"Between modernity tradition Arabian land of dreams incense" Leila Bissat wrote 🇸🇦 transformation from conservative oil nation to modern technologically advanced globally integrated, regional power nation. Why didnt 🇱🇧/🇸🇾 have our own national Lebanese...

Between modernity and tradition, the Arabian land of dreams and incense

TRAVEL

SAUDI ARABIA

Lebaneseauthor

02/07/2025|Leila Bissat

Who would have thought of embarking on a tourist trip to Arabia? A few years ago, the Kingdom was the first destination to find work, start a career, make a fortune. An unlimited number of Lebanese fleeing the 1975 civil war settled there, some permanently and others for some time, just for Lebanon to regain peace and security.

The oil windfly also attracted nationals of other Arab countries, who saw unlimited opportunities, especially in the 70s/80s/90s and even more. Palestinians, Iraqis, Syrians, Egyptians all participated in the construction of this immense desert peninsula bringing their know-how and expertise to the time when the Levant was the beating heart where all the East-West currents were founded.

Wars, conflicts, coups d'état, revolutions, a historical break-up changed the game of part of the Arab world, and a whole think tank emigrated to other horizons, especially where oil, a new source of energy, carried the promise of financial and social security.

Arabia, a land that made Sir Lawrence dream for a long time but worried Lady Gerbrude Bell, announced a different era. Even at that time, the British, greedy for colonialist control, did not think of governing these expanses of sand that they believed to be empty.

Their attention turned to Iraq, a rich country irrigated by two great rivers, the cradle of the oldest and most sophisticated civilization, the source of the first writings, and the longest odysseys and fables. Iraq was coveted for its oil, its three million date plans, its culture and its ethnic diversity.
Arabia escaped the British colonizers.

The AlSaoud family took power and unified the tribes that inhabited this large territory. A kingdom was born and the doors of the desert opened for everyone, so as not to close anymore!

My husband, like many of our Lebanese compatriots, worked there for many years, perpetuating a trade established ...
Post Author: /u/EreshkigalKish2
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"Syria Breakdown, Episode Five: After Assad, Navigating Syria Policy" This view of American interest on Syria

Description

The Syria Breakdown, Episode Five: After Assad, Navigating Syria Policy

WashingtonInstitute

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Feb 14
2025
On February 13, two Washington Institute fellows testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Lane-Swig Fellow and managing director Michael Singh testified before a Senate panel on U.S. policy post-Assad, explaining how patience, pragmatism, and a willingness to lead can help Washington avoid its past vacillation between excessive intervention and exasperated neglect in the Middle East.

Shelly and Michael Kassen Senior Fellow and director of research Dana Stroul testified before a Senate panel on U.S. policy post-Assad, explaining how Washington has another chance for impactful bipartisan action five years after the Syria Study Group
Post Author: /u/EreshkigalKish2
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"Khaled Sabsabi, artist who fled civil war in Lebanon as a child, will represent Australia at the 2026 Venice Biennale" Khaled Trablousi artist has Vision of Inclusivity, Cultural Unity, & Multicultural Storytelling Under Curation of Michael Dagostino

Khaled Sabsabi, artist who fled civil war in Lebanon as a child, will represent Australia at the 2026 Venice Biennale
Sabsabi’s curator will be Michael Dagostino, who also came up through the multicultural western Sydney arts scene
Elizabeth Fortescue
7 February 2025
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Sabsabi has hinted that his work will be an “an inclusive place...to bring people together”

Khaled Sabsabi photographed by Anna Kucera
Sabsabi has hinted that his work will be an “an inclusive place...to bring people together”
Khaled Sabsabi photographed by Anna Kucera
Khaled Sabsabi, who was a child when he and his family sheltered from bombs and snipers during the Lebanese civil war, will represent Australia at the 2026 Venice Biennale.

The announcement was made earlier today by Creative Australia chief executive officer Adrian Collette at Parramatta Artists Studios in Granville—a tough suburb when Sabsabi grew up there, and where his parents ran a video store.

“The video shop and music business that they had specialised in Arabic music, and they had an extensive collection and this formed partly my experience of who I am,” Sabsabi said at the announcement.

While Tripoli-born Sabsabi was able to live in peace after his family migrated to Sydney in 1976, the artist said he still has family connections to the current horror being enacted in the Middle East. His family includes some Palestinian people, although they live in either Lebanon or Australia, not in Gaza.

Asked if the dire situation in Gaza had consciously or unconsciously seeped into the work he plans for Venice, Sabsabi said: “We have tough skin, but you do get bruised. How can you not be affected when you have family, when you have friends, when your family has inter-married with Palestinian people? We need a way forward.”

Sabsabi’s Venice project is strictly under wraps, but he has hinted that it will be “an inclusive place”. The artist said: “It’s a place to bring people together. I like to use the word ‘nurturing’. Looking at my art-making DNA you can see that it will mo...
Post Author: /u/EreshkigalKish2
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"Big Business vs Drug Dealers: The Battle Over Lebanon’s Weed Industry" What will be the new Lebanese government policy regarding cultivation purity of Lebanese landrace strains, their exportation, Lebanese farmers rights, water management & compliance...

"Description

Big Business vs Drug Dealers: The Battle Over Lebanon’s Weed Industry

Lebanon, a country that has been illegally exporting cannabis for decades, has become the first Arab country to legalize the plant for medicinal export.

Despite a collapsing economy, COVID-19 and an explosion that devastated Beirut in 2020, investors are flocking to Lebanon to capitalize upon the new laws.

VICE’s Rony Karkar explores the nuanced relationships between investors and drug lords in an unprecedented time for the country. "
Post Author: /u/EreshkigalKish2
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"The Maronite Odyssey : Cultural Contributions Across Eastern and Western Civilizations"

Description

The Maronite Odyssey : Cultural Contributions Across Eastern and Western Civilizations

Holy Spirit University of Kaslik - USEK
Jan 9
2025
The Maronites have a rich cultural heritage spanning centuries, highlighted by significant milestones throughout their history. In 1584, Pope Gregory XIII founded the Maronite College in Rome, establishing a foundation for a distinguished scholarly tradition. The Maronite Synod of 1736 mandated education for youth, resulting in the creation of numerous schools across Lebanon and the Levant. During the 17th and 18th centuries, Maronite scholars and their students translated Arabic and Islamic works into European languages and Western works into Arabic, fostering East-West and West-East knowledge exchanges and igniting a pre-renaissance in the Levant. In the 19th century, they were instrumental in the Arabic Renaissance, founding presses, publishing books, translating literature, launching journals, and revitalizing the arts while extending their cultural legacy globally through the diaspora. Today, the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik continues this tradition through innovative programs and publications, ensuring the enduring global influence of the Maronite heritage.

The 23 meticulously curated panels featured in the exhibition at the United Nations, held in New York City from December 2 to 8, 2024, illustrate the Maronites’ enduring contributions to global heritage. We warmly invite you to explore this remarkable narrative, which promises to be an educational journey through a legacy that spans centuries and continents.

Curators: Joseph Moukarzel and Fadi Kmeid
Text: Guita Hourani
Post Author: /u/EreshkigalKish2
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How this sub narrative anti Hezb evolved over the last few months.

Lets start,
Disclaimer, those are conclusions by my own observations, if you think otherwise you can exercise your freedom of speech like me in the comments down

7 Oct 2023 - 17th of September 2024
Hezb is dragging us to war but at the same time Hezb isnt doing shit.

17th Sept - EarlyNov
Israel will eliminate Hezb completely, there is no stopping, justification of civilian massacres, justification of targeting civil defense

Mid Nov - 27th Nov
News of Israel asking for a 1701 reimplement was going around, mental breakdowns started in this sub because Israel cant finish the job, a huge number of posts and comments to make it seem like Israel has achieved a complete victory over Hezb, even though Hezb demonstrated the widest scale bombing of Israel in the day before the deal was announced.

Side comment: The deal with the 60 day withdrawal implementation was a big mistake for Hezb, this didnt mean Hezb was gone but took away the momentum and it wouldn't make sense to reignite the war.

27th Nov - presidential elections
Basically more of the above, and also high hopes for Geagea to be president, lmao, here was the first minor shock, as soon as Aoun won, the ones who were hoping and cheering for Geagea shifted to Auon as if its their man

Presidential elections till PM elections
Making every statement and every video that gets released as if tomorrow the army will attack Hezb, and basically the Shiite duo wont be envolved in any gov, and making it seem that the new president is completely anti Hezb

PM selected till now ministers named
When Salam won, again the sub shifted to applaud him as if the guy us theirs, and over the last few weeks, some of the anti Hezb people here were having breakdowns and cursing and attacking Salam.

After the ministers got named, now this sub wants to make them seem as technocrats, well
Berri is laughing and others are crying. Thats all I can say. Berri got Hezb to put guns down, so Berri wont be comprised and he is being rewarded.

Basically some serious takwee3 and copium, best...
Post Author: /u/Impressive_Try
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With the majlis wouzara being birthed soon

Everyone will see how all political factions will fuck over their مبادئ to have a piece of the cake. Yes LF included.

They will all agree for concessions over their principles and continue fucking us over, but people will still be blind to it.
Post Author: /u/g_d_losPH
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Rally 'round the flag effect?

The aim of this post is not to create division. If this post gets heated, I'll delete it immediately.

I'd like to ask you about your shiite friends, colleagues, neighbours, etc. Have you notices any shift in their stance against hezb?

Someone ik was raised in a communist household to a shiite father and a sunni mother. Before the war, she never mentioned hezb, syria or any of that. She had always been in suuport of Palestine though and the oppressed all around the world and was very vocal about it. Religion wasn’t something that she cared for. So being shiite wasn't a big part of her identity. The war seems to have really traumatised her. She once told me how she felt all alone "لوحدنا" and if our own people say so and so about us shu khallo la gherna. I felt sorry for her and understand how she must have felt. Then, she starts attacking people and shows full support to hezb, and starts attacking the Syrian revolution and eljoulani and cuts anyone who shows sympathy and support to them. She called them te33orists and the usual. She never once before mentioned them and once asked me if one of my Syrian friends supports bashar. I felt she was aiming her anger towards them because she couldn't do that towards lebanese ppl maybe? She started telling me how safe el dahye was and bla bla bla as if she's trying to polish their image. Idk much about dahye and I'm not the kind to listen to stereotypes and have never been there myself. I was like why are you telling me this? I feel she's getting a bit radical? Also, she wasn't raised in lebanon, she moved back at 18 and lived there for about 6 years before moving again. She mentioned she went back during the war and that she have lost her home and some distant family members, so I understand her frustration but don't understand the shift in position towards hezb specially having communist background and being part of the public front. They're the complete opposite y3ni. I'm wondering if you have noticed something similar with your acquaintances.
Post Author: /u/Emotional-Giraffe486
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Opinion: This is literally Lebanon's final chance

I would appreciate your opinion on this, here are my thoughts.

If the collapse of the Assad regime, coupled with the military defeat of Hezbollah, does not lead to the establishment of a Lebanese state, then it is reasonable to suggest that this current formula for Lebanon cannot sustain a unified state.

Think about it: if after everything that has happened, the fall of a regime that waged war against Lebanon's sovereignty for decades, the assassination of Nasrallah, and the humiliating military defeat of Hezbollah, we still cannot move forward, then when will we say, "Now is the time to establish a Lebanese state"?

As a Christian who was forced to migrate from Lebanon nearly a decade ago, I am increasingly warming up to the idea of smaller Lebanese territories where each demographic has its own designated area. The concept of "3aysh al-moushtarak" feels increasingly like a false promise. Instead of risking another civil war, wouldn’t it be better to divide the country so that each sect can manage its own territory and develop its own community?

We have tried to build a unified country together, but it seems more and more like an impossibility at this point. I believe many others share this sentiment, and I bet that the majority of Lebanese will feel the same way if Joseph Aoun fails and Hezbollah somehow remains in power once again.
Post Author: /u/Ron_The_Builder
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LAF alongside the people of the South

While most of you on this sub want to make it seems as if the people from the Jnoub are against the army and other's lying that they were rejoicing at the martyrdom of the soldier

Here is the Lebanese army confronting a Merkava in defense of the country in Maroun al Ras

22 dead, 100+ injured and you are making fun of them and criticizing them and having the balls to stand up for their land
Post Author: /u/scipioo_africanus
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If it really is over

WHY THE FUCK DO I STILL HEAR THAT FUCKING DRONE AND WHY HASNT ANYONE SHOT IT DOWN YET

anyways I don’t believe the war is truly over , israel is gonna finish what they started , I read their books , they want our land and they won’t stop til they get it . Btw I can easily leave lebanon if I wanted to , but I come from a depressing ass country , I rather die on homeland than live in Canada ew
Post Author: /u/sober4lifee
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Bachelor party in Beirut

Hey there! I’m in charge of one of my best friends bachelor party and Beirut came into the conversation. He lived in Dubai for 2 years and met a lot o Lebanese people which he always described has super friendly and happy, similar to our way of being (we’re portuguese). Having that said, it’s one of the destinations we are considering and wanted to ask the community a couple of questions:

1) would you consider a good place to go?
2) how is the political situation? Any risk of things being shut down or safety issues?
3) would we be able to find good eletronic music parties?
4) is alcohol cheap?

The weeding is only july 26 so the trip would be done later this year or june next year.

Thank you in advance for your time and my apologies if this is not the correct sub to ask this!
Post Author: /u/decothegoat
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Hezeb el entisar is relying on the dawle now

http://mtv.com.lb/News/1542160

Seems they accepted that they lost and can’t act militarily anymore. All the threats for the past few weaks were nothing but a show for their sheep.

They are relying on the government to deal with israel, that’s new. Since they are so keen on the agreement hopefully they will disarm soon
Post Author: /u/Bilbo_swagggins
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US pledges $117 million in aid to Lebanese Army

The United States has announced it would donate more than $117 million in security assistance for Lebanon's armed forces, as the crisis-hit country seeks to implement a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.

The State Department said in a statement that it had convened a "virtual donors meeting" on Thursday "with partners and allies to discuss critical security assistance needed for Lebanon to fully implement the cessation of hostilities."

Full story 👇

https://m.naharnet.com/stories/en/310495-us-pledges-117-million-in-aid-to-lebanese-army
Post Author: /u/Lebanese_SR4
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Israel's extremism is no less dangerous than Hezbollah's extremism.

https://preview.redd.it/o7ifqcnvvtde1.png?width=882&format=png&auto=webp&s=71cd320fbe77274cfa1c1157d1a160d98ad725f4

How tf is this the Finance Minister, for example:

And don't even get me started on Ben Gvir, national security minister and the ideological descendant of a US-designated Jewish Terrorist organization (imagine how bad it is if the US are sanctioning Jews).
Post Author: /u/Standard_Ad7704
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