Subscribe

The Beiruter

Politics

Economy

Opinion

Specials

The B

Opinion

Lebanon - Human compassion - Lebanese resilience - Tom Barrack - Michael Karam - Failed state

A failed state but we do good funerals

Despite being labelled a failed state, Lebanon’s compassion, culture, and humour reveal an unbreakable spirit.

By Michael Karam

state collapse - foreign intervention - sectarian conflict - statehood - Lebanese politics - Lebanon sovereignty - Taif Agreement - Hezbollah

Lebanon and its suspended sovereignty: Generations between power and paralysis

Lebanon’s sovereignty struggles, shaped by sectarian divides, foreign interventions, and internal conflicts, keep the state suspended.

By Omar Harkous
Hezbollah - Conflict - Southern Lebanon - Iran - Iranian influence - Accountability

Between tunnels and tombs: The people Hezbollah left behind

Southern Lebanon endures devastation and displacement as Hezbollah prioritizes military ambitions over civilian safety and dignity.

By Marwan El Amine
Regional influence - Turkey - Gaza - Syria - Israel - Arab-Israeli conflict

Turkey and Israel: Tension redrawing the balance of Influence in Gaza and Syria

Turkey and Israel's tensions escalate over Gaza and Syria, reshaping regional influence and security dynamics.

By Omar Harkous
Lebanon - Resilience - Lebanese identity - Political corruption - Accountability

Resilience deterring reform: Lebanon’s endless survival trap

Once a symbol of strength, resilience now traps Lebanon in endless recovery without real reform.

By Peter Chouayfati
Shiite alternative - Political dominance - Hezbollah - Amal Movement - Lebanon

The search for a Shiite alternative: Between state Absence and Hezbollah’s dominance

A critique of state absence and Hezbollah’s supremacy obstructing independent Shiite political representation in Lebanon.

By Marwan El Amine
Lebanon - Tyre - Beirut - Religious pluralism - Ottoman Empire

Lebanon’s hidden role in Freemasonry’s origins

Tyre's artisans and resources were pivotal in constructing Solomon's Temple, embedding Lebanon's legacy in Freemasonry's history.

By Tony McMahon
sustainability - artificial intelligence - FII9 - Future Investment Initiative - Saudi Arabia, Riyadh

"Davos in the Desert": Saudi Arabia's shift from total oil dependence to diversified economies

Saudi Arabia hosts the ninth Future Investment Initiative in Riyadh, gathering global leaders and investors to unveil $60B+ in deals under the theme “The Key to Prosperity.”

By Omar Harkous
Palestine - Lebanon - Palestinian Authority - Egypt Gaza role - Donald Trump - Hamas - Israel-Hamas ceasefire

Abbas’s disarmament gamble: Fatah’s bid for Legitimacy in Lebanon

In May 2025, Abbas and Aoun agreed to disarm Palestinian factions in Lebanon’s camps, aiming to strengthen state control while reflecting Fatah’s efforts to assert authority and distinguish itself from Hamas.

By Peter Chouayfati