For episode 150, Lebanese journalist Justin Salhani guest hosts Lebanese researchers Michelle Eid and Karim Safieddine to talk about the under-reported and overlooked war in southern Lebanon. They look at the human impact of this conflict on Lebanon - a country that in just over four years has experienced a stunted revolution, one of modern history's worst economic crises, and the destruction of large parts of its capital due to a port explosion. They dissect media narratives, share personal anecdotes, and tie the current conflict to history, recalling the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 1982, the 2006 war between Hezbollah and Israel, and more.

Michelle Eid is a researcher focused on socio-economic rights and development in the Levant, with a focus on food sovereignty and agricultural politics. She is also the editor-in-chief of Al Rawiya, a digital magazine covering the Levant. Karim Safieddine is an organizer and researcher from Lebanon; he's completing his PhD in Sociology at the University of Pittsburgh.

Pieces by Salhani:

Waiting for Nasrallah for The Dial
Survivors of Israel’s siege of Beirut see history repeating itself in Gaza for Al Jazeera
Palestinian refugees in Lebanon mourn, fear for family in war-torn Gaza for Al Jazeera
‘No work back home’: Lebanon’s foreign domestic workers fear Israel war for Al Jazeera
Israel-Hamas war sparks south Lebanon exodus, as people flee border areas for Al Jazeera

Pieces by Eid:

Israel’s Environmental and Economic Warfare on Lebanon for TIMEP
(In)Sovereign Soils: Lebanon’s Entrapment in a Global Monopoly on Agriculture for Al Rawiya

Joey's Note: "October 17" isn't to be confused with "October 7". October 17 refers to the 2019 uprising in Lebanon whereas October 7 refers to the 2023 Hamas attack which was followed by Israel's ongoing genocidal war in Palestine.

Book Recommendations:

House of Many Mansions - Karim Salibi
Return to Haifa - Ghassan Kanafani
Being Arab - Samir Kassir
The New Left - Fawaz Traboulsi

The best way to support The Fire These Times is through ⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/firethesetimes⁠⁠⁠.

The other best way is to leave a review about The Fire These Times wherever you listen to podcasts. Please do this if you haven't already. It makes a huge difference to our visibility.

And the other other best way is to tell your friends and enemies about The Fire These Times.

Credits Host: Justin Salhani Producer: Ayman Makarem Guests: Karim Safieddine, Michelle Eid Music: ⁠Rap and Revenge⁠ Sound editor: Ayman Makarem Episode designer: Joey Ayoub

Focus on What Works with Jared James