Amine Gemayel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Amine Gemayel
OM ONC
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أمين الجميٌل
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Gemayel in 2012
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| 8th President of Lebanon | |
| In office 23 September 1982 – 22 September 1988 |
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| Prime Minister |
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| Preceded by |
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| Succeeded by | Michel Aoun (disputed) Selim Hoss (acting) René Moawad |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 22 January 1942 Bikfaya, Greater Lebanon |
| Political party | Kataeb Party |
| Spouse |
Joyce Tyan
(m. 1967) |
| Children |
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| Alma mater | St. Joseph University |
| Religion | Maronite Catholicism |
Amine Pierre Gemayel was born on January 22, 1942. He is a Lebanese politician. He served as the eighth president of Lebanon from 1982 to 1988.
Gemayel was born in Bikfaya. His father, Pierre Gemayel, founded the Kataeb Party. This party is also known as the "Phalanges." Amine first worked as a lawyer.
He was elected to parliament in 1970. This happened after his uncle, Maurice Gemayel, passed away. He was elected again in 1972. When the Lebanese Civil War began, the Kataeb Party was part of the Lebanese Front. They were allied with Syria at first. Later, Syria became an enemy. The Kataeb Party then received support from Israel.
Amine's brother, Bachir Gemayel, became very important during this time. Bachir was elected president in 1982. However, he was killed before he could start his term.
Amine Gemayel was elected president on September 23, 1982. The United States and Israel supported his election. He was 40 years old, making him the youngest president at that time. He tried to rebuild the Lebanese Army. He also tried to make a peace agreement with Israel in 1983. This agreement was about Israeli forces leaving Lebanon. However, he did not officially approve it.
During his presidency, the army faced many challenges. The government lost control over parts of Mount Lebanon. The army also had to leave West Beirut.
In 1984, Gemayel visited Damascus. He formed a government that included different political groups. He canceled the peace agreement with Israel. He also appointed Michel Aoun as the head of the armed forces. His term ended in 1988. He then moved to Switzerland and France.
In 2000, Gemayel returned to Lebanon. He became a leader against Syria's influence. He joined the Cedar Revolution after Rafic Hariri was killed. In 2006, his son, Pierre Amine Gemayel, who was a member of parliament, was also killed. Amine Gemayel ran for his son's seat but did not win. His other son, Samy Gemayel, later became the leader of the Kataeb Party.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Amine Gemayel comes from the Gemayel family. They are a Maronite Christian family. They have a long history in Lebanon. The family is from the northern region of Mount Lebanon. His ancestors settled in Bikfaya in the mid-16th century. Bikfaya is about 25 kilometers northeast of Beirut.
Amine Gemayel was born in Bikfaya on January 22, 1942. He is the oldest son of Pierre Gemayel and Genevieve. He has two sisters and a brother, Bachir Gemayel. His grandfather had to leave Lebanon in the early 1900s. This was because he was against the the Ottoman Empire.
Gemayel earned a law degree in 1965. He studied at the St. Joseph University in Beirut.
Political Career
Amine Gemayel started his career as a lawyer in 1965. He also focused on his family's newspaper business. In 1970, he was elected to the National Assembly. He took the place of his uncle, Maurice Gemayel. He won against Fuad Lahoud.
In 1972, he was reelected by a large number of votes. This was the last election for 20 years. His younger brother, Bashir, had strong political views. Amine Gemayel was seen as more moderate. He tried to work with both Christian and Muslim politicians.
When Bashir Gemayel was killed, Amine was chosen to unite different groups. He was elected president on September 21, 1982. His term lasted for six years, ending on September 22, 1988. After his presidency, he worked at Harvard University. He also lectured at the University of Maryland.
From 1990 to 2000, he lived in Paris. He was an exiled leader of the opposition. He gave many talks about Lebanon and the Middle East. Since July 2000, he has lived in Lebanon. He continues his political work there.
Presidency Challenges
When Gemayel became president, Lebanon was in a difficult situation. Foreign armies occupied much of the country. Syria was in the north and east. Israel was in the south. Many private armies also controlled parts of the country. This meant Gemayel's government had little real power.
He tried to make peace with Israel. But Syria and Muslim politicians in Lebanon stopped these efforts. His government struggled to collect taxes. Warlords controlled ports and cities, taking the tax money. Some people criticized Gemayel for not acting more strongly. Others said he could do little because of the foreign occupation. He managed to keep some order in the government.
In 1988, his term was ending. The constitution did not allow him to be reelected. Before his term ended, Gemayel appointed Michel Aoun as prime minister. This was to keep the tradition that the president should be a Maronite Christian. However, Muslim politicians did not accept Aoun's government. They supported a different government led by Selim Hoss.
When Amine Gemayel took office, Lebanon was suffering from an invasion. Israeli troops occupied large areas. So, getting Israeli troops to leave was his main goal. As president, he had three main aims. These were to make Lebanon independent again. He also wanted to keep different communities talking to each other. And he aimed to rebuild the state's institutions.
In 1984, Amine Gemayel ended the "Arab Deterrence Force." This force had allowed Syria's military presence since 1976. In 1985, he refused to approve the "Damascus Agreement." This agreement was made by the Syrian government. It aimed to control Lebanon's decisions.
In 1987, he canceled the "Cairo Agreement" of 1969. This agreement had allowed the PLO to use Lebanon for military actions. This showed his focus on Lebanese independence.
Other Activities
Besides politics, Amine Gemayel started the "INMA Foundation" in 1976. This foundation helps with social, political, and economic issues in Lebanon. He also founded "Beit-al-Mustakbal," a research center. This center published a journal called Haliyyat. It was in Arabic, French, and English. He also started a French newspaper called Le Reveil.
After Presidency
Gemayel lived outside Lebanon for twelve years. He lived in Switzerland, France, and the United States. He said he was threatened by Syria. In 1989, he joined Harvard University's Center for International Affairs. He also taught at the University of Maryland, College Park.
On July 30, 2000, he returned to Lebanon. He started to lead the opposition against President Émile Lahoud. Gemayel believed Lahoud was controlled by Syria. He could not regain control of the Kataeb Party. So, he started a new party called al-Qaeda al-Kataebiya. He said it was the true Kataeb Party. He also joined the Qornet Chehwan Gathering. This was a group of Christian politicians against the government.
In 2003, Amine Gemayel tried to help. He wanted to prevent the Iraq War. He tried to talk between U.S. President George W. Bush and Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. His efforts were not successful.
After the Cedar Revolution, the Kataeb groups united under Gemayel. In November 2006, his son Pierre was killed. Amine ran for his son's seat in parliament. He lost by a small number of votes. In February 2008, Gemayel became the president of the Kataeb Party. He replaced Karim Pakradouni.
Personal Life
Gemayel married Joyce Tyan in December 1967. They have a daughter named Nicole. They also have two sons, Pierre and Sami. Pierre Gemayel became a member of Parliament in 2000. He was killed on November 21, 2006. Amine Gemayel blamed Syria for his son's death. He speaks French and English very well.
See also
In Spanish: Amin Gemayel para niños
