William Hawi

William Amine Hawi (also written: William Haoui, وليم أمين حاوي; September 5, 1908 – July 13, 1976) was a Lebanese commander of the Kataeb Party (الكتائب اللبنانية) better known in English as the Phalange, a right-wing Christian political party in Lebanon.

His second son, William, was born in New York, U.S. in 1908.

Before the family grew and spread its roots in the foreign land, Amine Hawi went back to his homeland in the beginning of 1910, along with his wife and three children.

William Hawi had a passion for sports.

He played football, tennis and loved swimming and skiing.

His sports activities were topped by his participation in the creation of Al Salam Club in Achrafieh.

William Hawi met Pierre Gemayel in sports meetings and the latter invited him in 1937 to join the Lebanese Phalange Organization.

William Hawi accepted Pierre Gemayel's invitation and joined the Phalange Organization in 1937 even when it was working secretly and illegally following a decree ordering its dissolution on November 18, 1938.

He was involved in several issues: consolidating the Party's authority and creating and developing the Kataeb Regulatory Forces in an atmosphere of discipline.

William Hawi's responsibilities increased and became diversified.

In 1947, William Hawi married Marcelle Anis Ghobril.

They lived in Beydoun quarter in Achrafieh and had a single daughter, Leila.

Hawi was a Greek Orthodox Christian.

William Hawi owned a factory of mirrors, which exported its products to the Arab countries and became one of the most important factories in the Middle East before moving from Debbas Square to Jisr el Basha.

He was Head of the second and Fourth Districts, President of the Recruitment Bureau, Head of the Department of Security, Sport and Mobilization on May 29, 1952, and member of the Political Bureau on July 12, 1952.

In 1952, the Lebanese Phalange put William Hawi up for the Beirut Municipal Council in the Achrafieh-Rmeil region, where he obtained the largest number of votes.

He was appointed Head of the Second and Fourth Districts, President of the Recruitment Bureau in 1942, Head of the 'Department of Security, Sport and Mobilization' on May 29, 1952, and member of the Political Bureau on July 12, 1952.

In 1957, Hawi presented himself to the legislative elections but failed.

On June 16, 1958, William Hawi was in charge of organizing and leading the activists during the Lebanese events; this constituted the hub of the Party's Regulatory Forces.

On June 16, 1958, he was in charge of organizing and leading the activists during the Lebanese events; this constituted the hub of the Party's Regulatory Forces, of which he became the leader on February 6, 1961.

The discussions about creating the Phalange Security wing featured several conflicting opinions and lasted interminably before the Party took its final decision to agree to the presence of Regulatory Forces.

On January 23, 1961, the Political Bureau dissolved the militants' organization before including its members in the Lebanese Phalange Party and Hawi created the Regulatory Forces.

On February 6, 1961, William Hawi was appointed Head of said Forces.

On January 23, 1961, the Political Bureau dissolved the militants' organization before including its members in the Lebanese Phalange Party and Hawi created the Kataeb Regulatory Forces.

On February 6, 1961, William Hawi was appointed Head of said Forces.

In 1963, the "First Commandos" unit was created.

It was followed by the "Second Commandos" unit, then by the "B.G" troop.

In 1963, the "First Commandos" unit was created.

It was followed by the "Second Commandos" unit, then by the "P.G."

troop.

With the Palestinian-Lebanese war in 1970, the region of Jisr el Basha fell under the control of the Palestinians living in the camps of Jisr el Basha and Tell el Zaatar and the factory became a primary target for destruction as revenge against its owner: William Hawi, leader of the Lebanese parties opposed to the Palestinian intervention in Lebanese affairs.

The Palestinians broke into the factory, destroyed glass and machines before blowing up the facility.

In 1973, the "Maghaweer" platoon was created and the "Combat School" established.

Moreover, "Chef" William (which means "leader" in French), supervised the setting up of camps as well as the training organization and development, which enabled the progress of the regulatory process.

In 1975, Hawi was leading operations against the Palestinians fighting in Lebanon at the Souks of Beirut, Karantina, Jisr el Basha, Dekwaneh, Galerie Semaan and what is known as the "Battle of the Hotels".

On July 1, 1976, sources of the Kataeb Party announced the fall of the last bastion in Tel el-Zaatar and declared that the Head of the Phalange War Council supervised this operation.

On July 13, 1976, William Hawi was killed by a Palestinian sniper following this victory.

Following his death, Bashir Gemayel was appointed his replacement as president of the Kataeb Military Council, which later became the core of the Lebanese Forces.

William Hawi's family comes from the village of Choueir in North Metn, Lebanon.

William's father, Amine Hawi, emigrated when he was twenty years old.