What is the atmosphere like among people in Lebanon? Do they talk about it, or do they try to not think about it? If they are, what do they say? Are they confident, worried, scared?
It is the ONLY subject. Even when they go out to have fun, it is in the back of their minds. And all conversations revolve around it. "Are you having family lunch this Sunday? Of course we are, if the situation allows it!" People are confident and scared. Lebanon has been destroyed by Israeli jets many times. We know the cost. But we are fed up. We think this should be the last battle. Win or lose. It all depends on each side's allies too. To be clear, lots of people do not like Hezbollah. But the greatest majority does not trust Israel and the West. The hatred for Israel supersedes opposition to the Hezbollah. Many Lebanese think that Israel is behind the port blast in 2020 that destroyed Beirut.

How do you see the war in Gaza? What do others in Lebanon think about it?
It is clearly a brutal genocide. Few people in Lebanon are surprised by the brutality of the Israelis. A lot of empathy for the Palestinians.

Do people want the war with Israel, or do they prefer peace?
No one wants war, but the alternative has never been peace. Not in the West Bank, not in Jerusalem, not in Gaza, and not even in Lebanon, Syria, etc. All those times that the American media did not mention Palestine, war was going on. Israel bombed Syria on a weekly basis since 2011.

Do you see the US as a culprit in Israel's war on Gaza? Do others?
The US is seen as the main enabler of the Israeli bold attitude. Israel would have lost all the previous wars if the US was not supporting it. And the rationale behind invading, destroying Syria, boycotting Iran etc., is always seen as a favour for Israel.

Do you think the Near-East would be better off without Israel? If yes, why?
Israel is the exact antithesis of Lebanese and Palestinian mentality: multi-confessional, anti-war, soft power... The area was better off before. There was interaction between all countries. On both sides of my family, we had relatives in Bagdad, Damascus, Lattakia, Cairo, Alexandria, and of course, Jerusalem and Haifa. Since the creation of Israel, and the establishment of rigid boundaries of pseudo nation-states, people have stopped travelling. Geographically, Israel is in the middle between us all. Discontinuity of roads...


Anything else you want to say?
Be informed and take a courageous stand. People are dying, families are destroyed, livelihoods are gone.
Israel is the result of Western anti semitism. Palestinians (and Lebanese) have paid a high price.
The only solution is a single state.

What do you mean by a "single state?"
One state with Jews (not Zionists) and Palestinians living together. This was the initial Palestinian request - no partition - in 1948 or before.