I came across the video below on Reddit, and watched the entire 15 minutes and jotted down some notes which I found interesting.
Now, before we continue, I ask of you to put aside the political, historical, ideological indoctrination and focus for a second on what it actually is: unedited videos of normal Israelis.
The first thing you notice, is that almost all of them want peace with Lebanon, and next in line comes Syria. Even originally Yemeni Jews would rather have peace with us, than Yemen.
I can appreciate Lebanon, they’re pretty secular aside from Hezbollah
Now, that’s something to be proud of, even though it’s not awfully true. We do have a semblance of a somewhat secular system, but that’s just because the sects try to so carefully manage their conflicts, that there’s some space for folks like me to somewhat live the lives we want without religions butting in into every single aspect of life. At least when it could possibly be perceived as an attack from one sect on another, a big no-no here. So, one might hate two-piece bikinis because of their religion, but it’s highly unlikely they’d “attack” them because it might be seen as a Muslim-Christian strife, instead of what it actually is: no one’s fucking business what you wear)
Casino in Beirut
One dude was especially excited about our Casino. If he only knew how corrupt it was, and how horribly Lebanese politicians have destroyed it with their fake “wasta” jobs that bleed what is supposed to be our tax money into the bottomless pockets of the jackets their daddies and grandaddies handed down to them.
Market in Damascus (if it still exists)
Here is one of the disturbing parts of the video, where the interviewer jokingly says “if it still exists” and chuckles when an Israeli woman says she’d like to go to the market in Damascus. It shows the chilling nonchalance when it comes to immeasurable pain and suffering on those considered “the enemy”. At least this time though, it’s not Israeli forces that are dealing that pain and suffering on the Syrian people…
Peace is a dream
It is, and with the current leadership on both sides, it will remain so till the foreseeable future. Imagine what a peaceful Middle East would be like…
I think we are similar to them
Though unpleasant, the idea that Israeli and Lebanese folks are sorta similar in their mentalities, is sorta true. They’re both communities that always feel they’re being persecuted and hunted down, and this perpetual feeling of being a victim, has made them both much worse people.
It seems really natural to have peace with them, same food
The food issue has been a war in itself, with Lebanese and other Arab delicacies like Tabbouleh and Hommos, being claimed as “Israeli” food. This is of course preposterous, and any person with a slight grasp of how the world works knows that’s not true. Yet, instead of the “mine is bigger than yours” (in reference to Hommos plates), the woman feels that the fact what we eat is so similar, it seems “natural” to be at peace.
There is an amazing music scene in Lebanon (another woman: “Ibrahim Maalouf”)
Can’t argue with that, and it is true. Israelis can see how thriving our music and nightlife scene is, they won’t be thrown in jail for doing that like authorities in Lebanon would do. One thing I’ve learned, is that everywhere I’ve been, there’s been a scene I felt at home with: the electronic music scene, and the Beirut one is fucking awesome. Heck, my friend met a Sicilian man on the slopes in the Alps who told him he wants to come to Beirut and party at b018… Yet, all the Lebanese authorities do to help that scene is ban artists from entering if they’ve performed in Israel, and raise taxes or ask for bribes before we hold parties…
Beirut is supposed to be an amazing city
Keyword being: “supposed”, but it isn’t, and it’s largely our fault. Wars, corruption, nepotism have all robbed Beirut of its former glory, and turned it into a severely congested block of cement dotted with empty high-rises with higher prices, that replaced the priceless heritage buildings we can never replace.
One particular kid towards the beginning was odd, and said
I don’t mind if Nasrallah blows up my house (near the border with Lebanon). I respect him more than my father. I think he is a role model.
Goes to show the charisma and influence of Hezbollah’s General Secretary, even mesmerizes some of the people his missiles can reach beyond the border…
Conclusion
This post isn’t about naturalizing with Israel or making peace with a government that has so brutally bombed, invaded and destroyed Lebanon so many times over the past few decades. This post is about remembering that it’s important to see how the other side pictures us, to see if it really reflects the reality. And sadly, most of the things the Israelis think are good about us, have deteriorated. Casino? Promenade? Sea? Secular? We should be, but we’re not.
Here’s the page, it also does videos like this with Palestinians.