Why the Israeli Offensive Won’t Lead to a Presidential Election
Johnny Kortbawi 2024-10-08 09:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
Many draw parallels between the Israeli invasion of 1982, the election of President Bachir Gemayel, and today’s invasion, along with the possibility of electing a president under similar circumstances. It’s important to discuss the 1982 events in detail, especially since opposition parties often link Gemayel’s election to the ...
Political Shiism and the Void Ahead
Johnny Kortbawi 2024-10-04 09:46 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
The assassination of Hezbollah's Secretary General, Hassan Nasrallah, marked the conclusion of the fourth phase in Lebanon's history, known as political Shiism. Each phase has been characterized by the dominance of one of the major sects over the others in various ways. Political Maronitism prevailed from independence until the assassination of ...
Nabih Berri, at the Heart of the Lebanese Equation
Johnny Kortbawi 2024-10-01 08:47 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri now bears the burden of the crisis alone. In the absence of a president, and with a non-executive government that is not meeting due to the absence of ministers from the Free Patriotic Movement, the international community has no one to negotiate with except for Berri. Although Caretaker Prime Minister Najib ...
A Support Front Lacking Support
Johnny Kortbawi 2024-09-24 13:35 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
Since October 7, 2023, it has become evident that the crisis will not be resolved until Israel alters the balance of power in the Middle East and ensures the safety of its citizens. Israel would not accept humiliation or defeat, as experienced on the day the Al-Aqsa Flood was unleashed. It has since regained its considerable power and is committed ...
Syrian Migrants: Between Access to Learning and Lack of Education
Johnny Kortbawi 2024-09-17 10:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
The issue of Syrian migrants has clearly become a major focal point, across the border – where the Assad regime capitalizes on the migrant crisis to lift sanctions and restore its status – and within Lebanon itself, where recurring demands for the expulsion of Syrians surface periodically, often tinged with varying degrees of racism ...
The Surge of Extremism and Unyielding Minds
Johnny Kortbawi 2024-09-10 11:14 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Lebanese people have been closely following the recent developments in the Iraqi Parliament with deep shock, particularly its July debate on a proposal to abolish the legal marriage age. This move would allow minors to marry without any age restriction, effectively turning every young girl into a potential bride. The proposal ignited ...
Before We Lay Greater Lebanon to Rest…
Johnny Kortbawi 2024-09-03 09:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Media outlets aligned with the Axis of Resistance were quick to voice their opinions on the topic of Greater Lebanon, with some commentators arguing that the Lebanese state was never truly a product of Lebanese thought but rather the result of a historical mistake in separating Lebanon from Syria. In fact, the resurgence of nationalist rhetoric ...
A Second Airport Is No Aberration
Johnny Kortbawi 2024-08-27 11:22 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
We are being led to believe that attorney Majd Harb has committed a serious offense by submitting an urgent draft law proposal, signed by several MPs, to establish additional airports in Lebanon. The opposition to this proposal can be categorized into three main groups. While none of these groups have relied on weak excuses to justify ...
Stop Counting… Senseless Census
Johnny Kortbawi 2024-08-20 10:59 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
In recent days, a number of Hezbollah sympathizers have impertinently mentioned demographics in Lebanon, with the sole purpose of embarrassing Christians in unprecedented ways. In this context, the Hezbollah-affiliated newspaper Al Akhbar published inaccurate figures, thereby stating that Lebanese Christians now make up less than 20% of ...
FPM’s Autumnal Fall
Johnny Kortbawi 2024-08-13 10:56 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
Free Patriotic Movement Gebran Bassil
The Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) is unraveling. Despite this breakdown, a complete collapse seems unlikely due to the steadfast loyalty of its popular base. Unfortunately, this fracturing is happening under the watch of former President Michel Aoun. Many expected that the party would lose significant support after Aoun's presidency, especially ...
Echoes of Trauma: The Perpetual Struggle of Lebanon
Johnny Kortbawi 2024-08-06 11:29 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
There is no way out for the Lebanese people amidst this fragmentation. We are confronted each day with a myriad of contradictions and concerns, to the extent that even the sound barrier evokes terror and fear. Nightlife and celebrations serve as forms of masked denial, to which Lebanese people resort to entertain themselves and forget their ...
Are Beauty Pageants Still Relevant?
Johnny Kortbawi 2024-07-30 19:38 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
In recent years, the world has undergone significant changes with evolving mindsets and shifting concepts. One of the most notable shifts lies in the perception of beauty pageants and their overall approach regarding women. These beauty contests are increasingly criticized for objectifying women and reducing their worth to mere physical ...
Why Hezbollah Views a Second Airport as Provocative
Johnny Kortbawi 2024-07-23 14:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
The discussion over establishing a second airport in Lebanon is consistently slammed as an act of treason. Similarly, any issue in Lebanon that conflicts with the ‘resistance’ axis and its ideas results in opponents being automatically branded as traitors. After lawyer Majd Harb's press conference, where he proposed the idea of establishing a ...
The State Burdens More Lives Than It Improves
Johnny Kortbawi 2024-07-16 12:01 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
An event that received fleeting media coverage at the end of last week holds significant symbolism in Lebanon's political and social landscape. It involved the attack on newly introduced buses that the government put into operation on Thursday, marking an initial stride in public-private sector collaboration. Operational control was delegated to ...
Why a Budget of $10M for Lebanese Basketball Is a Good Idea
Johnny Kortbawi 2024-07-09 09:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
The public bidding that took place between MTV and LBC for the rights to broadcast basketball games for the next four years has set a precedent for broadcast rights in Lebanon. This comes after years of secret bidding or brokerage that occurred under some mandates. The federation decided that the bidding would be public and mediatized to ensure ...
The Cultural Saboteur…
Johnny Kortbawi 2024-07-02 13:41 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Observers of Lebanon's political and social landscape might perceive that the alarming regression of all concepts echoes medieval times in its approach. At its helm is Hezbollah’s caretaker Minister of Culture, who molds the Lebanese culture according to the party’s ideological beliefs. The advocate of the saying “vices of deviation” ...
Pessimism Is One Way of Killing Lebanon!
Johnny Kortbawi 2024-06-25 14:05 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Every day, we encounter numerous comments on social media platforms. These platforms have empowered individuals to express their opinions freely, irrespective of their intellectual or academic standing, and regardless of their social status. Thus, opinions are now accessible to all, making Lebanese citizens equal in their right to express ...
Summer Festivals: Another Form of Resistance
Johnny Kortbawi 2024-06-18 17:26 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
The summer festivals in Lebanon are not merely about parties, gatherings, lighting and glitz. They might have become all of that over the years, especially before the economic crisis when every town in Lebanon was buzzing with festivals, artists and festivities. However, going back to the roots of these festivals and the concept behind their ...
Maronite Leaders: A Tale of Power Struggle
Johnny Kortbawi 2024-06-11 17:58 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Sleiman Frangieh, the leader of the Marada Party, created a stir by suggesting that the presidential race be limited to him and Samir Geagea, the leader of the Lebanese Forces (LF), in open electoral sessions. This move is aimed at reducing the deadlock surrounding this dossier and facilitating the election of the next president of the ...
All Eyes on Iran
Johnny Kortbawi 2024-06-04 09:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
No matter which formula is adopted, there will be no solution to the presidential deadlock in Lebanon without Iran’s involvement. This is the message that Tehran conveyed to whom it may concern, despite all the vain initiatives taken to give an impression of progress. Internally, after the botched initiative taken by the National ...
This Parliament Won’t Elect a President!
Johnny Kortbawi 2024-05-28 17:54 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
It is a surprise to none that nothing in Lebanon is done within the deadlines stipulated by the Constitution, mainly due to the biggest problem that the Lebanese regime faces: unilateral decisions and hegemony over the State. In 2022, the main slogan of the elections was that the new Parliament will honor its most important commitment, electing a ...
Procrastination That Obstructs the Future
Johnny Kortbawi 2024-05-21 18:35 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
A few months ago, when conditions could lead to the election of a president of the republic, the obstinacy of the political parties in Lebanon sabotaged the opportunity. Each faction adamantly stuck to its candidate, rejecting any negotiations or changes in its position. With time, and with the eruption of the crisis in Gaza on October 7 and its ...
Sectarianism in a Persistently Divided Lebanon
Johnny Kortbawi 2024-05-14 09:03 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Sectarianism was never as pronounced during the civil war as it is today. The sectarian divisions we are currently witnessing transcend all expectations, especially with the surge of social media platforms. Every event turns into a ground-breaking crisis, bringing forth religious figures like the Christ and Prophet Muhammad, along with all ...
TikTok and Society Share the Blame
Johnny Kortbawi 2024-05-07 14:24 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
The outraged response from Lebanese society to the revelation of a human trafficking network exploiting children via TikTok is both understandable and logical. No matter the extent of the lack of morality, there's no justification for abusing and exploiting children in this manner. While some may justify theft due to poverty or murder as ...
Municipal Elections: Extension Is yet Another Forced Slaughter of Democracy
Johnny Kortbawi 2024-04-30 17:10 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
The extension of municipal councils and mukhtars’ mandates for just one year, under the pretext of the country's political circumstances, implies that the current councils are nearing their tenth year in office, portraying an authoritarian regime that has no consideration to democracy. While security conditions in the South prevent holding ...
No Elections Before Late 2024?
Johnny Kortbawi 2024-04-23 10:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Although the general situation in Lebanon indicated there might be a breakthrough – between May and June at the latest – in the presidential election issue, things look grimmer now. It is almost as if the fate of Lebanon, already low on the list of world priorities, has been adjourned until after the Gaza war. The Al-Aqsa Flood operation, ...
A Country on the Brink of Pseudo-Wars
Johnny Kortbawi 2024-04-16 09:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
The state of utter confusion the Lebanese were in last Saturday was not a first. In fact, since the birth of the State of Israel in 1948, the entire region has become prone to security threats and proxy wars between the great powers that have a direct impact on Lebanon. However, waiting for the Iranian drones, and then the constant expectation of ...
'A' Amal'… Does It Really Still Happen in Lebanon?
Johnny Kortbawi 2024-04-09 12:13 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
It's been a while since a TV series or a drama managed to generate such a sizeable social buzz and garner such a volume of comments and interactions across numerous countries. A’ Amal managed to do all the above due to many factors, notably its tightly woven script and the gripping storyline that expertly applies the plot device known as ...
Gibran and Lebanon: Commemorating the Prophet's Centenary
Johnny Kortbawi 2024-04-02 11:37 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
This year, Lebanon celebrates the centennial of Gibran Khalil Gibran's “The Prophet,” revered as a towering figure in global literature and a hallmark of Lebanese intellectual achievement, deeply intertwined with its identity and roots. Opinions differ regarding Gibran Khalil Gibran's contributions to this book. However, his Sufism, ...
An Alienated Foreign Affairs Minister
Johnny Kortbawi 2024-03-26 16:20 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
Abdallah Bou Habib might be the victim of a series of circumstances that reduced him to puppet status at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but what is certain is that he does not even play puppet well. Bou Habib is a reactionary man, one who speaks on impulse and then goes on to retract his words. Unlike the chewing gum he spat out at the recent ...