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WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
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Lebanon
Index
The Syrian Socialist Nationalist Party (SSNP) has been one of
the most influential multisectarian parties in Lebanon. Its main
objective has been the reestablishment of historic Greater Syria,
an area that approximately encompasses Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, and
Israel. Over the years the SSNP has often resorted to violence to
achieve its goals.
The SSNP was founded in 1932 by Antun Saadah, a Greek Orthodox,
as a secret organization. His party, very much influenced by
fascist ideology and organization, grew considerably in the years
after independence. In fact, in a survey taken in 1958 by the
French newspaper L'Orient, the SSNP was said to have 25,000
members--at the time, second only to the Phalange Party. Concerned
by its strength, the government cracked down on the SSNP in 1948,
arresting many of its leaders and members. In response, SSNP
military officers attempted a coup d'état in 1949, following which
the party was outlawed and Saadah was executed. In retaliation, the
SSNP assassinated Prime Minister Riyad as Sulh in 1951.
In the 1950s, although still banned, the SSNP renewed its
activities fairly openly. During the 1958 disturbances, the SSNP
militia supported President Shamun, who rewarded it by authorizing
it to operate legally. But in December 1961, when another attempted
coup by SSNP members failed, it was again outlawed and almost 3,000
of its members imprisoned. In prison, the party underwent serious
ideological reform when certain Marxist and pan-Arab concepts were
introduced into the party's formerly right-wing doctrine.
Since the 1960s, the party has become more leftist. Most of its
members joined the Lebanese National Movement and fought alongside
the PLO throughout the 1975 Civil War. But during this period the
party suffered internal divisions and defections, and since then
party unity has been elusive. In 1987 there were at least four
separate factions claiming to be the authentic inheritors of
Saadah's ideology. The two most important were led by Issam
Mahayri, a Sunni, and Jubran Jurayj, a Christian. Each faction was
trying to settle disputes by means of violence.
Data as of December 1987
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