The imminent war between Israel and Hezbollah creates ripple effects within Lebanese society and its inner discourse. The Jerusalem Post reached out to two Lebanese anti-war activists, Dr. Ghassan Bou Diab and A., who make efforts to promote peace between the ancient people from the two sides of the border, on and offline.
The interviews have been translated and edited for content:
My name is Dr. Ghassan Bou Diab, and I want to convey a message of peace from the Land of the Cedars to the Israeli people.
After 75 years of meaningless clashes between Lebanon and Israel, it is time to think about a different approach. Time to consider what the late brave Begin and Sadat said in Camp David under US patronage: ‘no more war, no more bloodshed, no more tears.’
Because why would I even need to fight Israel? Why wouldn’t I do business with Israel or enjoy the fact that I’m a neighbor of Israel? Why do we need to pay tribute to the IRGC and the terrorist Mullahs of Tehran?
How many Lebanese must die for Iran? And why must I be a tool at the hand of Ali Khamenei?
Why would Lebanese blood be shed for the project of the Neo Nazis of the Mullah regime? Why must we deal with a foreign agenda that takes all Lebanese as hostages?
This is not our cause, not national interest.
As a free Lebanese, I don’t want that. I want peace and extend my hand starkly to the other side of the border, hoping to be met by a like-minded hand.
We need a partner from the other side of the border to build peace for tomorrow, for the era following the eradication and defeat of terrorists.
Israel has the full right to defend its citizens and enjoy peaceful and safe borders. Nothing justifies the terror attack of October 7 nor the crazy, meaningless adventure that Hassan Nasrallah and his partner - the head of amal movement (Nabih Berri) are leading Lebanon towards.
If Lebanon were attacked by the same attack – what would be the answer of the Lebanese? I am not seeking to justify the unnecessary death of civilians, but mustn’t Israel have a right to defend itself from such evil?
We are at a conundrum.
Living as hostages of terrorist political Shi'ism
Having our beloved country bombed is saddening, but living as a hostage of terrorist political Shi’ism led by the so-called Islamic Republic, which in turn occupies Iran, is in and of itself a big challenge. We cannot coexist with political Shi’ism, which aligns only with what the Faqih, the ‘sage leader' in Tehran, wants. They say openly that Hezbollah is Iran. Yet Hezbollah is a terrorist organization taking Lebanon hostage.
Israel is smart enough to know that no peace can be signed with one Lebanese sect. It must be signed between nations and people. The collapse of the May 17, 1983 Is a historical example. But also The recent maritime agreement, which didn’t pass either through the Lebanese parliament nor through the Knesset, was a bad example. We need peace between states, not sects. Peace between two states under the patronage of the US, along with other Arab leaders.
Our founding fathers in Lebanon were not promoters of Political Shi’ism. They are Maronite and Druze, like Prince Fakhr Eddin II. The Druze-Maronite social contract established the big Lebanon State. The relations between Lebanon and Israel go back to even before there were the modern states of Lebanon and Israel, to the time of the Phoenicians and King Solomon, who brought Lebanese cedars to build his Temple, and to King Heram and others. This glorious past has nothing to do with the terrorist regime which holds our country hostage.
What prevents you from coming to Junieh or me from driving to Tel Aviv? Why do I need to fight with you? This doesn’t make any sense. What makes sense is permanent peace and diplomacy among the people. We are fighting a common enemy – the so-called ‘Islamic’ regime occupying Iran and its terrorist Proxies.
Israel doesn’t have to be on alert every 2-3 years just because Khamenei wants to cause trouble and reserve a seat at the table of Negotiation with the US administration. I don’t want my borders to be a cause for any threats. I want tourism projects in Naqoura between Israeli and Lebanese companies. I want my children to visit the sacred shrine of Jethro in Hattin. Israel is a diverse state. Why can’t I go visit the tomb of Christ or Al-Aqsa Mosque? Why should anyone need to build a whole ideology based on hatred and murder? Why should anyone be celebrating the murder of people who were partying? Only Fascism or Nazism would celebrate this.
I’m ready to work with whoever is ready to sustain a future built on love, economic relations and national interests, rather than hatred. I am a neighbor of Israel, I have national interests, and peace is my national interest.
You will surely find people who will call us Zionist spies or traitors. I don’t care. I’m doing this for the future of the Lebanese people and the Jewish people. I don’t want an ideology of hate. 75 years is too much. Endless war is too much.
It's time to give peace a chance. To think about unity and diversity, to declare that peace; just like war requires brave people and strong minds. We are not in the 1960s. This is 2024 for God’s sake. The whole concept of trying to create useless borders is a joke. Can they really ban me from talking to you?
Why? If we disagree, let's talk about it. There’s a secret word – dialogue- consisting of ‘dia’ – two and ‘logos’ – word or thought. And I don’t want to be banned from thinking.
Every single drop of blood and atom of soil is precious. As a Lebanese national, my national interest is to have the best relations with our neighbors. We don’t have time for war; we have time for peace, prosperity, and technology.
We’re good at marketing, and you’re good at producing. So why should I be missing out on these chances? The interest of my country is not only peace with Israel but a strategic partnership with Israel. I won’t call for an olive branch like Arafat did back then. The 21st century requires a different approach. What I am doing is extending a strong hand with peace, the only thing it holds is peace, to be met by like-minded people from the Israeli intelligentsia and public who believe that, if you are brave enough to fight the war – you should be brave enough to fight for peace. Of course, right after defeating terrorism on all sides.
The 1000-mile journey starts in one step, and somebody needs to start this process.
Let's light a small candle, instead of cursing darkness.
Dr. Ghassan Boudiab is the director of Demokrattia Center for research and strategic studies in DC, and a Professor of Science of Religions, specializing in faith-based extremism, from the Chouf region in Lebanon.