The Sunni-Shi‘i Struggle over Lebanon: A New Chapter in the History of Lebanon

Abstract

In early May 2008, Shi‘i fighters of Hizbullah took control of West Beirut, the largest and most important Sunni center in Lebanon. This development raised a fierce storm, both within the country and throughout the Arab world. Several days later, when their demands were met by their Sunni opponents, led by the Hariri family, the Hizbullah fighters evacuated the Sunni neighborhoods they had previously occupied. The demands included strengthening the Shi‘i status within the Lebanese political system and granting them veto power over the decisions of the Lebanese government. Despite the withdrawal from West Beirut, the political storm did not die down, however.¹