Smaller Lebanon

[Ricardolindo]

Let's say that either Lebanon is never expanded or it's partitioned in the 1940s. Either way, it's limited to the former Mount Lebanon Mutasarrifate and Beirut with the rest of the territory in Syria. Such a Lebanon would have remained majority Christian forever. Such a Lebanon would have been more Francophile and pro-Western than the other Middle Eastern countries. It would also likely have recognized Israel at some point. What effects does this have on the Middle East?

 

[NotDavidSoslan]

Let's say that either Lebanon is never expanded or it's partitioned in the 1940s. Either way, it's limited to the former Mount Lebanon Mutasarrifate and Beirut with the rest of the territory in Syria. Such a Lebanon would have remained majority Christian forever. Such a Lebanon would have been more Francophile and pro-Western than the other Middle Eastern countries. It would also likely have recognized Israel at some point. What effects does this have on the Middle East?

Tangentially related to your POD, I am thinking of making a timeline where the SSNP doesn't launch a terrorist campaign in 1950s Syria and comes to power by 1955, implementing a totalitarian regime similar to Saddam Hussein's Iraq.

 

[Jackson Lennock]

After the famine, the Maronites believed they needed more land.

When France surrendered Alexandretta to Turkey, the Syrians demanded Tripoli be ceded to them as compensation. Emile Edde went further, and proposed surrendering Akkar and Baalbek too.

 

[Ricardolindo]

After the famine, the Maronites believed they needed more land.

When France surrendered Alexandretta to Turkey, the Syrians demanded Tripoli be ceded to them as compensation. Emile Edde went further, and proposed surrendering Akkar and Baalbek too.

View attachment 81466

The French could have refused to expand Lebanon.
Alternatively, Lebanon could have been partitioned in the 1940s with the non-Maronite areas going to Syria. By then, it was clear that Lebanon could not remain majority Christian with those borders.

 

[Ricardolindo]

The French could have refused to expand Lebanon.
Alternatively, Lebanon could have been partitioned in the 1940s with the non-Maronite areas going to Syria. By then, it was clear that Lebanon could not remain majority Christian with those borders.

BTW, not all Christians were pro-Lebanon. Many, if not most, non-Maronite Christians were pro-Syria. I have read that the Maronites actually prefered Shia Muslims to Orthodox Christians because the Orthodox Christians were viewed as too pro-Syria while the Shia Muslims were viewed as harmless peasants.

 

[Jackson Lennock]

The French could have refused to expand Lebanon.
Alternatively, Lebanon could have been partitioned in the 1940s with the non-Maronite areas going to Syria. By then, it was clear that Lebanon could not remain majority Christian with those borders.

You could also just have the borders of the region drawn a bit differently. The Zionists at the Paris Peace Conference wanted Jabal Amil and Golan. Britain also had an interest in Suwayda. France wanted Mosul.

BTW, not all Christians were pro-Lebanon. Many, if not most, non-Maronite Christians were pro-Syria. I have read that the Maronites actually prefered Shia Muslims to Orthodox Christians because the Orthodox Christians were viewed as too pro-Syria while the Shia Muslims were viewed as harmless peasants.

Orthodox Christians consistently played a disproportionate role in Syrian and Palestinian nationalist movements.

Shia in 1920 revolted to be part of Syria though. The tensions were bitter enough that in 1948, the Maronites on the border asked the Israelis to conquer their villages during the Hiram Campaign.

 

[Ricardolindo]

You could also just have the borders of the region drawn a bit differently. The Zionists at the Paris Peace Conference wanted Jabal Amil and Golan. Britain also had an interest in Suwayda. France wanted Mosul.

View attachment 81468


Orthodox Christians consistently played a disproportionate role in Syrian and Palestinian nationalist movements.

Shia in 1920 revolted to be part of Syria though. The tensions were bitter enough that in 1948, the Maronites on the border asked the Israelis to conquer their villages during the Hiram Campaign.

What 1920 Shia revolt was that? I can't find anything about it.