The Beirut Banyan

On the impact of Israeli and American elections on Lebanon, Israeli security discourse regarding war with Hezbollah & US foreign policy towards the region over time. With David Daoud - senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. Links to articles discussed below: "How Israel Can Turn Hezbollah’s Blunder Into Lasting Defeat" (The Dispatch) https://thedispatch.com/article/israel-hezbollah-lebanon-military-power/ "The road to the latest Lebanon ceasefire" (Long War Journal) https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2026/04/analysis-the-road-to-the-second-lebanon-ceasefire.php And link to "Al Wadi" episode referenced at the beginning and end of the episode: https://youtu.be/MHnUHdz1OQ4 The podcast is only made possible through listener and viewer donations. Please help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/walkbeirut Or donating through our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/thebeirutbanyan Subscribe to our YouTube channel and your preferred audio platform. And follow us on Facebook, Instagram & X @thebeirutbanyan Timestamps 0:00 Intro 2:05 Israeli elections 21:19 Israeli domestic discourse 28:12 Internal Israeli debate 34:36 Consequences of American elections 38:52 Trump's transactional nature 48:28 Stability & security

On the Lebanese Forces in retrospect, Samir Geagea's leadership, where the party stands today and its politics moving forward. With Jade Dimien - Head of Media and Communications Department of the Lebanese Forces. The podcast is only made possible through listener and viewer donations. Please help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/walkbeirut Or donating through our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/thebeirutbanyan Subscribe to our YouTube channel and your preferred audio platform. And follow us on Facebook, Instagram & X @thebeirutbanyan Timestamps 0:00 Intro 1:56 Something worth holding onto 7:03 Managing insecurities 14:16 Disarmament 18:25 Cabinet decisions 26:55 Samir Geagea in retrospect 34:44 Stigma 40:28 Q&A with Reem Itani 52:13 Q&A with Edmond Bridi 56:45 Bygone coalition

On finding the right time to talk, establishing chemistry with the host, discussing sensitive and potentially taboo subjects, and the therapeutic benefits of podcasting. With Rida Mawla. The podcast is only made possible through listener and viewer donations. Please help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/walkbeirut Or donating through our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/thebeirutbanyan Subscribe to our YouTube channel and your preferred audio platform. And follow us on Facebook, Instagram & X @thebeirutbanyan 0:00 Intro 4:18 Certain type of interview 6:53 The time to talk 13:29 Trusting the host 17:25 Taboo subjects 23:16 Expression through music 26:33 Therapeutic 31:31 The benefits of podcasting 33:02 Student Q&A

On the role of a television host, mediation techniques, interview styles vs panel discussions and how to navigate tension during a debate. With Albert Kostanian - host of LBCI's Vision 2030. Taped live at the information-communications department of Saint Joseph University with the audio-visual support of Rita El Bacha. The podcast is only made possible through listener and viewer donations. Please help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/walkbeirut Or donating through our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/thebeirutbanyan Subscribe to our YouTube channel and your preferred audio platform. And follow us on Facebook, Instagram & X @thebeirutbanyan Timestamps 0:00 Intro 1:58 Role as a host 6:08 Mediation techniques 10:15 Making the guest shine 14:24 Tension, temperature & tone 19:59 One on one vs panel 22:43 Questions vs topics 28:48 Hosting a podcast 30:19 Student Q&A

On losing one's sense of belonging, meaning of home, childhood friends and a brother to war. With Hassan Merhi - author of Love During Revolution. The podcast is only made possible through listener and viewer donations. Please help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/walkbeirut Or donating through our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/thebeirutbanyan Subscribe to our YouTube channel and your preferred audio platform. And follow us on Facebook, Instagram & X @thebeirutbanyan

An episode covering the BIEL displaced encampment, public vs private property disputes, the former Normandy trash dump and Solidere's reconstruction efforts in retrospect. We also discuss missed opportunities and alternatives to Solidere, post-civil war urban landscape beyond the company's zoning, gradual urban decay over the past fifteen years, competing narratives over resistance and the existential security threat Hezbollah's weapons pose to Lebanon. With landscape architect and urbanist Sarah Yassine. The podcast is only made possible through listener and viewer donations. Please help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/walkbeirut Or donating through our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/thebeirutbanyan Subscribe to our YouTube channel and your preferred audio platform. And follow us on Facebook, Instagram & X @thebeirutbanyan Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 0:26 Tent vs govt 1:42 Displacement & choice 4:50 Public vs private property 7:32 A series of mistakes 12:10 Normandy trash dump 14:29 Solidere 17:42 Encountering Hezbollah pre-2019 21:17 Doubting the resistance narrative 27:34 Alternative to Solidere 34:34 Killing Lebanon 36:23 Precedent 43:05 Security threat to the country 44:13 The last fifteen years 53:13 Govt responsibility 56:25 Constant state of war

An episode covering Israel's withdrawal from Lebanon on May 25, 2000, loosened state capture 26 years later despite Hezbollah's continued armament, diplomacy at play on multiple tracks, what a pending regional deal with Iran looks like and containment towards their regime means for Lebanon. With PolyBlog founder George Wardini. The podcast is only made possible through listener and viewer donations. Please help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/walkbeirut Or donating through our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/thebeirutbanyan Subscribe to our YouTube channel and your preferred audio platform. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & X: @thebeirutbanyan And check out our website: www.beirutbanyan.com Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 1:45 It could have been a great story 3:38 May 25, 2000 6:48 The way Israel withdrew 9:46 Game over 11:34 BIEL encampment 13:37 “Celebration” & semantics 16:28 Hezbollah needs the state 18:15 Inheriting security 20:53 The army’s role 23:07 Nawaf Salam vs state capture 26:21 Israel’s fight in Lebanon 28:10 The worst end of the stick 31:03 Hezbollah today 34:43 The Iranian regime 37:53 Containment 41:19 Regional deal’s contours 44:43 Taboos are broken 47:17 Lebanese that fled to Israel 52:28 Iran and Hezbollah vs Israel and Hezbollah 54:02 Potential fallout from regional deal

An episode discussing competing narratives over Lebanon's national interest, an ideological divide over Hezbollah's weapons, covering economics in times of conflict and preconditions before any consideration for peace with Israel. With L'Orient Le-Jour economic journalist Stephanie Bechara. Check out Stephanie's Substack piece "The cause I came home to": https://substack.com/home/post/p-194594679 The podcast is only made possible through listener and viewer donations. Please help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/walkbeirut Or donating through our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/thebeirutbanyan Subscribe to our YouTube channel and your preferred audio platform. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & X: @thebeirutbanyan And check out our website: www.beirutbanyan.com Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 3:32 The Lebanese cause 6:21 Lebanon destroyed 9:55 Intentions when defending Hezbollah’s weapons 12:59 Iran in the name of Palestine 15:32 Shyness defending Lebanese interests 18:34 Extremism 19:23 Ideological divide 23:33 Engagement 31:53 Economic coverage everwhelmed by war 36:03 Financial and economic literacy 42:22 Economic consequences due to recurring conflict 45:08 The security component impacting investment 48:41 Prospects for peace with Israel 56:35 Fabric of the country

A story about displacement, refuge and love. Reflecting on growing up in a refugee camp, the outbreak of civil war, Israeli invasion, post-war redevelopment, downtown reconstruction, renewed conflict and what was and remains Beirut. With architect Al Hamed. Commemorating the start of the civil war on April 13, 1975. Videography by Alexy Chidiac. Music by Marc Codsi. Translation by Amira Kazoun. Make sure to watch the video version: https://youtu.be/Nm0I7Ir827I A re-release of "The Time Line" with audio corrections, added sections and subtitles in both English and Arabic. The podcast is only made possible through listener and viewer donations. Please help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/walkbeirut Or donating through our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/thebeirutbanyan Subscribe to our YouTube channel and your preferred audio platform. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter: @thebeirutbanyan

LIVE at Union Marks with Bashshar Haydar & Michael Young. Taped live on Saturday, 28 February - hours before learning of Ali Khamenei's fate. A discussion covering security arrangements with Israel, questions surrounding normalization efforts and potential fallout from a forced peace deal. The episode also covers Iranian leverage towards ceasefire efforts between Lebanon and Israel, and the future of Hezbollah as the Iranian regime fights for its survival. Part of the REMAINING photo exhibition discussion series for the Lokman Slim Foundation at the Abroyan Factory / Union Marks in Burj Hammoud The podcast is only made possible through listener and viewer donations. Please help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/walkbeirut Or donating through our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/thebeirutbanyan Subscribe to our YouTube channel and your preferred audio platform. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter: @thebeirutbanyan Timestamps 0:00 Intro 1:35 A forced peace with Israel? 5:41 Normalization process & consequences 10:45 Polling on recognition of Israel 13:40 Zones of influence & destabilization 16:02 What does Israel want from Lebanon? 19:38 Giving the Israelis security arrangements 22:42 Assurances for Israeli withdrawal 24:42 The Israeli ‘dream’ today 27:28 Respecting agreements 30:39 The risk of not pushing for peace 34:32 Beirut Arab Summit 2002 37:01 Palestinian statehood 40:11 American pressure 42:29 Consequences of regional war with Iran 49:05 Disarmament of Hezbollah on the horizon? 51:05 Ceasefire & Lebanese side of the border 54:19 Threats only getting worse