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Syria's Wealthy Refugees Wait Out War in Beirut

Many affluent Syrians who have escaped the violence sweeping their country have temporarily settled in Beirut, given its proximity to Syria and opulent lifestyle, writes Elie Hajj.
A couple are seen walking at Zaytouna Bay in Beirut October 25, 2012. The party capital of the Arab world, Beirut is a freewheeling city where Gulf Arabs, expatriates and Lebanese emigres fly in to enjoy its luxury hotels. But under the veneer of modernity lie sectarian demons coiled to strike. The car-bomb assassination last Friday of intelligence chief Wissam al-Hassan - an attack almost universally blamed on Syria and its local allies - brought the merry-go-round to a juddering halt. Gunmen and protester
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The continuation of the Syrian crisis has allowed many Lebanese who have never interacted with people from their neighboring country, Syria, to get to know some who counter the prevailing perceptions of Syrians in Lebanon. They have discovered that their neighbors are not the same in terms of culture, potentials, capabilities and lifestyle, but are rather diverse.

In fact, there is a rich Syrian class that is very similar in behavior to many Lebanese, who are, in general, fairly materialistic. This can be seen in the luxury brand cars they own and drive in the streets and suburbs of Beirut that are inhabited by the rich. It is also evident in the lobbies of luxury hotels and in expensive restaurants, which have become meeting places for wealthy Syrians, where the Damascene or Aleppo dialect prevails. It is worth noting that a large percentage of these Syrian women speak foreign languages, such as English or French. This is usually a sign that they descend from aristocratic families.

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