Bashir Gemayel

The President-elect of Lebanon, Bashir Gemayel, had lived by the sword throughout most of his short life. It should not, therefore, have come as too much of a surprise that he died by it. But his death was an enormous shock nonetheless—not just because of the human dimension of any such tragedy, but because it took place at such a supremely delicate moment for his country, and also left behind a question of momentous significance to which we will now never know the answer: would his presidency have succeeded in healing the wounds of Lebanon?

Before his election last month, many Lebanese—not just Muslims—were convinced that to elect him would be a serious mistake. Here was a man who had a record of extreme partisanship during Lebanon's civil war, and was viewed as an implacable enemy by a large portion of the Lebanese population for violent acts that had been committed by him and in his name. To make him president, it was felt, would simply goad the country into renewed civil war. After the election, however, there were indications that he might have changed his outlook, an would strive to be a president for "all Lebanese," not just for those from his own faction.

Whether he could have brought it off—if he really wanted to—was not sure then, and now will never be known. But the Israeli reaction to his death was more predictable. The Israelis' record indicates that they are always quick to take advantage of any pretext to advance their own interests, no matter at whose expense. Moving into West Beirut was not only a violation of a U.S.-sponsored agreement, but rocked the Lebanese boat in an alarming way. The PLO and Syrians, those "foreign troops" that the Israelis had wanted removed, are now long since gone. For Israel to be acting as "peacemaker" between Lebanese and Lebanese is a cure that could turn out to be much worse than the disease.