The Lebanese have seen it all, from civil war to the 2019 protests demanding an end to revolving door politics, from the 2020 port of Beirut explosion that exposed the tragic consequences of nepotism to Israel’s 2024 operation to neutralize longtime foe Hezbollah. Now Israel’s ground forces are back to again take on Tehran-backed foe Hezbollah. Thus, Lebanon finds itself the second front of the month-long war launched against Iran.
We’ll ask about a return to life during wartime, the 1-point-2 million displaced, the UN peacekeepers killed or injured, and how Lebanon can break with half a century of armed factions that act as laws unto themselves. That depends in part on how regional powers fare during the current war. For more than half a century, they've often used Lebanon as the vacant lot where they settle scores by proxy.
But it also depends on the Lebanese themselves, to see whether the attempts by a younger generation to go beyond confession and clan can finally bear fruits.
Produced by François Picard, Rebecca Gnignati, Juliette Laffont, Ilayda Habip, Charles Wente.
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Nadim HOURY Executive Director of the Arab Reform Initiative
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Dalal MAWAD Correspondent, Al-Araby TV ; author of "All She Lost"
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Jad SHAHROUR Spokesperson, Samir Kassir Foundation
English (US) · 