Historian Makram Rabah. (Credit: OLJ archive photo)
On March 17, Makram Rabah, American University of Beirut professor, historian and political activist, was summoned to appear before General Security for remarks he had made on one of many TV appearances. In a program broadcasted a few days earlier by the website Lebanon debate, he sarcastically claimed that the fact that "Israel would take over the Litani" would be preferable to "turning the river into a sewer," pointing clearly to the issue he was talking about: the pollution caused by the millions of cubic meters of sewage that regularly flow into the river.
What followed can only be called character assassination of a man who is harshly critical of the delusions in our local political scene, and outright accusations of being an Israeli agent, an accusation that can be considered as a death sentence to say the least. Obviously, these people, who are comfortable replacing their criticism of his remarks (which they are entitled to) with cheap ad hominem, are devoid of any engagement with his remarks.
The amount of hate and ignorance directed at Rabah on Twitter/X was unbelievable and somewhat directed by those that Makram names openly, Hezbollah, with many throwing out mindless accusations (aware of the implications such accusations entail) that perplexed me and many others who have been taught by Rabah.
For those who do not know, Makram teaches two courses that are invaluable to Lebanese historical knowledge, starting with the history of Lebanon up until the civil war, and the others, which readers should find interesting, is the history of the US and the Middle East — starting with the Barbary Wars in 1801, up until the Gulf War in 1990. More than 200 years of history are covered by Rabah, who doesn’t shy away from saying things as they are. Rabah rarely holds back from pointing out American meddling in the region, yet people continue to call him a Western pawn. He never shied away from criticizing American foreign policy, such as Amos Hochstein’s meddling in Lebanese politics, but still, the left calls him a Western agent. Students under his guidance have traversed a historical landscape that spans from Lebanon’s own storied past to the broader geopolitical machinations in Iran, Palestine, and Afghanistan. His commitment to uncovering the layers of history is evident in his candid discussions about blatant instances of Western meddling, such as the events leading up to the 1979 Iran revolution. While most mainstream academics applaud the Shah, Makram showed us that the conditions in Pahlavi’s years were cruel, marked by suppression of leftists and comprehensive cooperation with Israel.
Beyond the facade of AIPAC
In an ironic twist, Rabah, now accused of being an agent of influence for pro-Israel groups, once educated his students about the realities and actions of lobbying groups, such as AIPAC and their sway over American politics. The very institution that his detractors allege he represents was scrutinized and studied in his classroom in a scientific and critical manner, but it seems this isn’t enough for them.
When the AUB CCS (Cultural Club of the South) comes out and reposts an Al Akhbar article accusing Makram of being an Israeli beneficiary and spy, then do this knowing what this entails implicitly. And when AUB fails to put out a statement about one of their brightest and most influential professors being detained for hours, then you know that AUB is in trouble. What is most disturbing with the case of the CCS is that all of its members in AUB have ready access to Makram and his classes and material, but rather than engage him critically, they choose to publish articles from a newspaper that has consistently shown itself to be a mouthpiece for Hezbollah, through its notably long history of hit-pieces.
Championing unity
Perhaps the most telling aspect of Rabah’s career is his dedication to Lebanese unity. His approach to teaching history is not one of division but of convergence. By illuminating the shared experiences of different Lebanese factions, he fosters a sense of national cohesion over sectarian divide. This is the man whose life's work contradicts the very allegations of treason and betrayal thrown his way. Look no further than his two mentors; Kamal Salibi and Abul Rahim Abu Husayn. These two giants worked tirelessly to bring to light Lebanese history in an effort to save us from a future looking like the reality we are stuck in today.
It is clear that the narrative and the accusations being spun by student groups like CCS in Beirut and media outlets like Al Akhbar are not only baseless but also an affront to the very education he has provided — a holistic and critical examination of the region's past and present. Students and faculty of AUB should stand in opposition to reckless accusations and flawed logic, or else fall into the trap of the same illusions that turned Lebanon from a haven of free speech to a jungle ruled by tyrants and murderers.
Nasser Hafez is a researcher and a graduate of the American University of Beirut (BA, 2023)