Lunch in Beirut: Hagar Chemali

I started working on Lebanon-Israel peace efforts last January, January 2025, when a very small group of us saw the shift in geopolitical dynamics in the region and and this very unique window of opportunity.

And at that time in Lebanon, talking about working with Israel, peace with Israel was very taboo, anything related to Israel.

And in fact, it's why I have not been able to travel to Lebanon.

I used to go twice a year for the winter holidays and also summer.

And then when WikiLeaks cables were leaked, one of those cables detailed a trip I took to Israel and meetings I had with the Mossad on undermining Iran, Hamas, and Hezbollah's finances.

And it was somebody in the Lebanese government, a friend, an ally, who said, you know, this cable is circulating everywhere.

And if I were you, I wouldn't come for a while.

And that's because at that time, Hezbollah controlled the airport.

So you just, law or not, you don't know what could happen.

I'm not a Lebanese citizen.

For Lebanese people, I will always be viewed as Lebanese, which I understand.

And so it was too much of a risk.

And I share this story to highlight the taboo nature at that time.

And so February 2025, I was asked to talk about Lebanon-Israel peace at the Munich Security Conference.

And it was very last minute.

I was only asked a few days before to prepare and get to Munich.

And I was talking to the few friends of mine where we saw this opportunity.

And one of them said, you should really wear a Star of David.

You should wear the Maga David and you should wear a cross to really emphasize your own personal background and what it means to in this, uh, and how relevant it is to the work you're doing.

And so it's a few days before I don't have much time.

And so I ordered necklaces on Amazon.

Each one is about 12 or $13.

They're not real.

And I mean, they're not real pave diamond is what I'm trying to say.

And, uh, but I was like, you know what, I'll just get something quickly.