On Lebanon

Some are talking about war between Israel and Lebanon.

This is not about two countries, but about a certain group within one of the countries that has set itself up as a state-within-a-state and is taking orders from another country.

My feeling is that Israel and Lebanon are not merely not at war, but that Israelis and Lebanese would get on very well with each other, given a chance.

They are two countries that could have considered themselves like ‘twin sisters’, if there had ever been a chance to build a relationship, given the history of how and why each country came into existence, their size, location, geography, population mix, and much else.

At the personal level, from experience, I believe Lebanese and Israelis as people are similar in many ways – diverse, energetic, entrepreneurial, innovative, Mediterranean culture, welcoming, family-oriented, food-obsessed, historically- and religiously-minded but generally tolerant.

In my vision for a regional integration-based approach to resolving the Israel-Palestinian conflict, I believe the dream of a regional free trade area, and potentially a single market and visa free zone, could bring Lebanon and Israel very close indeed, G-d willing, as they once were in times long ago.