Draft history book draws criticism over omission of key facts

Disputes over Lebanon’s ancient and modern history had erupted at the specialized committee headed by former Education Minister Hassan Mneimneh and resurfaced today at the ministerial committee headed by State Minister Nicolas Fattouch, knowing that the draft book is now in the hands of the cabinet.   

Christian figures, from within and outside the committee, as well as Shiite representatives have voiced disagreement and made remarks on the draft history book.    

For instance, Hezbollah Minister Mohammad Fneich called for adding additional Shiite figures to the history curriculum as he demanded to include a course on Hezbollah and to mention certain regions in the south. On the other hand, Fneich voiced opposition to the evocation of the Cedar Revolution.    

As for the Syrian Social Nationalist Party, it called for attributing the war to internal causes rather than regional factors.  In turn, the FPM called for recounting facts as they are and including analytical chapters in the curriculum.    
In a copy of the draft history book obtained by LBCI, it appeared that the draft history book did not mention the two-year-long war between the Lebanese Front on the one hand and the Lebanese National Movement and PLO on the other hand.

Besides, the book did not mention the division within the army and the formation of the Arab Lebanese Army as well as many field battles such as that of Tal al Zaatar and Chekka.

Moreover, the draft book did not evoke the “termination war” between the army, under the command of General Michel Aoun, and Lebanese Forces, the expatriation of Aoun and former President Amine Gemmayel and the arrest of Samir Geagea.

The book also omitted the famous 2000 Bkerke call and the Cornet Chahwan meeting and only mentioned the Taef accord under the title of “the march of stability and development.”