David Bensoussan
The author is a professor of science at the University of Quebec
Philosopher Bernard-Henri Lévy wrote on X: “I keep reading everywhere that Lebanon is ‘on the verge of collapse.’ No. It is on the verge of relief and liberation.”
This observation reflects an unprecedented turning point in the country’s political and military dynamics. Several observers and geopolitical institutes, such as the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) in Israel, highlight a notable shift: Middle Eastern media are adopting an unusually critical tone toward Hezbollah’s debacle.
Hezbollah, a heavily armed terrorist organization supported by Iran, has long imposed itself as an unavoidable force in Lebanon, infiltrating even political spheres. The inflammatory statements of its late leader, Hassan Nasrallah, illustrate its grandiose ambitions, oscillating between hatred and religious domination. Consider the following: “Lebanon was a Christian country, but we took it, and now it is ours. When we have killed all the Jews of Palestine, we will have only begun. We will not stop until all the nations of the Earth are governed by Allah’s law and the people of Islam, as promised by our prophet.” And, “If [the Jews] all gather in Israel, it will save us from chasing them around the world.”
That says it all.
Today, caricatures and statements in regional media depict a weakened Hezbollah. Numerous Lebanese voices describe a total surrender behind the organization’s ongoing proclamations of “victory.” In the Middle East, caricatures portray Hezbollah waving a white flag or as a donkey crying victory. “Please, in Lebanon, don’t speak of victory!” declares journalist Nabila Awad. “The surrender was complete,” writes Beirut journalist Layal Alekhtiar. Saudi journalist Sultaan al-Amer headlines: “10 years of crimes under the slogan of Resistance end in defeat and surrender.”
The Christians and Druze of Lebanon have been critical of Hezbollah throughout the hostilities. Moreover, the Lebanese population and army refused to assist Hezbollah and its Shiite militias. It should be noted that Israeli strikes in Lebanon targeted only Hezbollah’s infrastructure, and civilians were warned in advance of the sites targeted.
The Current Situation
The elaborate tunnel system leading to the Israeli border, built in preparation for a major attack, has been destroyed. The vast majority of missiles and drone launch sites have been obliterated. Positions from which Hezbollah bombarded Israeli border villages have been dismantled. The ceasefire agreement includes much stricter monitoring measures, and Israel reserves the right to intervene in Lebanon should Hezbollah rearm. On both sides of the border, civilians will gradually return to their homes abandoned since the start of the hostilities.
Compliance with the truce will depend on the Lebanese army, which must act against Hezbollah to enforce UN Resolution 1701.
Gaza and Israel: Continued Tensions
In Gaza, the tunnel war continues. Nearly 750 kilometers of underground galleries, reaching depths of up to 60 meters, are connected to about 5,000 exits strategically located in the heart of civilian areas. This underground infrastructure is estimated to have cost nearly one billion dollars. Indifferent to the suffering of the local population, Hamas cynically exploits its hostages and eliminates any internal opposition. Hamas’s Sahem bands specifically target leaders capable of governing Gaza, as well as their families.
Since World War II, the world has integrated tens of millions of refugees from over 40 countries, while four generations of Palestinians continue to live in refugee camps, perpetuating a hereditary refugee status. Focused on spreading hatred, Hamas has established its headquarters beneath UNRWA facilities in Gaza, a United Nations agency dedicated exclusively to Palestinian refugees and funded over 90% by Western countries.
In Israel, despite the war, democratic debates remain robust. However, national unity has strengthened following the shock of October 7, even within an Israeli left shaken to its core.
Meanwhile
In Canada, some journalists with liberal-woke tendencies present a partial view of the events, focusing on destruction in Lebanon while ignoring Hezbollah’s initial provocations. They would never consider how Canada might react if an armed militia of 150,000 missiles vowed to annihilate the country from the United States.
On the international stage, the disproportionate obsession with Israel obscures other global crises and fuels hateful rhetoric. These dynamics, driven by the futility of biased and ineffective resolutions, deepen divisions instead of working toward sustainable solutions.
In Montreal, new immigration from dictatorial countries, raised with the teachings of hatred, brings outdated slogans. The response from municipal and police authorities in Montreal is irresponsible: it is one of denial, as protests grow increasingly uncivil and intrusive. Moreover, in some cases, particularly in anglophone universities, the agenda is subject to radical actors.
Montreal’s image, once a symbol of freedom and order, is tarnished by the authorities’ limited response to these virulent demonstrations. Amid growing anarchy, the wind of liberty that once blew through Quebec—the Quebec of Gilles Vigneault and Robert Charlebois—feels like a distant memory.
