The Beirut Banyan

LIVE at Union Marks with Bashshar Haydar & Michael Young. Taped live on Saturday, 28 February - hours before learning of Ali Khamenei's fate. A discussion covering security arrangements with Israel, questions surrounding normalization efforts and potential fallout from a forced peace deal. The episode also covers Iranian leverage towards ceasefire efforts between Lebanon and Israel, and the future of Hezbollah as the Iranian regime fights for its survival. Part of the REMAINING photo exhibition discussion series for the Lokman Slim Foundation at the Abroyan Factory / Union Marks in Burj Hammoud The podcast is only made possible through listener and viewer donations. Please help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/walkbeirut Or donating through our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/thebeirutbanyan Subscribe to our YouTube channel and your preferred audio platform. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter: @thebeirutbanyan Timestamps 0:00 Intro 1:35 A forced peace with Israel? 5:41 Normalization process & consequences 10:45 Polling on recognition of Israel 13:40 Zones of influence & destabilization 16:02 What does Israel want from Lebanon? 19:38 Giving the Israelis security arrangements 22:42 Assurances for Israeli withdrawal 24:42 The Israeli ‘dream’ today 27:28 Respecting agreements 30:39 The risk of not pushing for peace 34:32 Beirut Arab Summit 2002 37:01 Palestinian statehood 40:11 American pressure 42:29 Consequences of regional war with Iran 49:05 Disarmament of Hezbollah on the horizon? 51:05 Ceasefire & Lebanese side of the border 54:19 Threats only getting worse

LIVE at Union Marks with Ammar Abd Rabbo, George Azar & Patrick Baz. Part of the REMAINING photo exhibition discussion series for the Lokman Slim Foundation at the Abroyan Factory / Union Marks in Burj Hammoud The podcast is only made possible through listener and viewer donations. Please help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/walkbeirut Or donating through our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/thebeirutbanyan Subscribe to our YouTube channel and your preferred audio platform. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter: @thebeirutbanyan TIMESTAMPS 0:00 Intro 7:54 Tribute to Selma Merchak Slim 14:36 Ammar Abd Rabbo - Slim family 39:07 George Azar - Civil war checkpoint 44:22 George Azar - Corniche El Mazraa 45:37 Patrick Baz - Refugees vs villagers 48:10 Patrick Baz - Afghanistan 52:11 Patrick Baz - Irag wedding 55:15 Ammar Abd Rabbo - Hama 59:43 Ammar Abd Rabbo - Damascus 1:02:43 George Azar - Port blast 1:08:45 George Azar - 'The Smurfs' 1:13:33 Ammar Abd Rabbo - Port blast protest 1:15:21 Ammar Abd Rabbo - October 17 protest 1:17:38 Ammar Abd Rabbo - Macron 1:19:11 George Azar - Intifada and women 1:21:52 George Azar - Gaza 1:25:32 Patrick Baz - Intifada and Israeli army

A conversation on events unfolding in Iran and Lebanon with Saeedeh Marvi. The podcast is only made possible through listener and viewer donations. Please help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/walkbeirut Or donating through our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/thebeirutbanyan Subscribe to our YouTube channel and your preferred audio platform. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter: @thebeirutbanyan

LIVE at Union Marks with the director and cast of A Sad and Beautiful World Part of the REMAINING photo exhibition discussion series for the Lokman Slim Foundation at the Abroyan Factory / Union Marks in Burj Hammoud The podcast is only made possible through listener and viewer donations. Please help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/walkbeirut Or donating through our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/thebeirutbanyan Subscribe to our YouTube channel and your preferred audio platform. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter: @thebeirutbanyan TIMESTAMPS 0:00 Intro 2:16 Cyril Aris - director 14:16 Mounia Akl - Yasmina 23:05 Hasan Akil - Nino 33:18 Nadyn Chalhoub - Leila 37:00 Tino Karam 53:07 Audience Q&A

LIVE at Union Marks with Marwan Hamadeh, Katia Jarjoura and Monika Borgmann Part of the REMAINING photo exhibition discussion series for the Lokman Slim Foundation at the Abroyan Factory / Union Marks in Burj Hammoud - on display until March 3, 2026 Marwan Hamadeh is a former minister and member of parliament, and himself a survivor of an attempted assassination on October 1, 2004. Katia Jarjoura is the REMAINING photo exhibition curator. And Monika Borgmann is the president of the Lokman Slim Foundation and cofounder of UMAM Documentation & Research. The discussion centers around the political, social and psychological consequences of assassinations, and the attempt to bridge art with impunity through the REMAINING photo exhibition. The podcast is only made possible through listener and viewer donations. Please help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/walkbeirut Or donating through our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/thebeirutbanyan Subscribe to our YouTube channel and your preferred audio platform. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter: @thebeirutbanyan TIMESTAMPS 0:00 Intro 3:33 How the project started 10:55 Lokman Slim in the narrative 18:03 Marwan Hamadeh, survival & defiance 29:06 ‘Survivor syndrome’ 36:07 Permanent consequence 40:03 Assassinating the Taif Agreement 51:34 Expectation from investigations 56:58 What can be done further 59:02 Hesitation from victims 1:07:58 The future of the exhibition 1:11:32 Q&A 1:11:59 Najat Aoun Saliba intervention 1:13:21 Claire Hawi shares words 1:21:17 Youth & collective memory

Introducing the Remaining Photo Exhibition - a signature project of the Lokman Slim Foundation, with photography by Edouard Elias and curated by Katia Jarjoura. Through Elias’s photographs, the exhibition documents political assassinations since 2005 and resists the erasure of victims and their loved ones, as well as the traces and sites of violence, from collective memory. The exhibition documents political assassinations since 2005 and resists the erasure of victims and their loved ones, as well as the traces and sites of violence, from collective memory. Over months of work, the project team met with the victims’ families and survivors, photographing their portraits and the objects they entrusted to us. They also returned to the crime scenes where the assassinations took place and whose impact still endures. The exhibition also reflects a period when political killings were used to silence dissent and shape Lebanon’s political landscape. These were not isolated crimes, but a method of control sustained by fear and the absence of accountability. Against this backdrop, Edouard Elias’s photographs hold on to what endures—ever so human and fragile—a reminder that what was taken by force will forever remain. With words by Ronnie Chatah, Monika Borgmann, Katia Jarjoura and Edaourd Elias.

An episode discussing the pending gap law, corruption, army spending, rebuilding trust in the banking sector, prospects for Lebanese-Israeli relations and America's diplomatic role at large. With economist and Arab News columnist Nadim Shehadi. Check out Nadim Shehadi's article 'Lebanon is not resilient, it is traumatized': https://www.arabnews.com/node/2144181 and Michael Young's piece 'A Mechanism of Coercion': https://carnegieendowment.org/middle-east/diwan/2026/01/a-mechanism-of-coercion The podcast is only made possible through listener and viewer donations. Please help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/walkbeirut Or donating through our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/thebeirutbanyan Subscribe to our YouTube channel and your preferred audio platform. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter: @thebeirutbanyan And check out our website: www.beirutbanyan.com Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 4:36 Protecting the criminals 7:08 Diversion from the real issues 9:05 Gap Law 14:43 Minimizing the state 20:30 Defending unpopular figures 22:18 Corruption in Lebanon 24:24 Investigations 30:38 Constant battering 33:10 Army spending & budget 38:10 Key element is trust 42:23 Discussion on Israel 44:29 Michael Young 46:29 “A Mechanism of Coercion” 51:12 Normalization - an internal matter 1:00:25 American positioning 1:06:07 “We’ll just go” 1:13:00 Turning 70

George Wardini sits down with Ronnie Chatah for a special conversation—one shaped by years of friendship and a shared curiosity about politics, both local and global. With Ronnie Chatah’s grasp of international affairs and his sharp reading of Lebanese politics, the discussion asks: What is next for the region? How does the United States view Lebanon and the Middle East? How does Iran view Lebanon—its people, its politics, and its internal balance? George Wardini — Co-founder and Director of Polyblog. Ronnie Chatah — Host of The Beirut Banyan podcast, writer, and political analyst.

An episode discussing the one year anniversary of the Assad regime's fall, the emotions felt in Sassine Square that day, what closure looks like moving ahead and what remains in Lebanon's control With Youmna Gemayel, daughter of Bachir Gemayel. The podcast is only made possible through listener and viewer donations. Please help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/walkbeirut Or donating through our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/thebeirutbanyan Subscribe to our YouTube channel and your preferred audio platform. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter: @thebeirutbanyan And check out our website: www.beirutbanyan.com Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 2:04 Emotions 4:51 Closure 8:23 Spirit of March 14 10:58 A year later 13:23 Out of & in our control 15:55 National unity

Armistice before peace

From an interview discussing the negotiations-mechanism with Israel, conditions for economic recovery, Hezbollah's status today and what hope means in 2025 0:00 Mechanism for negotiations 1:53 Conditions for economic recovery 3:10 Hezbollah today 3:57 Meaning of hope

In light of the Pope's visit and the wider message of peace and hope, these are three scenarios I see playing out in the not-too-distant future for Lebanon.

Political stability & economic prosperity on our terms

Celebrations are not enough. On the eve of independence our voice needs to be heard, in every platform, every institution that can apply pressure on Iran.

An episode discussing the Lebanese army's role and limitations, prospects of economic recovery alongside an ever-expanding cash economy, and general expectations regarding next year's parliamentary elections. With economist and Arab News columnist Nadim Shehadi. The podcast is only made possible through listener and viewer donations. Please help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/walkbeirut Or donating through our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/thebeirutbanyan Subscribe to our YouTube channel and your preferred audio platform. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter: @thebeirutbanyan And check out our website: www.beirutbanyan.com Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 2:52 The Lebanese army 10:57 Political impasse 14:43 1980s & local militias 18:01 US pressure on government 20:15 Chances of disarmament 22:55 Iranian regime’s positioning 24:38 Beirut One conference 28:49 Timing 31:29 Description & solution 35:50 Beirut as a geography 40:40 Cash economy & Qard el Hassan 47:12 Captive wealth 49:47 Election expectation & diaspora 52:57 Seeking solutions abroad

Getting Iran out of Lebanon comes first. Not second or third.

An episode discussing a personal decision to return to government, walk out after other ministers from the same sect left during cabinet sessions on disarmament, picking up where Fouad Chehab left off and the long-term task of administrative reform, and regaining trust among citizens. With Minister of Administrative Reform Fadi Makki. The podcast is only made possible through listener and viewer donations. Please help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/walkbeirut Or donating through our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/thebeirutbanyan Subscribe to our YouTube channel and your preferred audio platform. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter: @thebeirutbanyan And check out our website: www.beirutbanyan.com Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 3:47 A personal decision 14:58 Walk out 27:30 Administrative reform 44:35 Trust

An episode discussing sub-state disarmament, the mood for 'Change' approaching 2026 parliamentary elections, pragmatism vs purity tests on measuring government success, factors due to war vs local agency, positive trends moving forward and how to interpret the moment we're living through. With Member of Parliament Ibrahim Mneimneh. The podcast is only made possible through listener and viewer donations. Please help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/walkbeirut Or donating through our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/thebeirutbanyan Subscribe to our YouTube channel and your preferred audio platform. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter: @thebeirutbanyan And check out our website: www.beirutbanyan.com Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 0:22 Is war on the horizon? 3:21 Delayed disarmament 6:31 Measuring govt success 15:03 Mood for ‘Change’ & 2026 elections 25:37 A victory scored & needed? 35:34 Gap resolution 37:54 Red lines on withdrawing govt support 40:30 Purity tests 45:53 Interpreting this moment

A ZDF German Television interview hosted by Golineh Atai Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 0:38 Why is sub-state disarmament so important? 2:36 What do you want Hezbollah not capable of anymore? 5:21 Is it an issue of domination of the country through weapons? 6:42 How can you measure Lebanese support for Hezbollah’s armed role today? 12:02 How do you reply to those who say without Hezbollah there is no challenge to Israel? 15:09 What options does Hezbollah have? 17:32 Would Iran ever let go of Hezbollah? 18:56 Are Naim Qassem’s threats just a ploy? 20:53 How feasible is it to avoid violence? 24:24 What do current Israeli attacks mean for the stability of the Lebanese government? 26:58 What does Ali Larijani’s recent visit indicate? 28:10 Does Hezbollah have to create a new identity? 30:23 How can the state fulfill social and economic roles without Hezbollah?

I answer press-related questions on the government's political decisions and security condiserations needed for sub-state disarmament. The podcast is only made possible through listener and viewer donations. Please help support The Beirut Banyan by contributing via PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/walkbeirut Or donating through our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/thebeirutbanyan Subscribe to our YouTube channel and your preferred audio platform. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter: @thebeirutbanyan And check out our website: www.beirutbanyan.com Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 0:03 What do you make of current American engagement? 2:30 What are America's intentions towards Lebanon? 4:54 Is the lack of Israeli withdrawal playing into Hezbollah's hands? 7:09 Is there any threat of civil war? 9:13 Do sanctions against the Iranian regime impact behavior towards Lebanon? 11:47 Are there factions within Hezbollah that want to turn the group into a political party, only? 13:14 Was Hassan Nasrallah the only Hezbollah figure that could bring about the group's transition? 14:18 Does Israel want the complete disarmament of Hezbollah? 16:25 Is it possible that the current status quo remains long-term? 21:38 How linked is Hezbollah to the Palestinian cause? 24:27 Is Hezbollah's disarmament a political decision that cannot be rolled back?