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Salim Al-Huss

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In this Lebanese name, the father's name is Ahmad and the family name is al-Huss.
Salim al-Huss
سليم الحص
Al-Huss in 2005
34th Prime Minister of Lebanon
In office
8 December 1976 – 20 July 1980
PresidentElias Sarkis
Preceded byRashid Karami
Succeeded byTakieddin el-Solh
In office
2 June 1987 – 24 December 1990*
President
See list
Preceded byRashid Karami
Succeeded byOmar Karami
In office
6 December 1998 – 23 October 2000
PresidentÉmile Lahoud
Preceded byRafic Hariri
Succeeded byRafic Hariri
Acting President of Lebanon
In office
24 September 1988 – 5 November 1989*
Prime MinisterHimself
Preceded byAmine Gemayel
Succeeded byRené Moawad
In office
22 November 1989 – 24 November 1989*
Prime MinisterHimself
Preceded byRené Moawad
Succeeded byElias Hrawi
Personal details
Born
Salim Ahmad al-Huss

(1929-12-20)20 December 1929
Beirut, Lebanon
Died25 August 2024(2024-08-25) (aged 94)
Spouse
Leila Pharaoun
​
(died 1990)​
Children1
Alma materAmerican University of Beirut
Indiana University Bloomington
*Al-Huss's term was disputed between 22 September 1988 and 13 October 1990 by Michel Aoun.

Salim Ahmad al-Huss (Arabic: سليم أحمد الحص, romanized: Salīm ʾAḥmad al-Ḥuṣṣ; 20 December 1929 – 25 August 2024), also spelled Selim El-Hoss, was a Lebanese politician who served as the prime minister of Lebanon and a longtime Member of Parliament representing his hometown, Beirut. He was known as a technocrat.[1]

Early life and personal life

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Salim al-Huss was born into a Sunni Muslim family in Beirut on 20 December 1929.[2] His father died when he was 7 months old. In 1941, he fled with his mother and grandmother fled from Beirut to Sawfar.[3] He received his undergraduate degree in economics from the American University of Beirut and a PhD in business and economics from Indiana University in the United States in 1961.[4][3]

Al-Huss was married to Leila Pharaoun, a Maronite Christian who converted to Islam at the end of her life in order to be buried next to her husband in a Muslim cemetery, according to a 2000 interview with al-Huss.[5][6]

Political career

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Al-Huss served as prime minister of Lebanon four times. The first was from 1976 until 1980 during the first years of the Lebanese Civil War.[7] His second, and most controversial term, was from 1987 until 1989, when in 1988 he unconstitutionally nominated himself as prime minister but was recognized by many nations and statesmen of the international community.[8] Al-Huss was chosen a third time to serve as prime minister by President Elias Hrawi from November 1989 until December 1990. He served as prime minister again from December 1998 to October 2000.[9]

During his political career, he served as foreign minister, industry minister, education minister, labor minister, information minister, and economy minister.[10]

He was a member of the anti-imperialist conference Axis for Peace. Al-Huss was a strong opponent of capital punishment, and during his term as prime minister he refused to sign any execution warrants, temporarily halting executions in Lebanon, which remain rare.[11]

First premiership

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Al-Hoss was appointed Prime Minister by President Elias Sarkis in December 1976. His government was formed amidst the ongoing civil war, which began in 1975 and involved various factions, including Palestinian groups, Christian militias, and Syrian forces. Despite his efforts to create peace, al-Hoss faced significant challenges, including renewed fighting between militias and the Syrian army, as well as the Israeli invasion in 1978. The internal political situation deteriorated, leading to his resignation on July 20, 1980, as he was unable to manage the ongoing violence and instability effectively. He was succeeded by Takieddin as-Solh.[12]

Rival governments

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From January to September 1988, he boycotted meetings of his own cabinet, in protest against the policies of President Amine Gemayel. On 22 September, he refused to accept his dismissal in favour of General Michel Aoun, a Maronite Christian. The crisis was precipitated by the failure of the National Assembly to elect a new president (in Lebanon, the president by convention is a Maronite Christian, while the Prime Minister by convention is a Sunni Muslim[13]).

Since the Lebanese constitution states that in the event of a presidential vacancy, the outgoing president appoint a temporary prime minister to act as president, outgoing president Gemayel decided to appoint Maronite army commander Michel Aoun to that office, notwithstanding the tradition of reserving it for a Sunni Muslim. al-Huss refused to concede the prime minister's post to Aoun, so the two ended up heading rival administrations; with Aoun occupying the presidential palace in East Beirut, al-Huss established his own office in West Beirut.[14]

Lebanon was thus left with no president and two rival governments: one constitutional and the other recognized by many states. However, although Syria, at the time occupying much of Lebanon, supported al-Huss, and although al-Huss' cabinet was already operational, most of the international community dealt with administrations on both sides of the Green Line and recognized both as Lebanon's prime ministers even though, constitutionally speaking, Aoun was the lawfully-appointed prime minister and acting president of Lebanon.[15]

Violent conflict between the two prime ministers soon arose over Aoun's refusal to accept the presence of Syrian troops in Lebanon. In competition with Aoun, al-Huss remained acting president from 1988 until 5 November 1989, when René Moawad took office. When Moawad was assassinated seventeen days later, al-Huss reprised his role as acting president for two days, at which point Elias Hrawi was elected to succeed Moawad.[15]

In 1990, the civil war ended when Aoun was forced to surrender following an attack on the presidential palace by Syrian and Lebanese military forces. Al-Huss subsequently resigned as prime minister, in favour of Omar Karami.[16]

Final premiership

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Al-Hoss was appointed Prime Minister after General Émile Lahoud was elected president. His government was notable for excluding many of the traditional feudal leaders and warlords who had dominated Lebanese politics. This shift aimed to create a more technocratic and reform-oriented administration. After losing his parliamentary seat to a previously unknown candidate running with former prime minister Rafik Hariri in the general elections of 2000,[17] al-Huss resigned as prime minister, declaring an end to his political career.[18][19]

Retirement and death

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In March 2005, he was considered as a candidate to form a new government following the resignation of Omar Karami (Prime Minister again), but he reportedly refused to accept the position for health reasons; Najib Mikati was subsequently appointed.[20] On 2 May 2017, aged 87, al-Huss took part in a one-day hunger strike in a show of solidarity with the ongoing hunger strike of some 1,500 Palestinian prisoners.[21][22]

Al-Huss died on 25 August 2024, at the age of 94.[23][24]

Bibliography

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  • Hoss, Salim (1974). "The Development of Lebanon's Financial Markets". Retrieved 26 August 2024 – via Folios Ltd.
  • Ḥuṣṣ, Salīm (1981). نافذة على المستقبل ؛ محاضرات وبحوث في القضية اللبنانية [Window on the Future] (in Arabic). دار العلم للملايين،. Archived from the original on 26 August 2024. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
  • Lebanon: Agony & Peace. 1982. Retrieved 26 August 2024 – via UMAM BIBLIO.
  • لبنان على المفترق [Lebanon at the Crossroads] (in Arabic). 1984. Retrieved 26 August 2024 – via Institute for Palestine Studies.
  • نقاط على الحروف / سليم الحص [Dots on the Is] (in Arabic). 1987. Retrieved 26 August 2024 – via Institute for Palestine Studies.
  • حرب الضحايا على الضحايا [A War Among Victims] (in Arabic). 1988. Retrieved 26 August 2024 – via koha.birzeit.edu.
  • Ḥuṣṣ, Salīm (1991). على طريق الجمهورية الجديدة: مواقف ووثائق [On the Road to a New Republic] (in Arabic). المركز الاسلامي للاعلام والانماء. Archived from the original on 26 August 2024. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
  • Ḥuṣṣ, Salīm (1991). عهد القرار والهوى: تجارب الحكم في حقبة الانقسام، ١٩٨٧-١٩٩٠ [The Epoch of Resolution and Whim] (in Arabic). دار العلم للملايين،. Archived from the original on 26 August 2024. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
  • Huss, Salim (1992). زمن الأمل والخيبة: تجارب الحكم ما بين 1976 و 1980 [A Time of Hope and Disappointment] (in Arabic). دار العلم للملايين. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
  • ذكريات وعبر [Reminiscences and Lessons] (in Arabic). 1994. Retrieved 26 August 2024 – via Institute for Palestine Studies.
  • Huss, Salim (2001). للحقيقة والتاريخ تجارب الحكم ما بين 1998 و2000 [For Fact and History] (in Arabic). شركة المطبوعات للتوزيع والنشر. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
  • Huss, Salim (2002). محطات وطنية وقومية [Nationalist Landmarks] (in Arabic). شركة المطبوعات للتوزيع والنشر. Archived from the original on 26 August 2024. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
  • Huss, Salim (2003). نحن والطائفية [Face-to-Face with Sectarianism] (in Arabic). شركة المطبوعات للتوزيع والنشر. Archived from the original on 26 August 2024. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
  • Huss, Salim (2004). عصارة العمر [Gist of a Lifetime] (in Arabic). شركة المطبوعات للتوزيع والنشر،. Archived from the original on 26 August 2024. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
  • Huss, Salim (2005). صوت بلا صدى [Sound without Echo] (in Arabic). شركة المطبوعات للتوزيع والنشر،. Archived from the original on 26 August 2024. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
  • سلاح الموقف [Stance as weapon]. 2006. Retrieved 26 August 2024 – via koha.birzeit.edu.
  • Huss, Salim (2008). في زمن الشدائد لبنانياً وعربياً [Epoch of Agonies] (in Arabic). شركة المطبوعات للتوزيع والنشر. ISBN 978-9953-88-215-4. Archived from the original on 26 August 2024. Retrieved 26 August 2024.

References

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  1. ^ "Former five-time Lebanese prime minister Salim Hoss dies at 94". AP News. 2024-08-25. Retrieved 2024-08-26.
  2. ^ Profile of Selim Hoss. International Who's Who of the Arab World Limited. 1984. ISBN 978-0-9506122-1-8. Archived from the original on 2023-10-14. Retrieved 2018-01-14.
  3. ^ a b "رحيل سليم الحص عن 95 عاما". موقع عرب 48 (in Arabic). 25 August 2024. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
  4. ^ "HE Salim El-Hoss, PhD". aub.edu.lb. Archived from the original on 2024-08-25. Retrieved 2024-08-25.
  5. ^ Boustany, Nora (1989-11-14). "Hoss Named Premier in Lebanon". Washington Post. Retrieved 2020-08-09.
  6. ^ "Salim Hoss, A prime minister so misunderstood". Prestige. February 2000. Archived from the original on 2019-04-09. Retrieved 2020-08-09.
  7. ^ "Salim Hoss - Prestige Magazine". Prestige Magazine. 2015-02-06. Archived from the original on 2019-04-09. Retrieved 2016-10-13.
  8. ^ "Syria's Ignominious Role in the Lebanese Civil War". The International Magz. Archived from the original on 2024-08-25. Retrieved 2024-08-25.
  9. ^ "الرؤساء السابقون". www.pcm.gov.lb. Archived from the original on 2018-10-13. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
  10. ^ "Lebanon's Salim Al-Huss, former Prime Minister and statesman, passes away". LBCI. 25 August 2024. Archived from the original on 26 August 2024. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
  11. ^ "Death penalty resumes in Lebanon". BBC. 17 January 2004. Archived from the original on 23 April 2016. Retrieved 15 January 2008.
  12. ^ prestige (2015-02-06). "Salim Hoss". Prestige Magazine. Retrieved 2024-08-26.
  13. ^ "Former five-time Lebanese prime minister Salim Hoss dies at 94". AP News. 25 August 2024. Archived from the original on 26 August 2024. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
  14. ^ Zeidan, Adam (13 November 2019). "Michel Aoun". Encyclopaedia Britannica. Archived from the original on 12 August 2024. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
  15. ^ a b "Timeline: Lebanon". BBC News. 9 May 2008. Retrieved 18 May 2008. Lebanon now has two governments – one mainly Muslim in West Beirut, headed by Al Huss, the other, exclusively Christian, in East Beirut, led by the Maronite Commander-in-Chief of the Army, Gen Michel Aoun.
  16. ^ "Hoss Resigns as Premier of Lebanon". Los Angeles Times. Beirut. AP. 19 November 1990. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
  17. ^ Shahin, Mariam (1 October 2000). "For liberty, prosperity, fraternity?". The Middle East. Beirut. Archived from the original on 12 May 2019. Retrieved 25 March 2013.
  18. ^ Gambill, Gary C.; Ziad K. Abdelnour (July 2001). "Dossier: Rafiq Hariri". Middle East Intelligence Bulletin. 3 (7). Archived from the original on 8 May 2014.
  19. ^ "Hariri Forms Govt". APS Diplomat Recorder. 28 October 2000. Archived from the original on 25 September 2021. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
  20. ^ "February 2005". Rulers. Retrieved 10 April 2013.
  21. ^ "Lebanon's ex-PM Salim Hoss joins Palestinian prisoners' hunger strike". The New Arab. 3 May 2017. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
  22. ^ "DFLP-affiliated hunger strikers set to refuse water if Israel ignores demands". Ma'an News Agency. Archived from the original on 22 September 2017. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  23. ^ "Former Prime Minister Salim Hoss Passed Away". MTV Lebanon. Archived from the original on 2024-08-25. Retrieved 2024-08-25.
  24. ^ "Former five-time Lebanese prime minister Salim Hoss dies at 94". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 2024-08-25. Retrieved 2024-08-25.
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Political offices
Preceded by Prime Minister of Lebanon
1976–1980 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Prime Minister of Lebanon
1987–1990 		Succeeded by
Preceded by President of Lebanon
Acting
1988–1989 		Succeeded by
Preceded by President of Lebanon
Acting
1989 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Prime Minister of Lebanon
1998–2000 		Succeeded by
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