Gemayel, Bechir (1947–1982)

Lebanese Maronite Christian soldier and politician, assassinated in 1982 while president elect. By the systematic elimination of rival Maronite Christian militia, by 1980 he had uncontested control of a Maronite enclave in East Beirut. The evident distancing of his Phalangist party from Israeli support, and its wish to expel all foreign influence from Lebanese affairs, effected his election as president on 22 August 1982. Having twice escaped assassination, he was killed 22 days later in a car bomb explosion.

The son of Sheikh Pierre Gemayel, he joined the militia of his father's Phalangist party at the age of 11. On his return after a brief period in the USA working in a Washington law office, he was appointed the party's political director in the Ashrefieh sector of East Beirut, and was an active leader of the Christian militia in the civil war of 1975–76 and thereafter.

Syrian or Israeli groups were suspected of being behind Gemayel's assassination and more than 1,000 civilians were killed in a subsequent ‘anti-terrorist sweep’ by the Maronite militia. His brother, Amin Gemayel, replaced him as president.