ISRAEL AND THE PALESTINIANS

Sir, - Mr Hugh McCabe claims that Lebanon is a democracy and has been since 1927

Sir, - Mr Hugh McCabe claims that Lebanon is a democracy and has been since 1927. To quote a famous tennis player of yore, "You cannot be serious!"

Lebanon is occupied by 40,000 Syrian troops and is no more than a protectorate - its affairs are overseen by Damascus.

In 1927 and onwards until after the war, Syria was governed by France and again was no more than a protectorate. So true democracy did not exist in Lebanon except for a short time in the 1950s. - Yours, etc.,

Dr FRANK FINE,

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