Phalange MPs Propose Turning Syrian Withdrawal from Lebanon to National Holiday
Phalange MPs Samer Saadeh and Sami Gemayel presented on Tuesday a draft law on turning the Syrian withdrawal from Lebanon into a national holiday.
The first article of the law called for dedicating April 26 of every year as the day of “resistance and liberation from the Syrian occupation.”
This day should be a holiday for all official administrations, schools, and universities, it continued.
The second article called for dedicating an hour at schools a day before the holiday to explain the significance of the occasion.
Saadeh said: “Lebanon has endured several occupations throughout its history and the Lebanese have remained attached to freedom that has been a product of its democratic system.”
He explained that foreign armies remained in Lebanon despite its independence in 1943 and it marked their complete withdrawal in 1946 with a national day.
On May 25, 2000 the Israeli army withdrew from southern Lebanon after an 18-year occupation and the occasion has been marked with the resistance and liberation national holiday, he continued.
“Then on April 26, 2005 the Syrian army withdrew from Lebanon as a result of a military resistance at first and later a popular one after a nearly 30-year occupation and the death of thousands of martyrs,” said Saadeh.
The MP noted that the decision to make the Israeli withdrawal as a national holiday should be applied to the Syrian withdrawal as well “in order to recognize the sacrifices of the martyrs of the whole of Lebanon and their credit in liberating the country.”
The Syrian army withdrew from Lebanon following massive local and international pressure in light of the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri on February 14, 2005.
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