No mention of a political organization in Lebanon called al-itihad al Ishtirakih al Arabi could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

However, in neighbouring Syria, there is a pro-Egyptian left-wing party called Ittihad al Ishtiraki al-Arabi (Political Handbook 1999 1999, 948; PoliSci.com Apr. 2001). In Lebanon, there is a party called Union Party whose president is Omar Harb (IDREL n.d.). Omar Harb ran as a Sunni candidate in the third district of the Bekaa province (Rashaya and West Bekaa) in the 2000 parliamentary elections (Lebvote 2000a), but failed to get elected (Lebvote 2000b). However, another Sunni candidate, Abdul (Abdel) Rahim Mrad, was among the five elected in the third district (Lebvote 2000b) and was appointed education minister in the Lebanese cabinet headed by Rafik Hariri in October 2000 (RafikHariri.net 20 Oct. 2000). According to an "autobiography", Abdel-Rahim Mrad was born in Ghazzeh (West Bekaa) in 1942, is married with four children (one deceased) and holds degrees in business administration and law (Lebvote 2000c). He led the Union Party from 1977 to 1982, was appointed Western-Bekaa-Rashaya MP in 1991 and was elected in that constituency in the 1996 and 2000 parliamentary elections (ibid.) . Abdel-Rahim Mrad was first appointed Minister of Education in 1996 (ibid.).

Further information on the Union Party of Lebanon and factional divisions could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

IDREL n.d. "Lebanon Political Parties." http://www.idrel.com.lb/lgppa/parties/ [Accessed 22 Nov. 2001]

Lebvote. 2000a. "The Candidates" http://www.lebvote.com/Lebvote/English/candidates/Bekaa.asp [Accessed 22 Nov. 2001]

_____. 2000b. "List of Winning Candidates." http://www.lebvote.com/Lebvote/English/results/Results2.asp [Accessed 22 Nov. 2001]

_____. 2000c. "Autobiography: Abdel-Rahim Mrad." http://www.lebvote.com/Lebvote/English/candidates/Bekaa.asp [Accessed 22 Nov. 2001]

Polisci.com. April 2001. "Syria." http:www.polisci.com/almanach/nations/nation/SY.htm [Accessed 22 Nov. 2001]

Political Handbook of the World 1999. 2000. Edited by Arthur S. Banks. Binghamton, NY: CSA Publications

RafikHariri.net. 20 October 2000. "Cabinet Policy: The New Lebanese Government." http://english.rafikhariri.net/article.php?sid=145 [Accessed 22 Nov. 2001]

IRB databases

LEXIS/NEXIS

Internet sources including:

Center-Right/Conservative Political Organizations

Governments on the www: Political Parties

Leftist Parties of the World

World News Connection (WNC)

Search Engines:

Google

MetaEureka