Lebanon at the Crossroads: Discussion with Malek Rasamny
Do. 04.06.26
Vortrag, Gespräch
Einlass: 19:00
Beginn: 20:00
Since March 2, 2026, in the context of the recent American-Israeli War on Iran, Lebanon has found itself once again in the crosshairs of a war between Hezbollah and Iran, which has been ongoing with various level of intensity since October 8, 2023. Despite the cease-fire, that was concluded on April 16, Israeli strikes have continued and Israel has formally occupied an area that’s stretches 5 to 10 kilometers deep into Lebanese territory, representing anywhere between 5-10 % of country’s territory. Conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, accompanied by Israeli bombardment of Lebanese territory, and military incursions into the country’s interior, has been a recurrent feature of Lebanon’s modern history, but this time is different.
In combination with this war there are a series of political initiatives, directed by Israel and the United States along with local partners, seeking a forced disarmament of Hezbollah and complete normalization with Israel. Given the country’s recent history, internal sectarian, political and geographic tensions, as well as the fragility of the Lebanese state, the outcome of this war and these negotiations could be decisive for the country’s future. Indeed, Lebanon is facing perhaps the most dangerous and crucial moment in the country’s history since the conclusion of the country’s infamous civil war (1975-1990) 36 years ago.
To help us fully understand the present moment documentary filmmaker and writer Malek Rasamny will take us through the country’s recent history since the end of the Civil War and the Syrian withdrawal from Lebanon in 2005, alongside the broader history of Israeli attacks on Lebanon. He will also help us contextualize the nature of Hezbollah within Lebanon’s sectarian framework, the current political and social situation in the country as well as the wider balance of power in the region and world.
Malek Rasamny is a writer, researcher and documentary filmmaker. He is the director of the film Spaces of Exception and the co-author of the Mohawk Warrior Society. His writings and work have been featured in Newlines Magazine, Jacobin and Le Monde Diplomatique. He is currently a Phd candidate Paris Nanterre University in the Laboratory of Ethnology and Comparative Sociology where he is writing about reincarnation in the Druze community and its relationship to the Lebanese Civil War.
Moderation: Jana Roth
Jana hat Politikwissenschaften studiert und einen Master in Terrorism, Security and Society vom King’s College London. Sie arbeitete als Projektmanagerin im internationalen NGO- und Stiftungsumfeld und war an Projekten im Libanon, in Syrien und in Pakistan beteiligt. Parallel realisierte sie fotojournalistische Projekte im Libanon, im Irak und in den besetzten palästinensischen Gebieten (OPT) und ist derzeit als Research Consultant beim britischen Think Tank XCEPT tätig.
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