Lebanese Official Proposes Ban on Land Sales Between Christians and Mulsims

In Lebanon, Labor Minister Butros Harb, concerned about demographic changes being caused by the sale of Christian-owned land to Muslims, has proposed a new law that would prohibit Christians and Muslims from selling land to each other for a period of 15 years. Lebanon's Daily Star today reports that the proposal, which will be submitted to the Cabinet for discussion, will likely draw criticism. However proponents say it is necessary to reassure Christians and safeguard national co-existence in the face of large scale land sales which some say have political and military objectives.