By Andrew L. Jaffee

From 1944 to the early 1970s, Lebanon peaceably prospered thanks mainly to Maronite Christians, and Beirut was fondly known as the “Paris of the Middle East.” Yasser Arafat put an end to Lebanon’s peace in 1971. Now the country is under the influence of Arafat’s legacy: Hezbollah and their Syrian and Iranian allies. Lebanon’s Maronites may end up being a footnote in history books:

Christians are fleeing from Lebanon to escape the rise of radical Islam and growing fears that the trend will result in a Sunni-Shi’ite civil war, with minority Christians trapped in the middle.

In a poll to be published next month, nearly half of all Maronites, the largest Christian denomination in the country, said they were considering emigrating. … [Continues below...]

Of these, more than 100,000 have submitted visa applications to foreign embassies, according to the poll. Their exodus could rob the country of an influential minority, which has acted as an important counterbalance to the forces of Islamic extremism.

About 60,000 Christians have left since the summer’s war between Israel and Hezbollah. Many who remain fear that a violent showdown between rival Sunni and Shi’ite factions is looming. …