BIOGRAPHY
When Elie Hobeika was born into a humble Kleat household on 22 September 1956, few would have guessed at the time he would emerge as a crucial figure in the history of late twentieth century Lebanon.
From a young age, Elie amazed his family, friends and classmates by displaying all the attributes of a great leader - honesty and integrity, genuinely interested in the welfare of others and always doing what was right rather than what was popular.
In 1975, just 19 years old, Elie was called upon to play a major role in the history of his country for the first time. War in Lebanon triggered his sense of responsibility towards what he felt would be his ultimate commitment - loyalty to a cause which to him seemed unjust.
Regarded far and wide as a man of strong heart, persuasive personality and formidable determination, Elie joined the Lebanese Forces. Using his sharp tactical mind and strategic thinking to succeed in each military missions entrusted to him, Elie climbed ever higher in the higher echelons of the Lebanese Forces.
His intelligence, dedication and sense of loyalty projected Elie to the position of Chief of Security and Intelligence where he excelled in creating a protection shield around the Christian areas of Lebanon at a time when booby trapped cars were a constant daily threat for its troubled population.
Always keeping the welfare and survival of the Christian community in Lebanon close to his heart, Elie considered the time has come to offer peace a chance and a new pact of co-existence to all Lebanese communities to bring an end to years of bloodshed. Translating his passionate beliefs into strong words, Elie became one of the major creators of the Tripartite Agreement that he hoped would end conflict and solder a Lebanese unity long fractured by internal wars.
Sponsored by Syrian President Hafez El Assad, the Tripartite Agreement brought together the various Lebanese Christian forces (led by Elie Hobeika), Shiite Amal Movement (Nabih Berri) and Walid Joumblat's Druze Socialist Progressive Party.
Tragically Elie's blueprint for peace never saw the light of day; the Tripartite Agreement rejected by his Christian peers. Five years later, the Taif Agreement was accepted by all Lebanese factions, almost identical in its main aims and spirit to Elie's Tripartite Agreement. The world recognised that Elie Hobeika was a leader ahead of his time.
The 1990 Taif Agreement brought an end to the Lebanese Civil War and Elie embarked upon a political career. Government posts as Minister of State for the Displaced, Minister for Social Affairs and the Handicapped and later Minister of Electricity and Water in 1996 followed in a post-war government aiming to start a new era of understanding and democracy for the Lebanese people.
For more than 25 years, Elie Hobeika built a deserved reputation for loyalty and confidentiality, powerful personal qualities that earned him respect amongst his peers.
These same qualities also made him feared in some quarters. When several assassination attempts failed, his enemies turned to unfounded allegations to discredit his name and reputation. Israel named Elie Hobeika as the man who personally directed the massacre at Sabra and Shatila where an estimated 3,000 Palestinians were murdered.
Elie vowed to respond and cast aside the Sabra and Shatila allegations. For the first time of his life he turned to the courts for justice, announcing he would disclose all the information at his disposal, identify and bring to justice the real culprits responsible for the massacres. This much he owed to his friends, allies, family and to himself.
Just a few days later, and before he had the chance to testify in court, Elie Hobeika was assassinated, murdered in cold blood alongside his faithful bodyguards in a huge car bomb attack at his house in the Beirut suburb of Hazmiyeh.
Elie Hobeika's murder remains unresolved. His life was short, yet meaningful to so many. His death robbed Lebanon of a man who could have brought stability and prosperity to a country much in need of a leader to rise above the bitter political, historical and religious squabbles - if only his life had not been cruelly cut short.
When Elie Hobeika was born into a humble Kleat household on 22 September 1956, few would have guessed at the time he would emerge as a crucial figure in the history of late twentieth century Lebanon.
From a young age, Elie amazed his family, friends and classmates by displaying all the attributes of a great leader - honesty and integrity, genuinely interested in the welfare of others and always doing what was right rather than what was popular.
In 1975, just 19 years old, Elie was called upon to play a major role in the history of his country for the first time. War in Lebanon triggered his sense of responsibility towards what he felt would be his ultimate commitment - loyalty to a cause which to him seemed unjust.
Regarded far and wide as a man of strong heart, persuasive personality and formidable determination, Elie joined the Lebanese Forces. Using his sharp tactical mind and strategic thinking to succeed in each military missions entrusted to him, Elie climbed ever higher in the higher echelons of the Lebanese Forces.
His intelligence, dedication and sense of loyalty projected Elie to the position of Chief of Security and Intelligence where he excelled in creating a protection shield around the Christian areas of Lebanon at a time when booby trapped cars were a constant daily threat for its troubled population.
Always keeping the welfare and survival of the Christian community in Lebanon close to his heart, Elie considered the time has come to offer peace a chance and a new pact of co-existence to all Lebanese communities to bring an end to years of bloodshed. Translating his passionate beliefs into strong words, Elie became one of the major creators of the Tripartite Agreement that he hoped would end conflict and solder a Lebanese unity long fractured by internal wars.
Sponsored by Syrian President Hafez El Assad, the Tripartite Agreement brought together the various Lebanese Christian forces (led by Elie Hobeika), Shiite Amal Movement (Nabih Berri) and Walid Joumblat's Druze Socialist Progressive Party.
Tragically Elie's blueprint for peace never saw the light of day; the Tripartite Agreement rejected by his Christian peers. Five years later, the Taif Agreement was accepted by all Lebanese factions, almost identical in its main aims and spirit to Elie's Tripartite Agreement. The world recognised that Elie Hobeika was a leader ahead of his time.
The 1990 Taif Agreement brought an end to the Lebanese Civil War and Elie embarked upon a political career. Government posts as Minister of State for the Displaced, Minister for Social Affairs and the Handicapped and later Minister of Electricity and Water in 1996 followed in a post-war government aiming to start a new era of understanding and democracy for the Lebanese people.
For more than 25 years, Elie Hobeika built a deserved reputation for loyalty and confidentiality, powerful personal qualities that earned him respect amongst his peers.
These same qualities also made him feared in some quarters. When several assassination attempts failed, his enemies turned to unfounded allegations to discredit his name and reputation. Israel named Elie Hobeika as the man who personally directed the massacre at Sabra and Shatila where an estimated 3,000 Palestinians were murdered.
Elie vowed to respond and cast aside the Sabra and Shatila allegations. For the first time of his life he turned to the courts for justice, announcing he would disclose all the information at his disposal, identify and bring to justice the real culprits responsible for the massacres. This much he owed to his friends, allies, family and to himself.
Just a few days later, and before he had the chance to testify in court, Elie Hobeika was assassinated, murdered in cold blood alongside his faithful bodyguards in a huge car bomb attack at his house in the Beirut suburb of Hazmiyeh.
Elie Hobeika's murder remains unresolved. His life was short, yet meaningful to so many. His death robbed Lebanon of a man who could have brought stability and prosperity to a country much in need of a leader to rise above the bitter political, historical and religious squabbles - if only his life had not been cruelly cut short.