The situation in Lebanon and the consequences of the conflict

Agnès Vahramian, director of franceinfo and Christian Chesnot, senior reporter, specialist in the Middle East, answer questions from listeners? at the microphone of Emmanuelle Daviet, mediator of the Radio France antennas.

On the situation in Lebanon, and the daily consequences of this conflict, we begin with this remark from a listener: “In your reports on Lebanese reactions to the death of Hassan Nasrallah, you never mention the joy of many Lebanese at the disappearance of the leader of Hezbollah. For what reasons?”

Emmanuelle Daviet: Christian Chesnot, what can we say to this listener?

Christian Chesnot: It’s not voluntary. There are Lebanese who rejoiced at the death of the leader of Hezbollah, but overall, the majority, in fact, did not applaud, because Hezbollah represents the Shiites, 40% of the community, and then there are a good part of Christians too, who support Hezbollah.

So this minority, a little “garish” is only a minority. All Lebanese people are more divided, and there are people who are indifferent, who tell us, “It’s a conflict that doesn’t concern us”. So it is not a desire not to give voice to this minority, but in the flow of information, it is true that in Lebanon – I was there at that time – there was a shock to all the Lebanese.

We continue with this observation from an auditor: “Since Israel began its military strikes against Lebanon, it seems to me that the main absentee is the regular Lebanese army. I do not have the impression that it reacted militarily against Israel. Israel clarifies that these attacks only target Hezbollah But is the Lebanese army not required to defend the integrity of Lebanese territory? What relationship does it have with Hezbollah? this listener writes to us, I have the feeling that the Lebanese army is useless and powerless.”

Christian Chesnot, what insight can you provide to this listener?

Powerless, yes, useless, no. The Lebanese army is deployed in the south with 4,000 men. At one point, before the conflicts, 300 to 400 at the border. But it is true that the Lebanese army has no influence against Israel. And the Lebanese generals told me: We cannot engage in combat against Israel, we would be swept away.

That said, for the first time, two Lebanese soldiers died in recent fighting, and the Lebanese army responded. But I was going to say symbolically, because they couldn’t do more. With Hezbollah, there is a kind of modus vivendi, no coordination, but in any case, Hezbollah is stronger in the south than the Lebanese army.

Emmanuelle Daviet: We end with this fairly common question in the messages I receive this week: “The conflict in the Middle East has no impact on our daily liveswrites a listener. Inflation, the cost of raw materials or energy are the result of the war in Ukraine. Furthermore, there are many serious issues in our daily lives. So I don’t understand why you talk so much about what’s happening in Israel, Lebanon and Iran.”

Agnès Vahramian, you are the director of franceinfo. What does this point of view, very shared by listeners, inspire you?

Agnès Vahramian: I understand it. And at the same time at franceinfo, one does not prevent the other. In times of intense crisis in the Near and Middle East, the editorial staff first mobilizes to deliver the facts, of course, then decipher the implications, and there are many, of this conflict.

First quite simply, on the cost of oil and our gasoline, on our obviously geopolitical alliances, then also on the place of France, and finally on Iranian nuclear power, also at the heart of this conflict. I agree with the fact that on franceinfo, we must have a lot of education with this conflict, which has lasted for 40 years, and which therefore can cause a certain form of weariness in our audience.

And finally, I would say that one does not prevent the other, because at franceinfo, we are very attached to the diversity of the information that we deliver. So at the same time as we are talking about the Middle East, we are of course addressing, and right now on the air, the preparation of the budget by the government, the political projects for the daily life of the French, its implications, it is something we are strongly attached to.