Pierre Amine Gemayel

Pierre Amine Gemayel was born in Beirut on 24 September 1972 to a Maronite Christian family that has long been involved in Lebanese politics.{{cite news|last=Karam|first=Zeina|author-link=Zeina Karam |title=Son of political dynasty earned his place in party| url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/son-of-political-dynasty-earned-his-place-in-party/2006/11/22/1163871481810.html|access-date=16 March 2013 |newspaper= The Sydney Morning Herald|date=23 November 2006|location=Beirut}} Gemayel was the eldest son of former President Amine Gemayel and grandson of Pierre Gemayel, founder of the Kataeb Party.{{cite news|date=21 November 2006|title=Lebanese Christian leader killed|work= BBC News| url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/low/middle_east/6169606.stm}} He was also the nephew of former president-elect Bachir Gemayel, who was assassinated in Beirut in 1982.{{cite news|title=Gemayel's Death One More Blow to Lebanese Political Dynasty|url=https://www.voanews.com/a/a-13-2006-11-21-voa29/398442.html| access-date=16 March 2013|publisher= Voice of America|date=31 October 2009}}{{cite news |last= Asser |first= Martin| title= Obituary: Pierre Gemayel | url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6169978.stm |access-date= 21 November 2016|work=BBC News|date= 21 November 2006}}

Gemayel studied law in Beirut and Paris, and began his legal career at a firm in Beirut. A short while later he took over the legal practice of his father.{{cite book| last= Perthes| first= Volker| title= Arab Elites: Negotiating the Politics of Change| location= London| publisher= Lynne Rienner Publishers| year= 2004| isbn= 9781588262660}}

Gemayel started his political life in the year 2000, when he was elected to Parliament in the Matn District as an independent.{{cite news|title=Opposition Candidates Win Elections|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/LEBANON+-+Sept.+3+-+Opposition+Candidates+Win+Elections.-a073739331|access-date=10 March 2013|work=APS Diplomat Recorder|date=9 September 2000}}{{cite news|last=Rabil|first=Robert G.|title=The Maronites and Syrian withdrawal: from "isolationists" to "traitors"?|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/The+Maronites+and+Syrian+withdrawal%3a+from+%22isolationists%22+to...-a080013150|access-date=18 March 2013|work=Middle East Policy|date=1 September 2001}}{{cite journal|last=Yehia|first=Ranwa|title=A lighter Syrian shadow|journal=Al-Ahram|date=31 August – 6 September 2000|volume=497|url=http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2000/497/re4.htm|access-date=15 April 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021223092442/http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2000/497/re4.htm|archive-date=23 December 2002}} An active member of the Kataeb movement (an offshoot of the Kataeb Party), he rejoined his father in the Qornet Shehwan Gathering.{{cite journal|title=Qornet Shehwan Gathering|journal=Middle East Mirror|url=http://themiddleeastmirror.weebly.com/uploads/7/5/3/0/7530186/qornet_shehwan_gathering.pdf|access-date=14 April 2013|archive-date=5 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121005052919/http://themiddleeastmirror.weebly.com/uploads/7/5/3/0/7530186/qornet_shehwan_gathering.pdf|url-status=dead}} He was re-elected in 2005.{{cite news|last=Wimmen|first=Heiko|title=Rallying Around the Renegade|url=http://www.merip.org/mero/mero082707|newspaper=MERIP|access-date=12 June 2012|date=27 August 2007}} On the other hand, he was the only member of the Alliance list of 14 March to win a parliamentary seat in the Metn district.{{cite web|title=Sheikh Pierre Amine Gemayel|url=http://kataebonline.org/PIERRE_AMINE_GEMAYEL.html|publisher=Kataeb Online|access-date=14 June 2012|archive-date=17 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120617004956/http://www.kataebonline.org/PIERRE_AMINE_GEMAYEL.html|url-status=dead}}

He was well known for his opposition to Syrian occupation and influence in Lebanon. He was against the mandate ruling of President Émile Lahoud, and took part in the Cedar Revolution after the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.{{cite news|title=Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel quick biography|url=http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Politics/Nov/21/Industry-minister-Pierre-Gemayel-quick-biography.ashx|access-date=11 June 2012|newspaper=The Daily Star|date=21 November 2006}}{{Dead link|date=February 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} In July 2005, he was named minister of industry in Fouad Siniora's government. He served as the representative of the Phalange party in the Siniora government.{{cite news|title=Lebanon on the Brink of Civil War (3)|url=http://www.memri.org/report/en/0/0/0/0/0/0/1795.htm|work=MEMRI|access-date=16 June 2012|format=Inquiry & Analysis Series Report No.302|date=23 November 2006}}

File:Mass 5.jpg

On 21 November 2006, the day before Lebanese Independence Day, at least three to four opened fire at close range on Gemayel with five different types of suppressed automatic weapons, all using 9mm bullets, after ramming his car from the front in the Jdeideh suburb north of Beirut with a Honda CRV with tinted windows that they were driving.{{cite news|last=Hatoum|first=Leila|title=Politics Investigations into Gemayel murder focus on fingerprints, surveillance footage|url=http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Politics/Nov/28/Investigations-into-Gemayel-murder-focus-on-fingerprints-surveillance-footage.ashx|access-date=10 June 2012|newspaper=The Daily Star|date=28 November 2006|archive-date=5 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120805141517/http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Politics/Nov/28/Investigations-into-Gemayel-murder-focus-on-fingerprints-surveillance-footage.ashx|url-status=dead}}[http://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/-assassination-sparks-new-lebanon-crisis-/2006/11/23/2109346.htm "Assassination sparks new Lebanon crisis"], tmcnet.com. Retrieved 21 November 2016.[http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=2&article_id=77183 "Brammertz visits site of Gemayel assassination"], The Daily Star (Lebanon). Retrieved 20 November 2016. Gemayel was the fifth prominent anti-Syrian figure to be killed in Lebanon in two years.Sharon Behn,[http://www.washtimes.com/world/20061122-120508-9270r.htm "Killing seen as bid by Damascus, Tehran to hit U.S. role in Mideast"], The Washington Times, 22 November 2006.

Gemayel was visiting his electoral district of Metn, in Jdeideh that day. The method by which Gemayel was assassinated is much more brazen than that used in the past – gunmen killing in broad daylight, rather than anonymous car bombs detonated remotely. He was rushed by his driver, who escaped the attack unhurt, to St. Joseph's Hospital, where he was declared dead.{{cite news|title=Anti-Syrian Leader Killed in Lebanon|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/LEBANON+-+Nov+21+-+Anti-Syrian+Leader+Killed+In+Lebanon.-a0156739582|access-date=19 March 2013|work=APS Diplomat Recorder|date=18 November 2006}} His bodyguard, Sameer Chartouni, was also killed in the attack.

His killers issued a communique in which they referred to themselves as the "Fighters for the Unity and Liberty of Greater Syria." They said that they killed Gemayel because he was "one of those who unceasingly spouted their venom against Syria and against Hezbollah, shamelessly and without any trepidation". Those allegations could point the fingers at the Syrian Social Nationalist Party that has a long history of political assassinations in Lebanon.{{cite news| url= http://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Columnists/Column-One-The-Gemayel-warning| title= The Gemayel warning| first= Caroline| last= Glick| work= The Jerusalem Post| date= 24 November 2006| access-date= 21 November 2016}}{{Cite web |title=Lebanon's Unsolved Political Killings: A Brief Recent History |url=https://iranwire.com/en/world/103366-lebanons-unsolved-political-killings-a-brief-recent-history/ |access-date=2024-12-01 |website=iranwire.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2021-02-07 |title=Lebanon’s growing list of assassinations: A historical perspective |url=https://english.alarabiya.net/features/2021/02/07/Lebanon-crisis-Lebanon-s-growing-list-of-assassinations-a-historical-perspective |access-date=2024-12-01 |website=Al Arabiya English |language=en}}

A report by Kuwaiti daily Al-Seyassah alleged that an editor from the state-run Syrian Arab News Agency contacted a Lebanese pro-Syrian newspaper 55 minutes prior to the assassination to inquire about the murder. The story claims the SANA reporter called back 10 minutes later to apologize for the original call. Al Seyassah further states it did not name the Lebanese newspaper to protect its identity.{{cite news|last=Nahfawi|first=Ghina|title=The Situation in Lebanon after the Assassination of Pierre Gemayel|url=http://www.currentconcerns.ch/index.php?id=206&print=1&no_cache=1|access-date=23 March 2013|work=Current Concerns|year=2006}}

Lebanese law requires the dissolution of the government if one third of the 24-member Cabinet resign or become unavailable. It has been speculated that Gemayel's assassination was an attempt by pro-Syrian groups to reach the required third, and so force the current Government from power. With the recent resignation of six Hezbollah MPs from the Cabinet, added to Gemayel's death, the resignation or death of only two more ministers would topple the government. Others from the close circle of Pierre Gemayel would speculate that his fast political ascension had bothered many local powers mainly Syria's regime allies.

Others have, however, put forward many conspiracy theories regarding the murder{{cite news| url= http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mark-levine/who-killed-pierre-gemayel_b_34797.html |first= Mark |last= Levine| title= Who Killed Pierre Gemayel?| work=HuffPost| date= 23 November 2006| access-date= 21 November 2016}}

such as a possible false flag operation. Many have questioned Syria's interest in targeting the Christian society as that could have the effect of destabilising a rival Christian party, namely Michel Aoun's Free Patriotic Movement which, together with Hassan Nasrallah's Shia Group Hezbollah, forms the largest parliamentary pro-Syrian block. However the pro-Syrian coalition managed to establish a sit-in, later growing into a protest camp, in the martyr's square downtown Beirut, to insist on their demands.

Despite these claims, the unidentified perpetrators are still at large and the investigation on the attack has been inconclusive.{{cite news|title=Lebanese Power-brokers: The Most Powerful Families of Lebanon| url=http://www.marcopolis.net/lebanese-power-brokers-the-most-powerful-families-of-lebanon-1510.htm| access-date=23 March 2013| work=Marcopolis.net |date=15 October 2012}}

A funeral ceremony for him was held on Martyrs' Square on 23 November 2006 with the participation of hundreds of thousands of supporters of the 14 March Alliance, and turned to be a political character. In Martyrs' Square, 800,000 men, women, and children gathered, waving Lebanese flags in red, white, and green, alongside posters of Pierre Gemayel.{{cite news |title=Lebanese bid farewell to slain Christian leader |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna15847595 |access-date=27 February 2025 |agency=The Associated Press |publisher=NBC News |date=22 November 2006}} His body was buried in his hometown Bikfaya after Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir performed the rites in Beirut.{{cite news|title=Crowds defy Syria at Gemayel's funeral|url=http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20061124/int/int3.html|access-date=23 March 2013|work=Jamaica Gleaner|date=24 November 2006|agency=Reuters|location=Beirut|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808052019/http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20061124/int/int3.html|archive-date=8 August 2014}}

File:Flickr 9.jpg

Saad Hariri, then majority leader of the Lebanese Parliament and the head of the Current for the Future political movement, accused Syria of ordering the killing.{{cite web|title=March 14 minister killed in terrorist attack|url=http://www.beirutbeltway.com/beirutbeltway/2006/11/march_14_minist.html|publisher=From Beirut to the Beltway|access-date=14 June 2012|date=21 November 2006}} The Syrian government denied any involvement, and condemned the killings.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/6172110.stm "Crowds mourn Lebanon politician"], BBC. Retrieved 1 April 2007.

Lebanese Druze leader Walid Jumblatt also blamed Syria for the assassination, and said he expected more such killings aimed at undermining the Lebanese parliament's ruling majority. "I bluntly accuse the Syrian regime", Jumblatt said.[http://yalibnan.com/site/archives/2006/11/jumblatt_blames.php "Jumblatt blames Syria for Gemayel's murder"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930215821/http://yalibnan.com/site/archives/2006/11/jumblatt_blames.php |date=30 September 2007 }}, yalibnan.com; November 2006.

Samir Geagea, the leader of The Lebanese Forces, one of the major Christian parties, demanded President Émile Lahoud resign, and also accused Syria of ordering the killing.{{Cite web |last= |first= |last2= |date=2012 |title=Geagea Confirms Assassination Attempt: We Won’t Halt Our Revolution No Matter How Hard they Try |url=https://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/35709 |access-date= |website=Naharnet}} Michel Aoun, leader of The Free Patriotic Movement, strongly condemned the murder, and argued that it was aimed at generating chaos and uncertainty, primarily among the Christian society in Lebanon. Similar remarks and condemnation were issued by almost all of the major Lebanese political players.{{Cite web |last=Aribo |first=Men |date=2016-11-21 |title=10 Years Later, Who Killed Pierre Gemayel? |url=https://menaribo.com/2016/11/21/10-years-later-who-killed-pierre-gemayel/ |access-date=2024-12-03 |website=Menaribo - من أريبو |language=en}}

The U.N. Security Council condemned Gemayel's assassination.[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/21/AR2006112101022.html Assassination increases tensions with Syria, Iran] The Washington Post 21 November 2006

Pope Benedict XVI's representative at the funeral condemned the "unspeakable" assassination.{{cite news|title=Pope condemns assassination of leading Catholic politician|url=https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/8118/pope-condemns-assassination-of-leading-catholic-politician|access-date=13 January 2014|agency=Catholic News Agency|date=22 November 2006|location=Vatican City|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080421141449/http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/Display_news.asp?section=World_News&subsection=Gulf%2C+Middle+East+%26+Africa&month=November2006&file=World_News2006112481549.xml|archive-date=21 April 2008}}

British Prime Minister Tony Blair condemned the murder.{{cite news|title=Blair 'utterly condemns' Lebanon assassination|url=http://www.politics.co.uk/news/2006/11/21/blair-utterly-condemns-lebanon-assassination|access-date=16 March 2013|work=Politics|date=21 November 2006}} Margaret Beckett, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in the United Kingdom, called the killing "contrary to the interests of all in the region" in a press conference aired on Al Jazeera English approximately an hour after Gemayel's death was confirmed.

The White House also condemned the murder.{{cite news|last=Slackman|first=Michael|title=Anti-Syrian Minister Is Assassinated in Lebanon|page=2|newspaper=The New York Times|date=21 November 2006

|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/21/world/middleeast/22lebanoncnd.html?hp&ex=1164171600&en=9f7167b70dac932f&ei=5094&partner=homepage|access-date=21 November 2006}} The U.N. Ambassador John R. Bolton said, "One pattern we discern in these political assassinations of Lebanese leaders – journalists, members of parliament – they are all anti-Syrian. So I suppose one can draw conclusions from that," he said.

Gemayel married Patricia Daif, a Lebanese Christian, in 1999, and they had two sons, Amine and Iskander (Alexander). The wedding was held in Limassol, Cyprus, so that Gemayel's father, who was then in self-exile, could attend.

• List of assassinated Lebanese politicians

{{Reflist|colwidth=33em}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070930202244/http://yalibnan.com/site/archives/2006/11/who_killed_leba.php Who killed Lebanon's Minister?], Ya Libnan, 21 November 2006
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070930185433/http://yalibnan.com/site/archives/2006/11/lebanon_mourns_9.php Lebanon mourns its fallen minister], Ya Libnan, 22 November 2006

{{Commons category|Pierre Amine Gemayel}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gemayel, Pierre Amine}}

Category:1972 births

Category:2006 deaths

Category:Lebanese Maronites

Category:Kataeb Party politicians

Category:Members of the Parliament of Lebanon

Category:Industry ministers of Lebanon

Pierre Amine

Category:People murdered in Lebanon

Category:Deaths by firearm in Lebanon

Category:Terrorism deaths in Lebanon

Category:Assassinated Lebanese politicians

Category:21st-century Lebanese politicians

Category:Assassinations in Lebanon

Category:Children of presidents of Lebanon

Category:Lebanese anti-communists

Category:Maronite politicians

Category:Asian politicians assassinated in the 2000s

Category:Politicians assassinated in 2006