Etienne Sakr: The man to lead a free Lebanon
By Mordachai Nisan

He was right from the very beginning. Alone among the leaders, he brought no family, clan, or financial connections in high places to his political venture. Although a kind of outsider, he demonstrated tenacity, persistence, faith and vision, in the long struggle. Etienne Sakr is the living conscience of Lebanon

Etienne Sakr, unlike other Christian leaders in Lebanon, established a multi-ethnic pluralistic party, which called upon all Lebanese regardless of their religious identity to love and serve their country with patriotic commitment. He opposed the use of violence by Lebanese against Lebanese, be they Christians, Muslims, or Druzes. (Samir Geagea failed in this respect, in confronting in battle both Druzes and Christians).

From the beginning of the war in 1975, Abu-Arz identified the Syrians and the Palestinians as the enemies of Lebanon, while other leaders mistakenly believed that the Lebanese should accommodate these two foreign elements in the country. Etienne Sakr was consistently correct in his political judgment and moral stance while Emile Lahoud, before his appointment as president in 1998 and since, traitorously betrayed Lebanon in order to become the head of state.

During the length of the war, Etienne Sakr refused to leave his homeland. He went to the Mountain to protest when the Syrians entered Beirut. Later, forced from Beirut, he went south to Jezzine. Unable to remain there, he moved further south to Deir Mimas and Ayn Ebel. When Israel withdrew from south Lebanon and abandoned its SLA ally, Etienne reluctantly entered Israel. He refused to go abroad in exile as did Michel Aoun, or seek personal gain at home as did Elie Hobeika. His family remained in Beirut while, separated from them, he dedicated himself completely to Lebanon.

Unlike other parties, the Guardians of the Cedars articulated a set of national and ideological principles for educating Lebanese youth and energizing a struggle to renew the spirit of the Lebanese to their country's independence, for a liberal society and honest government. His personal integrity is untarnished, his belief in Lebanon unlimited.

A man of culture, philosophy, and languages, Etienne Sakr has the commanding authority and personal sophistication to lead his people and country. He pains the tragedy of modern Lebanon and represents its ancient non-Arab destiny and identity in his soul.

Etienne Sakr, more than any other political personality, consistently and publicly considered Lebanon and Israel as natural partners and neighbors in the region. Many leaders, like Amin Jemayel, balked at normalization of relations with Israel; others collaborated with Syria's occupation regime and favored Lebanon's assimilation within the Arab world. Abu-Arz is a friend of Israel because he is a patriot of Lebanon.