FLOSSI WAVES GOODBYE TO A TYRANT
After the First World War, Syria and Lebanon were ruled by France under a League of Nations mandate, following the defeat of the Ottoman Empire. The governance structure, known as the French Mandate for Syria and Lebanon, officially began in 1923 and lasted until the mid-1940s. Here’s an overview of how France administered these territories:
Background:
Post-Ottoman Arrangement:
After World War I, the Ottoman Empire’s Middle Eastern territories were divided among the victors under the Sykes-Picot Agreement (1916). This agreement anticipated French control of Syria and Lebanon.
The League of Nations granted France the formal mandate for these territories in 1923, based on its claim to historical and cultural ties in the region and its military presence after the war.
Initial Occupation:
French military forces entered the region in 1920, defeating local resistance at the Battle of Maysalun and taking control of Damascus, the political and cultural heart of Syria.
Governance Structure:
Division into States:
France divided the Syrian mandate into several states along sectarian and regional lines to weaken nationalist unity:
State of Damascus
State of Aleppo
Alawite State (later Latakia)
Jabal Druze
Greater Lebanon (separated as a distinct entity, eventually becoming modern Lebanon)
This divide-and-rule strategy exploited ethnic and religious divisions to maintain control.
Direct French Rule:
France retained significant administrative authority over the region, appointing governors and officials and controlling foreign policy, security, and economic decisions.
Constitutional Development:
France introduced constitutions in Syria and Lebanon but maintained veto power over significant political decisions. Syrian efforts to gain independence were frequently rebuffed.
Resistance and Rebellion:
Syrian Nationalism:
Syrian nationalists resisted French rule, demanding independence and unification of the fragmented states.
The Great Syrian Revolt (1925–1927) was a large-scale uprising led by Druze leaders and Syrian nationalists, which France suppressed brutally using heavy military force.
Lebanese Response:
In Lebanon, the French fostered closer ties with the Christian Maronite community, creating tensions between Christian and Muslim populations. This favoritism fueled long-term sectarian divides.
French Policies:
Economic Exploitation:
France developed infrastructure but largely directed resources to benefit French commercial interests. Agriculture, trade, and industries like silk production were integrated into the French economy.
Cultural Influence:
France sought to promote French culture, language, and education, particularly in urban areas, creating a Francophone elite class.
Military Presence:
French troops were stationed throughout Syria and Lebanon to enforce order, quell uprisings, and secure French interests.
Toward Independence:
World War II Impact:
During World War II, the Vichy French government initially controlled the region, but Free French forces, backed by Britain, took over in 1941.
Amid growing nationalist pressure and international support for independence, France agreed to gradually transfer power.
Full Independence:
Lebanon gained independence in 1943, followed by Syria in 1946, after prolonged negotiations and mounting resistance to continued French influence.
Legacy:
The French Mandate left a mixed legacy:
Administrative Fragmentation: The division of territories by France sowed divisions that affected regional unity.
Sectarianism: French policies deepened sectarian divides, particularly in Lebanon, influencing future conflicts.
Nationalism: Harsh rule fueled strong nationalist movements, which ultimately led to independence.
FLOSSI WANTS TO KNOW: WHERE IS ELI COHEN?
Eli Cohen (1924–1965) was an Israeli spy who had a daring undercover operation in Syria during the 1960s. His remarkable ability to infiltrate Syrian high society and provide crucial intelligence to Israel remains a legendary tale of espionage.
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Early Life and Recruitment:
Eli Cohen was born to Jewish parents of Syrian descent in Alexandria, Egypt.
As a young man, he was deeply influenced by Zionist ideals and supported the creation of the state of Israel.
After being expelled from Egypt during the anti-Jewish sentiment following the Suez Crisis in 1956, Cohen moved to Israel, where he was recruited by Mossad, Israel's intelligence agency, in 1960.
His fluency in Arabic, French, and Hebrew, as well as his ability to blend in seamlessly, made him an ideal candidate for covert operations.
Undercover Identity in Syria:
Cohen was given the identity of "Kamel Amin Thaabet," a wealthy Syrian businessman returning to his homeland after living in Argentina. In 1961, he infiltrated Syrian society, quickly gaining the trust of military and political elites.
His charm, intelligence, and generosity allowed him to attend high-level gatherings, where he gathered critical information about Syria's military and political strategies.
Espionage Achievements:
Cohen's intelligence contributions were monumental. He provided detailed reports on Syrian fortifications in the Golan Heights, which proved invaluable during the Six-Day War in 1967.
One famous anecdote describes how Cohen suggested planting eucalyptus trees near Syrian military installations to provide shade for soldiers—a suggestion that allowed Israeli forces to identify and target these locations during the war.
Discovery and Capture:
In 1965, Syrian counterintelligence, with assistance from Soviet experts, detected unusual radio transmissions from Cohen's Damascus apartment. After his capture, Cohen was interrogated, tried in a secretive military court, and sentenced to death. Despite international appeals for clemency, including from Pope Paul VI and French President Charles de Gaulle, Syria executed him by public hanging on May 18, 1965.
Legacy:
Eli Cohen's bravery and sacrifice are deeply honored in Israel. He is remembered as a national hero, and his intelligence work is credited with saving countless lives.
His remains have not been returned to Israel, despite ongoing efforts by Israeli authorities.
His story has been the subject of books, films, and the 2019 Netflix series The Spy, starring Sacha Baron Cohen, which dramatized his life and work.