Occasional DigestRafik Hariri was a Lebanese businessman who had become wealthy in the 1970s. His started to use his wealth for philanthropic projects in Lebanon, including the building of educational facilities and making large donations to various groups.
Working as an envoy of the Saudi royal family, Hariri was involved in the groundwork that led to the 1989 Taif Accord, which brought an end to the civil war which had started in 1975.
