhem Barakat, Majida El Roumi, Ahmad Kaabour, Marcel Khalife (activist folk singer and oud player) and Ziad Rahbani, who in addition to singer-songwriter and music composer was a popular playwright. Lydia Canaan was hailed by the media as the first Middle Eastern rock star.

During the fifteen years of civil war, most Lebanese music stars moved to Cairo or Paris, and Beirut's music scene didn't return until after 1992. Modern pop stars include Najwa Karam, Diana Haddad, Nawal Al Zoghbi, Elissa, Ragheb Alama, Walid Toufic, Wael Kfoury, Fares Karam, Amal Hijazi, Nancy Ajram, Melhem Zein, Fadel Shaker, Assi El Helani, Myriam Fares and Yara.

The Music Festival, which is held annually at the end of June, brings together the whole country in organized and spontaneous underground concerts.

Rock is very popular in Lebanon. During the Lebanese Civil War, rock, hard rock and heavy metal were very popular. Bands like Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Rolling Stones, Iron Maiden, and Scorpions were very popular. In 1978, the Rolling Stones booked a concert in Lebanon that sold out in five hours. The concert was cancelled, prompting many Lebanese rock fans to burn tires on the roads, blocking them in rage.

During the Lebanese Civil War, Lydia Canaan's initial performances under the stage name Angel were historically unprecedented on more than one front; Her career began with her risking her life to perform in the midst of enemy military attacks, her concerts were literally held in Lebanese neighborhoods that were being bombed simultaneously.

Former Roman Amphitheater in Biblos, Lebanon

Theater

The theater in Lebanon has its origins in passion plays. The musical works of Maroun Naccache, from the mid-19th century, are considered the birth of modern Arabic theater. Some scholars, such as Abdulatif Shararah, have divided Lebanese theater into three historical phases centered on 1) translations of European works, 2) Arab nationalism and 3) realism.

The dramatic representation of the Passion of Jesus Christ was a traditional practice during Lent among Christian communities in Lebanon. In addition, Passion plays, depicting the events of Karbala, were also common among the Shi'ites of Lebanon. Passion plays, whether Christian or Shi'ite, were events centered on the life of the village. In the villages, it was not uncommon for Christians to take supporting roles in Shi'a performances and vice versa.

The first theatrical production, a work by Maroun Naccache, was staged in Beirut in 1846. On a visit to Italy in late 1846, Maroun Naccache was introduced to the theater and, on his return to Lebanon, wrote an Arabic adaptation of L'Avare (Al Bakhil). The rise of theatrical productions is evident in the advertisements for plays and critical reviews that appeared in the publication of the art magazine Thamrat Al Funun beginning in 1875.

Ancient rectangular Roman theatre in Tyre, Lebanon

The works of Naccache paved the way. By the turn of the century, the theater became a "regular form of entertainment," overcoming the Church's initial objection to the dramatic arts. As part of the end of the academic year, Beirut's universities staged theater productions. In 1903, Julius Caesar was performed at the American University of Beirut, followed by Hamlet in 1905.

Most Lebanese theaters are based in the capital. Mansour Rahbani's sons carried on their father's tradition and have produced several musicals which have been staged in Baalbeck, Byblos and abroad.

In 2005, Nidal Al Achkar created the Al Madina Theater Association for Arts and Culture, renovating the Saroulla Cinema, built in the late 1960s on Hamra Street, and turning it into a multidisciplinary platform. The renovation Al Achkar's del Saroulla created hope among performers that other theaters on Hamra Street, such as the Piccadilly Theatre, would also be restored to their former splendor. The Al Madina Theater was recognized for bringing traces of high culture back to Hamra Street, which was the cultural center of Beirut before the war. In 2011, the Maqamat Dance Theater also opened on Hamra Street, providing a new space for contemporary dance and fostering a renaissance of Hamra's arts and culture scene.

The 20th anniversary was celebrated at the Al Madina Theater in 2016.

The Ministry of Culture also organized the first Lebanese National Theater Festival there in 2018, at the Al Madina Theatre.

Sports

Estadio Ciudad Deportiva Camille Chamoun

One of the most important winter sports is skiing, carried out in more than six mountain areas. In the flower of summer are marine activities (swimming, surfing, sailing) on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea and mountaineering and cave exploration. Other sports are: handball, soccer, tennis, basketball, volleyball, archery, rugby, cycling, athletics, marathon, table tennis, skiing, wrestling, horse riding, kickboxing, kung fu, karate, fencing, aikido, judo, taekwondo, chess, gymnastics, swimming, boxing, water skiing, weight lifting, badminton, sailing, shooting and fishing, rally, ice skating, hockey, diving and swimming in types, Tai Boxing Association, dance sports, golf course, squash, games like canoeing and sea kayaking, and card games like Alleja, Trnib, arbatage and bridge, dice games.