Rafic Hariri - Beginnings in Philanthropy

Beginnings in Philanthropy

Lebanon
This article is part of the series:
Politics and government of
Lebanon
Constitution
  • Constitution of 1926
Executive
  • President
    • Michel Suleiman
  • Prime Minister
    • Najib Mikati
  • Cabinet
Legislature
  • Parliament
    • Speaker
      • Nabih Berri
  • Current members
Political parties
  • Lebanese Forces
  • Movement of the Future
  • Kataeb Party
  • Hezbollah
  • Free Patriotic Movement
  • Syrian Social Nationalist Party
Elections
  • Presidential 2008
  • Parliamentary 2009
  • Local 2010
Other issues
  • Governorates
  • Districts
  • Municipalities
  • Armed Forces
  • Human rights
  • Foreign relations
  • Other countries
  • Atlas

Politics portal

Having accumulated his wealth, Hariri started a number of philanthropic projects, including the building of educational facilities in Lebanon. Hariri became progressively more embroiled in politics. His appeals to the U.N. and services as an emissary to the Saudi Royal family won him international recognition on the political stage for his humanitarian efforts but also slowly caught him in the web of Lebanese politics.

In 1982, he donated $12 million to Lebanese victims of the 1978 South Lebanon conflict and helped clean up Beirut's streets with his company's money. After the conflict, he acted as an envoy of the Saudi royal family to the country. He laid the groundwork that led to the 1989 Taif Accord, which Saudi Arabia organised to bring the warring factions together. Taif put an end to the civil war and paved the way for Hariri to become prime minister.

Read more about this topic:  Rafic Hariri

Famous quotes containing the words beginnings and/or philanthropy:

    “When the beginnings of self-destruction enter the heart it seems no bigger than a grain of sand.”
    —John Cheever (1912–1982)

    “I shall not be forward to think him mistaken in his method who quickest succeeds to liberate the slave. I speak for the slave when I say that I prefer the philanthropy of Captain Brown to that philanthropy which neither shoots me nor liberates me.”
    —Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)