Many Lebanese Christians consider themselves "Phoenician," not Arab

An interesting article in Al Arabiya (Arabic) says that many Lebanese, especially Maronite Christians, do not consider themselves Arabs - but rather Phoenicians.

The Christians remain upset at a provision in the Taif Agreement that considers Lebanon to have an "Arab character," although on the other hand it also makes it clear that Lebanon is independent from the rest of the Arab world.

According to the article, a geneticist finds that some 30% of Lebanese have Phoenician genes, although they are generally mixed.