Lebanese Christians Stuck Between Mortal Enemies

Summary

The article describes Lebanon’s Christian minority, its constitutional role in the country’s power-sharing system, and the pressures it faces amid conflict, political polarization, economic collapse, and emigration. Lebanon reportedly has one of the Arab world’s largest Christian populations proportionally, with Christians holding the presidency under the sectarian power-sharing arrangement. However, the article says many Christians have been caught between Israeli military operations targeting Hezbollah and Hezbollah’s armed presence and political influence. It reports thousands of deaths and approximately one million displaced people, particularly from southern Lebanon, while also raising scrutiny over Israel’s alleged use of white phosphorus. The accounts presented, attributed primarily to two Lebanese Christians identified by pseudonyms, portray widespread opposition to both Hezbollah and Israel, although views differ within and across religious communities. Hezbollah’s Iranian support has made it stronger than Lebanon’s formal military, contributing to the government’s difficulty in controlling the group. The article also reports disagreement over Lebanon’s Christian population, citing estimates ranging from about 31% to less than 16%, and notes that no census has been conducted for nearly a century. Economic crisis since 2019, political insecurity, and emigration—especially among younger and professional Christians—are described as accelerating the community’s decline.