page_title: William Hawi
section_title: Political role
hierarchical_section_title: William Hawi / Biography / Political role
caption_attribution_description: English: Celebrating the anniversary of the Kataeb in 1971 (William Hawi and Pierre Gemayel)
context_page_description: William Amine Hawi, –, was a Lebanese-American businessman and a leader and militia commander of the Kataeb Party better known in English as the Phalange, a right-wing Christian political party in Lebanon.
  He was appointed 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. 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 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. In 1963, the "First Commandos" unit was created. It was followed by the "Second Commandos" unit, then by the "B.G" troop. In 1973, the "Maghaweer" platoon was created and the "Combat School" established.
context_section_description: 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 in 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. 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. 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 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 "P.G." troop. In 1973, the "Maghaweer" platoon was created and the "Combat School" established. Moreover, "Chef" William supervised the setting up of camps as well as the training organization and development.
caption: Celebrating the anniversary of the Kataeb in 1971 with Pierre Gemayel
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