Beirut | Los Angeles is a nonpartisan albeit progressive project for peace, linking Americans with Lebanon in particular and the Middle East more generally. The site was established in July 2006 upon the outbreak of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon. It intends to serve a coalition of NGOs operating in Los Angeles, Beirut and other cities in the United States and the Middle East.

We share the ethos that armed attacks of any kind cannot resolve political differences; that all parties must abide by international law and established conventions; and that peace comes with just solutions that address the needs of all concerned. Everyone in the Middle East must be empowered to enjoy the benefits of self-determination, and the rights and privileges so aptly laid down in the United Nations Charter and the Constitution of the United States.

Any organization with a mission of peaceful bridge-building between east and west is welcome to become a partner in the project. We established this peace project with the name Beirut-Los Angeles in honor of the recent Sister City relationship forged between Los Angeles and Beirut, in June 2006. Indeed, this is the 50th year of sister cities, and fittingly, sister cities were established to foster peace and cultural exchange. The mission of Sisters Cities International is to "promote peace through mutual respect, understanding, and cooperation—one individual, one community at a time." To become a partner of Beirut-Los Angeles, visit the partner link.

Background
On June 30, 2006—less than two weeks before the outbreak of war—an accord was signed establishing the Los Angeles-Beirut Sister City relationship. This accord intended to create a bridge of understanding and friendship between the residents of these two great cities, and to foster cultural, social, and business exchange. Sisterly ties were officially established on August 27th, 2005 and the accord was signed in Beirut less than a year later, witnessed by Los Angeles Council Member Dennis Zine and Council President Eric Garcetti, along with the citizen committee of L.A.-Beirut.org. L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa also signed the motion. Representing Beirut was Abdulmonem Al-Aris; the Mayor of Beirut, and VP of the Beirut City Council, Tawfic Kfoury. To learn more about the official relationship between Los Angeles and Beirut, visit the new sister city web site.

About Us
This web site is donated by Levantine Cultural Center—a nonprofit arts organization in Los Angeles, established in 2001 to explore the contemporary arts and traditional cultures of the Middle East and Mediterranean. The site was designed and produced pro bono by Rachel Campbell. It is edited by Jordan Elgrably and our contributing editors. Content has been donated by writers and artists in the U.S., Europe and the Middle East. We seek to expand our advisory board of contributing editors and invite you to contact us.

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