Antoine Ghanem
Encyclopedia
Antoine Ghanem (August 10, 1943 – September 19, 2007) was a Lebanese
politician and an MP
in the Lebanese Parliament. He was also a member of the Kataeb party and the March 14 Coalition. He was killed on September 19, 2007 in a car bomb
explosion in the Sin al-Fil suburb of Beirut
. His death came just two days after he returned from abroad where he had sought refuge from such political violence.
. He attended the Collège Notre Dame in Furn el-Chebek and the Collège du Sacré-Coeur in Gemmayzeh, both private
Catholic
schools. After earning a degree in law from the Université Saint-Joseph
in Beirut
and the University of Lyon
, he taught law for several years at the Lebanese University
. He joined the Kataeb Party
in 1961 and later became head of its Baabda District
.
leader Walid Jumblat. A member of the block of the "democratic Meeting" Qornet Chehwan Gathering, he enjoyed nevertheless a certain autonomy considering his membership of the Kataeb Party
.
He supported Gemayel in the political struggle within the Kataeb Party, countered the pro-Syrian president of the party Karim Pakradouni
and posted himself as an important speaker within the reforming Movement of the Kataeb Party directed by Gemayel.
In September 2004, he voted against the extension of President Émile Lahoud
's term. He actively participated in the Cedar Revolution
after the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri.
He was re-elected in 2005 to his post of deputy and seat to the political council of the Kataeb Party, after the reunification of this party and the reconciliation between Amine Gemayel
and Karim Pakradouni
.
According to Al-Seyassah's sources inside Syria, the assassination was performed by Syrian intelligence, who continuously monitored Ghanem's movements. The agents rented two apartments, one near the residence of Ghanem in Qlei'at and the other near the crime scene in Sin el Fil
. The sources revealed that the killers left Lebanon immediately after the assassination, completely disguised as Syrian workers.
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
politician and an MP
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
in the Lebanese Parliament. He was also a member of the Kataeb party and the March 14 Coalition. He was killed on September 19, 2007 in a car bomb
Car bomb
A car bomb, or truck bomb also known as a Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device , is an improvised explosive device placed in a car or other vehicle and then detonated. It is commonly used as a weapon of assassination, terrorism, or guerrilla warfare, to kill the occupants of the vehicle,...
explosion in the Sin al-Fil suburb of Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
. His death came just two days after he returned from abroad where he had sought refuge from such political violence.
Background
Ghanem was born in the Tohwita suburb of BeirutBeirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
. He attended the Collège Notre Dame in Furn el-Chebek and the Collège du Sacré-Coeur in Gemmayzeh, both private
Private school
Private schools, also known as independent schools or nonstate schools, are not administered by local, state or national governments; thus, they retain the right to select their students and are funded in whole or in part by charging their students' tuition, rather than relying on mandatory...
Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
schools. After earning a degree in law from the Université Saint-Joseph
Université Saint-Joseph
Saint Joseph University is a private Catholic higher institute of education founded by the Jesuits in 1875 in Beirut, Lebanon, known for its school of medicine and its hospital, Hôtel-Dieu de France. The Lebanese state officially recognizes the university and the diplomas it grants in accord with...
in Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
and the University of Lyon
University of Lyon
The University of Lyon , located in Lyon and Saint Etienne, France, is a center for higher education and research comprising 16 institutions of higher education...
, he taught law for several years at the Lebanese University
Lebanese University
The Lebanese University is the only public institution for higher learning in Lebanon. Founded in 1951, it has 17 faculties as of 2006 and serves various cultural, religious, and social groups of students and teachers....
. He joined the Kataeb Party
Kataeb Party
The Lebanese Phalanges , better known in English as the Phalange , is a traditional right-wing Lebanese political party. Although it is officially secular, it is mainly supported by Maronite Christians. The party played a major role in the Lebanese War...
in 1961 and later became head of its Baabda District
Baabda District
Baabda District , sometimes spelled B'abda, is a district in Mount Lebanon, Lebanon, to the south and east of the Lebanon's capital Beirut...
.
Political career
In 2000, he was elected to the Lebanese Parliament for Baabda-Aley constituency, running on the list of DruzeDruze
The Druze are an esoteric, monotheistic religious community, found primarily in Syria, Lebanon, Israel, and Jordan, which emerged during the 11th century from Ismailism. The Druze have an eclectic set of beliefs that incorporate several elements from Abrahamic religions, Gnosticism, Neoplatonism...
leader Walid Jumblat. A member of the block of the "democratic Meeting" Qornet Chehwan Gathering, he enjoyed nevertheless a certain autonomy considering his membership of the Kataeb Party
Kataeb Party
The Lebanese Phalanges , better known in English as the Phalange , is a traditional right-wing Lebanese political party. Although it is officially secular, it is mainly supported by Maronite Christians. The party played a major role in the Lebanese War...
.
He supported Gemayel in the political struggle within the Kataeb Party, countered the pro-Syrian president of the party Karim Pakradouni
Karim Pakradouni
Karim Pakradouni , born in Beirut on August 18, 1944 to an Armenian Orthodox father and Maronite Catholic mother, is a Lebanese Christian attorney and politician. He has been a leading figure in the Kataeb Party since 1968 when he became head of its student wing...
and posted himself as an important speaker within the reforming Movement of the Kataeb Party directed by Gemayel.
In September 2004, he voted against the extension of President Émile Lahoud
Émile Lahoud
General Émile Jamil Lahoud is a former President of Lebanon. Lahoud is a Maronite-Catholic, as is required for the Lebanese presidency. Under Lebanon's unwritten constitutional agreement, the National Pact, the presidency is earmarked for Maronite_Catholic, the parliament speaker's post for a Shia...
's term. He actively participated in the Cedar Revolution
Cedar Revolution
The Cedar Revolution or Independence Intifada was a chain of demonstrations in Lebanon triggered by the assassination of the former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri on February 14, 2005.The primary goals of the original activists were the...
after the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri.
He was re-elected in 2005 to his post of deputy and seat to the political council of the Kataeb Party, after the reunification of this party and the reconciliation between Amine Gemayel
Amine Gemayel
Amine Pierre Gemayel was President of Lebanon from 1982 to 1988 and is the leader of Kataeb Party.Born in the Lebanese village of Bikfaya, Amine Gemayel is the son of Pierre Gemayel, founder of the Kataeb Party...
and Karim Pakradouni
Karim Pakradouni
Karim Pakradouni , born in Beirut on August 18, 1944 to an Armenian Orthodox father and Maronite Catholic mother, is a Lebanese Christian attorney and politician. He has been a leading figure in the Kataeb Party since 1968 when he became head of its student wing...
.
Assassination
Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Seyassah reported that the Ghanem assassination was a direct result of Syria re-opening its borders with Lebanon on September 17, 2 days before the assassination took place.According to Al-Seyassah's sources inside Syria, the assassination was performed by Syrian intelligence, who continuously monitored Ghanem's movements. The agents rented two apartments, one near the residence of Ghanem in Qlei'at and the other near the crime scene in Sin el Fil
Sin el Fil
-Etymology:The name literally translates "tooth" of "the elephant" . Being geographically closer to the ancient city of Antioch and far remote from natural elephant habitat, it is believed that the town name may have been a derogation of Saint Theophilus of Antioch.-Geography:With a rich red soil...
. The sources revealed that the killers left Lebanon immediately after the assassination, completely disguised as Syrian workers.