On September 14, 1982, Lebanon was struck by a political earthquake: the assassination of President-elect Bashir Gemayel that was not merely an attack on a man; but an evil and Trojan assault on the very soul of Lebanon, a calculated blow aimed at destroying the fragile dream of an independent and sovereign nation. Bashir Gemayel was more than a leader—he was the embodiment of hope, a symbol of escape from the devastation of war of others, and the promise of a unified Lebanon, free from the iron grip of foreign manipulations.
Bashir Gemayel did not just represent a political faction; he carried the torch of a national project, a vision to restore Lebanon’s sovereignty and place it firmly in the hands of its people. In the chaos of a Lebanon torn apart by regional and international powers, Gemayel stood as a bulwark against foreign meddling. As the leader of the Lebanese Forces, he spearheaded the formation of a military force with one purpose: to protect Lebanon’s integrity and independence.
Elected on August 23, 1982, Gemayel’s rise to the presidency sparked a renewed sense of hope in a population battered by civil wars since 1975. For many Lebanese, his election was a lifeline—an opportunity to rebuild a nation at the brink of disintegration. His presidency was poised to usher in a new era of security, sovereignty, and unity, a direct challenge to the factions and foreign actors who profited from Lebanon’s fragmentation.
In one of Lebanon’s darkest hours, just days before assuming presidential office, Bashir was assassinated in a bomb attack that obliterated the Phalange Party headquarters in Ashrafieh. This wasn’t just the murder of a man—it was the assassination of a vision and a dream for a free and independent Lebanon. Those responsible weren’t merely seeking to eliminate Gemayel; they sought to snuff out the dream of national sovereignty. His killers sent a brutal message: Lebanon would remain a playground for foreign interests, and any attempt to wrest control back into the hands of its people would be met with violence, plots, assassinations, wars and destruction.
The heinous crime was a calculated move by forces that thrived on Lebanon’s instability, who saw Gemayel’s vision and dream of a strong Lebanon as a threat to their grip on power. His assassination was a dagger plunged into the heart of every Lebanese citizen who longed for a future free from foreign domination and internal division.
Bashir Gemayel’s assassination sent shockwaves through the country, deepening the fractures in Lebanon’s social and political landscape. It was a blow not just to the Lebanese people, but to the very idea of a cohesive, sovereign state. The murder of Lebanon’s president-elect symbolized the unraveling of a nation already teetering on the edge of collapse. It opened the door to more foreign meddling, more chaos, and a renewed cycle of violence that would grip the country for years to come.
Even today, the reverberations of this assassination are felt across Lebanon. Gemayel wasn’t just another political leader; he was a unifying force, the embodiment of a national project to reclaim Lebanon’s independence. His assassination serves as a stark reminder that Lebanon’s battle for sovereignty is not merely an internal struggle, but a perpetual fight against external powers that seek to divide and exploit it. The assassination of Bashir Gemayel stands as a sobering lesson for all Lebanese: the road to a truly independent state is long and fraught with danger. Lebanon’s future can only be secured through unity and an unyielding commitment to sovereignty. The forces of division are relentless, but the people’s resolve must be stronger.
The murder of Bashir Gemayel was not the end of Lebanon’s struggle—it marked the beginning of new challenges. Today, remembering this crime should inspire current and future generations to redouble their efforts in securing a sovereign, peaceful, and united Lebanon, free from the chains of foreign control and internal discord.
In conclusion, the assassination of Bashir Gemayel is not merely a chapter in Lebanon’s history; it is a deep and unhealed wound in the nation’s fabric. His death was a direct assault on a project of national revival—a deliberate attempt to crush the possibility of a Lebanon where sovereignty, stability, and peace could reign. The memory of his assassination should serve as a rallying cry for all Lebanese, a reminder that the fight for independence is ongoing and must be pursued with unwavering determination.
