Khazen

Rice marks 25th anniversary of Beirut embassy attack

WASHINGTON (AFP) – Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice  on Friday joined fellow US diplomats in marking the 25th anniversary of the bombing at the US embassy Beirut which killed 52 people on April 18, 1983. "Even when the tragedy of April 18 was followed by further attacks on our Marine barracks later that year, on our embassy annex in 1984, and still others beyond that, the terrorists never broke our will," Rice said during a ceremony at the State Department. "It is in continuing to champion the cause of a democratic Lebanon  that we pay greatest honor to those who died and those who suffered on that day." The attack by the Islamic Jihad Organization, which US officials have said was a forerunner of Hezbollah  the Iranian- and Syrian-backed Shiite militia, was at the time the deadliest attack ever on a US diplomatic mission.

Rice used the commemoration to hint at Washington’s accusations of interference by Syria into the affairs of neighboring Lebanon, with politicians in Beirut"afraid for their very lives" as the embattled government remains locked in a long-running standoff with the opposition.  With "fellow members of parliament, journalists and, of course, Prime Minister rafiq Hariri… gunned down in the streets or claimed by terrorist bombs, who can blame them?" the top US diplomat said.

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Lebanon’s parliament speaker sets stage for dialogue

BEIRUT (AFP) – Lebanon’s parliament speaker Nabih Berri on Saturday moved a table with 14 seats around it into the building to try to bring rival political leaders to start talking and end a prolonged deadlock, his spokesman said. This step is a reaffirmation that Berri is more steadfast today than at any time before. […]

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Bush: US backs Lebanon sovereignty, democracy

Thu Apr 17, 8:35 PM ET , WASHINGTON (AFP) – US President George W Bush on Thursday accused Iran and Syria of undermining democracy in Lebanon and renewed his support for the embattled government of Prime Minister Fuad Siniora. The United States will continue to stand with the Lebanese government and the Lebanese people as they struggle to preserve their hard-won sovereignty and independence, endeavor to provide justice for victims of terrorism and political violence, and continue to seek the election of a president committed to these principles," Bush said in a written statement.

Washington has accused the Hezbollah-led opposition and Syria of trying to scuttle Lebanon’s efforts to elect a head of state to replace pro-Syrian Emile Lahoud, who stepped down at the end of his mandate in November."The people of Lebanon have spent the better part of three decades living under the threat of violence, assassinations, and other forms of intimidation," said Bush. "Despite this, they and their leaders continue to work for a peaceful and democratic future, even as Syria, Iran, and their Lebanese proxies seek to undermine Lebanese democracy and institutions," he said.

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Lebanese increasingly feel inflation’s pinch

by Rita Daou, BEIRUT (AFP) – Loretta Beayni works 10 hours a day, six days a week in a Beirut  beauty salon, earning a mere 400 dollars a month, which goes in the blink of an eye on household bills and helping out her parents. Like many Lebanese, she has a hard time making ends meet in a country where inflation is hefty and where many are forced to take on two jobs to survive.

Beayni, 40, has been working at the beauty salon for 15 years, and says she manages to stay afloat largely thanks to tips."But once I pay all my bills, I have nothing left," she says. "I haven’t purchased any new clothes for two years and even had to borrow money to buy a black outfit so I could go to my uncle’s funeral."Last month, she was even forced to cancel a doctor’s appointment because she did not have the money

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Perception of the word Khazen

What a Khazen Means

and How New Generations Perceive it 

10 April 2008 

Already it is known about the enormous contribution which the Khazen family had brought to Lebanon. The name De Khazen is an official name for the tight connection which this family had created with the French authorities. This family was the first and pioneer of such special relationship which is seen and still exists nowadays, in our modern times. Obviously, legend personalities of the Khazen family who achieved this special relationship and support led to Lebanese political parties enjoy its benefits also, mostly nowadays.

It is important to realise a source of luxury as a lesson and reinforcement to carry on with it. Through all history of Lebanon, you come to realise that the Lebanese people are a nation of suffering, survival, and achievements. This nation is clever and stubborn, which relies and lives faith and sector preservation. It will not seemingly, give up any of those, whether for the better or the worse. A person with basic analytic abilities may easily see the main reasons for recent problems in Lebanon and its political infrastructure defects. They still mainly derive from religious basis, and it is unacceptable to say otherwise. Not that much has changed since the Khazen period started and Lebanon still suffers from foreign interference with help of interior powers. While the Khazen period had the Ottoman occupation and the Yamnies’ support to it, today the situation is still the same, principally, but the foreign and interior powers changed to others; much of betrayals and much of fights over leadership. It is pathetic.

According to that, it is crucial for any person who is interested in learning the history of Lebanon and analyse conclusions, learn also the history of the Khazens. You cannot differentiate or separate them.

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Cheikh Abi Nader El Khazen

Cheikh Abi Nader El Khazen’s Role in Returning the Christians of Keserwan Back Home 06 April 2008 In 1598, Emir Fakhr Al Din appointed Cheikh Ibrahim (Abi Sakr) an assistant to his authority and his brother Rabah (Abi Safi), a chief of staff. But in 1600, Cheikh Abi Sakr died so his older son, Cheikh Abi Nader, replaced […]

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The Shehabs and the Khazens

The Shehab Emirs and the Khazen Lords

03 April 2008

Emir Haidar, grandfather of all Shehab Emirs found on Mount Lebanon, had the Yamnies dismissing him from his position and placing Emir Youssef Elm Al Din instead. Following this, he escaped and disappeared in Hermel caves and sent the rest of his family to the Khazen Cheikhs who  hid them around villages of Kesserwan making sure that they receive all they need; at the same time, they kept in touch with the Emir sending him weapons to defend him self and advices how to act. 

At that time, Emir Youssef Al Yamni sent soldiers towards the Khazen Cheikhs demanding Emir-hood payments. Following this, Cheikh Nader son of Khater son of Abi Nawfal El Khazen turned to Deir El Kammar to settle down the issue leading Emir Youssef exempt them, and promise them special considerations.

A year after, Emir Haidar Shehab and the Khazen Cheikhs were ready for a battle. The Emir arrived in El Metn and the Khazen Cheikhs with their fighters from Keserwan joined him. Their commander was Cheikh Serhan son of Nawfal called Abi Nassif El Khazen. Indeed, the war erupted between the Kaissis and the Yamnies in Jard County which led to the defeat of the Yamnies.

Following this, Emir Haidar was returned back to his previous position and again, he confirmed rule of the Khazen Cheikhs over Kesserwan the county. The Emir’s advisors of course were of the Khazen Cheikhs but virtually, they ruled all areas in the country.

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Cheikh Hossun El Khazen

Lebanon in the Period of Cheikh Hossun El Khazen

03 April 2008

After death of Cheikh Abi Nawfal, his sons carried on managing Emir Ahmed Maa’n’s governing. Their skills did not fail their father, grandfather, and relatives from the Khazen family’s skills as they continued working on development and tightening the Catholic faith and its defence. Following this, other Catholic faiths such the Armenian and Assyrian turned to Keserwan to seek protection against oppression of their enemies. The Khazen Cheikhs in return, provided them areas to live in and a source to make a living out of; they followed heritage of their father and grandfather by welcoming Latin missionaries who would make Keserwan their stay.

In year 1693, the country faced a crisis which led to end of Emir Ahmed’s governing. Following that, Emir Musa, the Yamni, took control of seven counties which Emir Ahmed Maa’n controlled. He ordered troops to be sent to Bekaa’, a thing that led Cheikh Hossun son of Cheikh Fayyad or Abi Kanso son of Abi Nawfal El Khazen and other Cheikhs to turn to Darsen Mohammed  Tofotaj Pasha, asking not to permit army to enter Keserwan and pursue an act of steeling and robbing. Pasha Darsen’s reaction was understanding and appointing Cheikh Hossun El Khazen a Treasure Supervisor over tax and payments which people of Jbeil’s counties had to pay; this appointment included welfare of these counties. Cheikh Hossun?s handling of such position was effective because of hard work, and he made sure that protection is provided to any one who is a Emir or of a common people class, having them Kaisses.

 

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Maronite bishops sound alarm on economic woes

By Maroun Khoury and Nafez Qawas, BKIRKI: The Council of Maronite Bishops called on Wednesday for the immediate implementation of the Arab initiative to solve the deadlock in Lebanon, while sounding the alarm concerning "strenuous" economic conditions faced by the Lebanese. The Maronite bishops said it was unfortunate that a Lebanese president was not able to participate in the recent Arab summit, especially after the Arab League had stressed the need to elect a president in Lebanon.  "We call for internal and external cooperation to implement the Arab initiative to solve Lebanon’s crisis," the bishops said after their monthly meeting in Bkirki.

The three-point Arab initiative calls for the election of the commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces, General Michel Suleiman, as a consensus president, the formation of a national unity government and the drafting of a fair and representative electoral law.  "The situation in Lebanon is preventing the country from recovering on the economic level, and this pushes economic sectors and the working class to complain of declining living conditions and to threaten strikes," the bishops said.

"The present situation could damage summertime tourism. This requires the government to take steps to facilitate the arrival of tourists to Lebanon," they added.  The Maronite bishops said that the government must deal with the problems regarding the standard of living "in a responsible manner."

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Analysis: Damascus summit

By CLAUDE SALHANI, UPI Contributing Editor, WASHINGTON, March 31 (UPI) — As expected, there were no surprises at the Arab summit in Damascus that ended Sunday without any breakthrough regarding the Lebanese presidential crisis. If anything came out of the summit — boycotted by 11 of the 22 members of the Arab League — it is the obvious and deep divisions that remain between what is perceived as the pro-Washington countries and Syria. Supporting the Beirut government — and the U.S. position — are primarily Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia, whose leaders did not attend the summit in Syria, preferring to be represented by lower-ranking ministers in protest against Syria’s role in Lebanon.

Perhaps the one surprise, strange as it might appear, is that the voice of reason from the Damascus summit was none other than that of Libyan leader Col. Moammar Gadhafi, who warned his fellow leaders that they risk being deposed much like former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. "One day, you will see yourselves in a similar situation and at that time no one should blame (anyone) but himself because we did not work sincerely to build a strong and unified Arab nation," said the Libyan leader. "Each one of you hates others. Syria is not on good terms with its neighbors, while Libya has stronger ties with Italy than it has with Tunisia or Egypt," Gadhafi said at the opening of the two-day summit. "No notable development has come out of this summit, as has always been the case with previous summits," said Gadhafi to journalists covering the event.  "The most important point of the summit is the fact that we have recognized the existence of divisions, problems, and animosity between Arab countries and that we have to find the means to overcome these problems," he said.

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