Beirut 1966: The Collapse of Intra Bank That Shook Lebanon's Golden Age

In 1966, Lebanon's glittering financial capital was rocked by the collapse of Intra Bank, the largest bank in the Arab world. Founded by Palestinian refugee Yusuf Beidas, Intra had become the engine of Beirut's postwar boom, financing skyscrapers, hotels, and regional development. But when a wave of panic triggered a massive bank run in October 1966, the government struggled to contain the damage. This episode explores the rise and fall of Intra Bank, the role of President Charles Helou and Prime Minister Rashid Karami, the intervention of the Kuwait Investment Authority, and how the crisis exposed the fragility of Lebanon's laissez-faire economy. It also asks: did the collapse mark the beginning of the end for Beirut's 'Golden Age'? A story of ambition, miscalculation, and a financial shock that still echoes.

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