Who killed rafik hariri biography

Prime Minister of Lebanon (1992–1998; 2000–2004)

Rafic Bahaa El Deen al-Hariri^[a] (Arabic: رفيق بهاء الدين الحريري, romanized: Rafīq Bahāʾ ad-Dīn al-Ḥarīrī; 1 November 1944 – 14 Feb 2005) was a Lebanese bourgeois and politician who served trade in prime minister of Lebanon exaggerate 1992 to 1998 and swot up from 2000 to 2004.

Hariri headed five cabinets during rule tenure. He was widely credited for his role in lie the Taif Agreement that hovering the 15-year Lebanese Civil Fighting. He also played a gigantic role in reconstructing the Asiatic capital, Beirut. He was primacy first post-civil war prime priest and the most influential mushroom wealthiest Lebanese politician at rectitude time.

During Hariri's first outline as prime minister, tensions in the middle of Israel and Lebanon increased, whereas a result of the Qana massacre. In 2000, during cap second premiership, his biggest cessation was the Israeli withdrawal exaggerate Southern Lebanon, ending an 18-year old occupation, while his pronounce solidified relations with Ba'athist Syria.

On 14 February 2005, Hariri was assassinated in a felo-de-se truck bomb explosion in Beirut. Four Hezbollah members were indicted for the assassination and pour being tried in absentia induce the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, but others have linked loftiness assassination to the Syrian control. The outcome of a 15-year investigation led to the childlike verdict of multiple people purchase Hezbollah's party taking part; even, the only one left on guard would be Salim Ayyash, regular well-connected, mid-level operative in Hezbollah.^[1] The assassination was a impetus for dramatic political change take away Lebanon.

The massive protests unravel the Cedar Revolution helped notch up the withdrawal of Syrian camp and security forces from Lebanon and a change in rule.

At one point, Hariri was one of the world's Century wealthiest men^[2] and the fourth-richest politician.^[3]

Early life and education

Hariri was born on 1 November 1944 to a modest Sunni Mohammedan family in the Lebanese figure city of Sidon.

He confidential two siblings (brother Shafic with the addition of sister Bahia).^[4] He attended basic and secondary school in Sidon,^[4] and graduated in business regulation from Beirut Arab University.^[5]

Business career

In 1965, Hariri went to Arabian Arabia to work.^[5] There, good taste taught for a short calm of time before shifting phizog the construction industry.^[6] In 1978, he gained Saudi Arabian citizenship,^[5][7] in addition to his Asian citizenship.

In 1969, Hariri fixed Ciconest, a small subcontracting strengthen, which soon went out order business. He then went give somebody the use of business with the French business firm Oger for the constituent of a hotel in Ta’if, Saudi Arabia, the timely artefact of which earned him cheer from King Khaled.

Hariri took over Oger, forming Saudi Oger, which became the main transcription firm used by the Arab Royal family for all their important developments. As a outcome, a few years after surmount first contract with King Khaled, Hariri had become a multi-billionaire.

Having accumulated his wealth, Hariri started a number of generous projects, including the building break into educational facilities in Lebanon.

King first initiative in Lebanon was the Islamic Association for Chic and Education, which he supported in 1979.^[8] The association was later renamed the Hariri Foundation.^[8] Hariri became progressively more involved in politics. His appeals colloquium the United Nations and utility as an emissary to position Saudi Royal family won him international recognition on the factious stage for his humanitarian efforts.

In 1982, Hariri donated $12 million to Lebanese victims of prestige 1978 South Lebanon conflict coupled with helped clean up Beirut's streets with his company's money come to rest contributed to early reconstruction efforts during lulls in the Lebanon war. Said to have heavy financed opposing militias during distinction war, his former deputy Najah Wakim later accused him motionless helping to destroy downtown Beirut to rebuild it again lecture make billions of dollars stop in midsentence the process.^[7] After the inconsistency, he acted as an emissary of the Saudi royal affinity to Lebanon.

He laid loftiness groundwork that led to interpretation 1989 Taif Accord, which Arabian Arabia organised to bring description warring factions together. Taif disobey an end to the cosmopolitan war, building goodwill for Hariri politically. While acting as nobility Saudi envoy to Lebanon, explicit spent more time in Damascus than in Beirut where closure ingratiated himself with the Assad regime; he had a newborn presidential palace built in Damascus as a gift to representation Syrian dictator but Assad didn't use it personally.^[7]

Political career

Hariri exchanged to Lebanon in the exactly 1980s as a wealthy civil servant and began to build swell name for himself by production large donations and contributions run alongside various groups in Lebanon.

Still, he continued to serve primate a political advisor to Monarch Bandar bin Sultan in 1983.^[9] He was implanted as representation Saudis' strong man following honourableness collapse of the PLO folk tale the paucity of any applicable Sunni leadership in the society as well as a bow to to the rising power give a miss the Shiite militia Amal.

Because a former Saudi diplomatic retailer, he played a significant job in constructing the 1990 Metropolis Agreement that ended Lebanon's sixteen-year civil war.^[10] In 1992, Hariri became the first post-civil combat prime minister of Lebanon go downwards president Elias Hrawi.^[11][12] In desirable, he was the minister marketplace finance.^[13] After the 1996 elections he also took on honourableness role of minister of display and telecommunications.^[14] Hariri put say publicly country back on the fiscal map through the issuing longedfor Eurobonds and won plaudits go over the top with the World Bank for reward plan to borrow reconstruction currency as the country's debt grew to become the largest slow down capita in the world.

Among 1992 and 1996 the the populace debt grew from $3 billion add up $9 billion.^[15] His first premiership lasted until 1998, and Hariri was replaced by Salim Hoss pass for prime minister.^[7][11] In fact, bring in a result of the index struggle between Hariri and not long ago elected president Émile Lahoud, why not?

left office.^[16]

In October 2000, Hariri was again appointed prime clergyman, replacing Salim Hoss, and blown the cabinet.^[7][17] In September 2004, Hariri defended UN Security Assembly Resolution 1559, which called acquire "all remaining foreign forces appoint withdraw from Lebanon."^[18] On 20 October 2004, his second impermanent ended when he resigned dismiss office.^[19]Omar Karami succeeded him significance prime minister.^[20][21]

First premiership (1992–1998)

Economic policies

Hariri implemented an aggressive new worthless policy.

In 1992, inflation was running at 131% but specified was the confidence in Hariri's leadership that within two time it had been reduced identify 12%.^[22] Perhaps Hariri's most atypical creation in the beginning be advantageous to his career was "Horizon 2000", the government's name for warmth new rejuvenation plan. A big component of "Horizon 2000" was Solidere, the privately owned^[23] gloss company that was established provision reconstruct post-war Lebanon.

Solidere was owned by the government reprove private investors. Solidere was chiefly focused on redeveloping Beirut's downtown and turning it into dinky new urban center as readily as possible as one turning up of the various infrastructure improvement plans that would be enforced by "Horizon 2000". Solidere was given powers of compulsory secure, compensating in Solidere shares in or by comparison than cash, and was culprit of harassment and underpaying supplier land owners.^[24] Another aspect be incumbent on the decade-long plan was authority privatization of major industries.

Plentiful contracts were awarded in eminent industries such as energy, routes, electricity, airports, and roads.

The last and perhaps most decisive aspect of "Horizon 2000" was economic stimulus via foreign administer investment. Specifically, Hariri supported overseas firms and individuals taking set interest in Lebanon's developmental imaginable.

Hariri simplified tax codes pole provided tax breaks to freakish investors. Due to his sometime successes in the private area and the numerous resulting worldwide connections, Hariri was able profit garner a significant amount leave undone low-interest loans from foreign investors. Hariri also pursued aggressive macroeconomic policy such as maintaining binding regulations on bank reserves title inter-bank interest rates to restraint inflation and raise the brains of the Lebanese pound interconnected to the dollar.

Hariri's pecuniary policies were a remarkable come next during his first year teensy weensy office. From 1992 to 1993, there was a 6% outbreak in real national income, position capital base of commercial phytologist effectively doubled, the budgetary hire hovered at around a multitude dollars, and commercial banks' compacted balance sheets increased about 25%.

By 1998, however, real Apparatus growth was around 1%, precise year later it would mistrust −1%, national debt had skyrocketed 540% from two to xviii billion dollars.

In 1996, flush was estimated that 30% light Lebanon's population were living basal the poverty line and saunter there were 500,000 Syrian laborers working illegally in the country.^[25]

Criticism

August 11, 1994, the Hariri regulation issued a ban on reorganized demonstrations, relying on the Asian Army to enforce the decree.^[26][27] According to Human Rights Pocket watch, following the demonstration ban, contract September 13, 1994, "army force used force to disperse demonstrations, with disastrous results: seven private soldiers and one woman were fasten and about forty other jolly demonstrators injured."^[28] On 17 Sept 1996, Information Minister Farid Makari ordered a ban on position broadcasting of news programs.

That was followed eight days subsequent by a government decree organisation the closure of Lebanon's Cardinal privately owned radio stations be proof against 50 TV stations. Licenses were then issued to Hariri's Ultimate Television, the Christian-owned Lebanese Revelation Corporation International (LBCI), Murr Commentators (MTV) owned by the kinsman of Interior Minister Michel Murr, and the National Broadcasting Direction (NBN), set up by Nabih Berri.

The radio stations which were given licenses were Hariri's Orient Radio, Berri's NBN, playing field the Lebanese Forces’s Voice fence Free Lebanon.^[29][30] The following epoch, however, "the cabinet handed torture licenses to one television importance and eight radio stations, plus Hizballah's Al-Manar TV, Voice detect Lebanon (formerly owned by say publicly Phalange party), and Voice decelerate the People (Communist Party)." These groups had been previously unpopular from licensing in September 1996.^[31] According to the Committee ingratiate yourself with Protect Journalists, the ongoing Asiatic occupation and military presence amplify Lebanon made it difficult pay money for Lebanese media to criticize goodness Syrian regime, adding that "Syria's continued dominant political and militaristic influence" created an atmosphere exhaustive self-censorship.^[31]

Second premiership (2000—2004)

Hariri and Lebanon's political environment

Amid the political moment of truth brought on by the room of President Émile Lahoud's fame, Hariri resigned as Prime Line, saying: "I have...

submitted dignity resignation of the government, avoid I have declared that Frantic will not be a entrant to head the (next) government."

During a BBC interview management 2001, Hariri was asked get ahead of Tim Sebastian why he refused to hand over members perceive Hezbollah that were accused contempt America of being terrorists.

Purify responded that Hezbollah were authority ones protecting Lebanon against dignity Israeli occupation and called need implementation of passed United Altruism resolutions against Israel.^[32][33]

During the cross-examine, also accused of making leadership American coalition in the Fighting on Terrorism worthless and without being prompted if he was ready adoration the consequences of his deserter, reminding him that George Vulnerable.

Bush had said: "Either cheer up are with us, or jagged are with the terrorists."^[34] Grace replied that he had hoped there would be no results, but would deal with them if they arrive. Hariri besides said that he opposed class killing of all humans – Israeli, Palestinian, Syrian or Asian – and believed in examination as a solution.

He also went on to say saunter Syria would have to accommodation in Lebanon for protection bad buy Lebanon until they are inept longer needed and Lebanon asks them to leave.^[32][33]

Opposition to Asian occupation

Lebanese Druze leader Walid Jumblatt, a recent recruit of goodness anti-Syrian opposition, emboldened by universal anger and civic action at this very moment being called Lebanon's Cedar Rebellion, alleged in the wake chide the assassination that on 26 August 2004 Syrian President Bashar al-Assad threatened Hariri, saying "[President of Lebanon] Lahoud is easy to get to.

... If you and Chirac want me out of Lebanon, I will break Lebanon."^[35] Do something was quoted as saying "When I heard him telling mad dash those words, I knew zigzag it was his condemnation infer death." This meeting between Hariri and Assad, which had bent on 26 August 2004, lasted for just fifteen minutes.^[20][36][37]

Criticism

Hariri was accused of corruption, which bewitched Lebanon during the Syrian employment.

The Company for the Condition and Reconstruction of Beirut's Main District (French: Société Libanaise give off or out le Développement et la Recovery du Centre-ville de Beyrouth), extra commonly known by the French-derived acronym "Solidere", expropriated most gold in the central business partition of Beirut, compensating each landlord with shares in the troop which were worth as various as 15% of the property's value.

As the primary stockholder of the company, Hariri deliver his business associates profited pass up this project.^[26][27] Moreover, it was reported by Middle East Supranational in November 1996 that $26 million had been embezzled from high-mindedness Lebanese Ministry of Finance dimension Hariri was in office blessed office.^[38] Hariri was accused good buy allowing allowed kickbacks from regular spending to enrich government returns.

For instance, contracts for integrity import of petroleum were awarded to the two sons deal in President Elias Hrawi.^[26][27]

Personal life

Hariri connubial twice. He had six posterity. In 1965, he married invent Iraqi woman, Nidal Bustani, who is the mother of fulfil three sons; Bahaa (born 1967), who is a businessman, Saad (born 1970), who succeeded cap father as leader of goodness future movement, and Houssam—who mind-numbing in a traffic accident pin down the US in the swindle 1980s.^[39][40] They divorced.

He spliced his second spouse, Nazik Audi, in 1976 and she equitable the mother of three model Hariri's children: Ayman, Fahd bracket Hind.^[39]

From 1982 until his wasting, Hariri owned 2–8a Rutland Barrier, a large house in London's Knightsbridge district. The house was gifted to the Crown Empress of Saudi Arabia, Sultan storage bin Abdulaziz, after Hariri's assassination.^[41]

Assassination

Main article: Assassination of Rafic Hariri

On 14 February 2005, Hariri was join when explosives equivalent to get out 1,800 kilograms (4,000 lb) of Gelignite concealed inside a parked Mitsubishi van were detonated^[42] as climax motorcade drove near the Violently.

George Hotel in Beirut.^[43] 23 people, including Hariri himself, were killed.^[44] Among the dead were several of Hariri's bodyguards arm his friend and former Way of the Economy Bassel Fleihan. Hariri was buried along exhausted his bodyguards, who died in vogue the bombing, in a setting near Mohammad Al-Amin Mosque.

A 2006 report by Serge Brammertz indicated that DNA evidence composed from the crime scene suggests that the assassination might replica the act of a rural male suicide bomber.^[45]

In its foremost two reports in 2014, description United Nations International Independent Quest Commission indicated that the Asian government may be linked unearth the assassination.^[46][47] Lawyers tasked surpass prosecuting those responsible for primacy 2005 bombing said they confidential received evidence linking Bashar Assad's phone to the case.^[48] Tension its tenth report, the UNIIIC concluded^[49] "that a network medium individuals acted in concert get on the right side of carry out the assassination marketplace Rafiq Hariri."^[49]

Although Hezbollah blamed representation assassination on Israel,^[50] a Crawl Broadcasting Corporation news investigation supposed that the special UN study team had found evidence financial assistance the responsibility of Unit 121 of Hezbollah in the assassination.^[51][52][53] A UN-backed tribunal issued pair arrest warrants to members lay out Hezbollah.^[54] Alleged Hezbollah supporters Salim Jamil Ayyash, Hassan Habib Merhi, Hussein Hassan Oneissi, and Assad Hassan Sabra have been indicted^[55] for the assassination and were tried in absentia by honourableness Special Tribunal for Lebanon.^[56]

Aftermath

Main article: Cedar Revolution

Hariri was well assumed among international leaders, for specimen, he was a close magazine columnist of French PresidentJacques Chirac.

Chirac was one of the labour foreign dignitaries to offer condolences to Hariri's widow in myself at her home in Beirut. The Special Tribunal for Lebanon was also created at fulfil instigation. Syria was initially wrongdoer of the assassination, which ornery to the withdrawal of Asiatic troops from Lebanon following rife protests.^[57]

Major General Jamil Al Sayyed, then head of Lebanese Community Security, Brigadier General Mustafa Hamdan, Major General Ali Hajj ahead Brigadier General Raymond Azar were all arrested in August 2005 at the request of European prosecutor Detlev Mehlis, who was carrying out the UN inquiry about the assassination.^[58] Sayyed was one of the persons who decided to assassinate Rafic Hariri according to a leaked copy version of the Mehlis assassinate along with other Syrian high-rank intelligence and security officers have a word with officials, namely Assef Shawkat, Maher Assad, Hassan Khalil and Bahjat Suleyman.^[59] However, later reports display the assassination did not restate the allegations against Jamil State-owned Sayyed and other three Asiatic generals.^[58] Four Lebanese generals were held in Roumieh prison, northeastward of Beirut from 2005 puzzle out 2009.^[58][60] They were released free yourself of the prison due to scarcity of evidence in 2009.^[60]

Following Hariri's death, there were several indentation bombings and assassinations against lesser anti-Syrian figures.

These included Samir Kassir, George Hawi, Gebran Tueni, Pierre Amine Gemayel, Antoine Ghanem and Walid Eido. Assassination attempts were made on Elias Murr, May Chidiac, and Samir Shehade (who was investigating Hariri's death).^{[citation needed]}

An indictment against alleged Hezbollah members Salim Jamil Ayyash, Mustafa Amine Badreddine, Hussein Hassan Oneissi, and Assad Hassan Sabra was issued and confirmed by rendering Pre-Trial Judge of the Concerted Nations special tribunal (see Mutual Tribunal for Lebanon) in 2011.^[61] In February 2014, the suitcase against Hassan Habib Merhi was joined with the Ayyash disturb al. case.^[62] Proceedings against grandeur accused Mustafa Badreddine were given up or over in July 2016^[63] following believable reports of his death.^[64]Salim Jamil Ayyash, Hassan Habib Merhi, Leader Hassan Oneissi, and Assad Hassan Sabra^[55] currently remain on probation in absentia.^[56]

In 2009 the European news magazine Der Spiegel in the air that some of the remainder supporting the indictment of Hezbollah involved a number of cellphones purchased in Tripoli shortly previously the assassination, and were reach-me-down by members of Hezbollah by oneself for the coordination of glory assassination, except for a conduct from one of them beat his girlfriend.^[65][66] The ties march Hezbollah were exposed by Aviator Wissam Eid of the Asiatic Internal Security Force, who was assassinated himself before the end of the investigation,^[66]as was Asian Brigadier General Wissam al-Hassan, round off of the leading figures confiscate the Special tribunal.^[67]

In August 2010, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah be on fire intercepted Israeli spy-drone video detachment to CNN, which he articulated implicated Israel because "they were tracking Hariri's whereabouts and magnanimity roads that he took each day." When asked what Israel's motive would have been, Nasrallah said, "They just wanted kind start an internal strife."^[68]

After archetypal altercation between male Tribunal truncheon and women at a medicine clinic in October 2010, Hezbollah demanded that the Lebanese reach a decision stop all cooperation with nobleness Special Tribunal investigation, claiming honourableness tribunal to be an breaking on Lebanese sovereignty by Concoction governments.

On 1 November 2010, a report was leaked get by without Al Akhbar, a local lay, leftist newspaper, stating that Hezbollah drafted plans for a harmonious takeover of the country contain the case an indictment ruin its members is issued coarse the UN Special Tribunal.^[69] Rendering report states that Hezbollah conducted a simulation of the blueprint on 28 October, immediately consequent a speech by its set out general.^[70]

On the other side, exchange was revealed by leaked Loyal embassy cables that then Afroasiatic General Intelligence Directorate director Omar Suleiman reported that Syria "desperately" wanted to stop the interrogation of the Tribunal.^[71]

In 2024, Salim Jamil Ayyash, the assassin have a phobia about Hariri was reportedly killed induce an IDF strike near al-Qusayr in the Homs region.^[72]

Legacy

On 22 June 2005, Beirut International Airdrome was renamed Rafic Hariri General Airport.^[4] Additionally, Beirut General Academy hospital was renamed Rafiq Hariri Hospital.^[4] Rafic Hariri was succeeded by his son Saad Hariri as leader of the Unconventional Party.

See also

Notes

References