From Lebanon to Europe: My Journey Against Indoctrination

Hello. Thank you so much for joining us. Hello. Thank you so much for joining us. >> Thank you. Well, first of all, I want to >> Thank you. Well, first of all, I want to >> Thank you. Well, first of all, I want to congratulate you for uh winning this uh congratulate you for uh winning this uh congratulate you for uh winning this uh award. Now, you grew up in Lebanon in

award. Now, you grew up in Lebanon in award. Now, you grew up in Lebanon in Lebanon. You were born in Syria, and Lebanon. You were born in Syria, and Lebanon. You were born in Syria, and you've later became one of the most you've later became one of the most you've later became one of the most outspoken voices against anti-semitism. outspoken voices against anti-semitism. outspoken voices against anti-semitism. Um I want to ask you, what is the what Um I want to ask you, what is the what Um I want to ask you, what is the what was the turning point that moment that was the turning point that moment that was the turning point that moment that made you question everything you've been made you question everything you've been made you question everything you've been told? Basically, told? Basically, told? Basically, >> first of all, the award I'm winning was

>> first of all, the award I'm winning was >> first of all, the award I'm winning was unexpected because as far as I'm unexpected because as far as I'm unexpected because as far as I'm concerned, what I'm doing is the concerned, what I'm doing is the concerned, what I'm doing is the obvious. If we want to live in peace obvious. If we want to live in peace obvious. If we want to live in peace without the influence of jihadists, be without the influence of jihadists, be without the influence of jihadists, be it Sunnis or Shia. Indeed, I grew up in it Sunnis or Shia. Indeed, I grew up in it Sunnis or Shia. Indeed, I grew up in Lebanon under the influence Lebanon under the influence Lebanon under the influence ofahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah ofahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah ofahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah where most people whether Muslims or not where most people whether Muslims or not where most people whether Muslims or not supported them. The turning point for me

supported them. The turning point for me supported them. The turning point for me was moving to Europe to France, namely was moving to Europe to France, namely was moving to Europe to France, namely where I lived in the Jewish quarter where I lived in the Jewish quarter where I lived in the Jewish quarter among Jews. That first encounter with among Jews. That first encounter with among Jews. That first encounter with the so-called enemy, the Jew, opened my the so-called enemy, the Jew, opened my the so-called enemy, the Jew, opened my eyes to the fact that we were eyes to the fact that we were eyes to the fact that we were intensively indoctrinated. intensively indoctrinated. intensively indoctrinated. >> Now, now you saw the deteriorating

>> Now, now you saw the deteriorating >> Now, now you saw the deteriorating support for Israel, especially since support for Israel, especially since support for Israel, especially since October 7th. Uh, Israel is basically October 7th. Uh, Israel is basically October 7th. Uh, Israel is basically losing the battle on the hearts and losing the battle on the hearts and losing the battle on the hearts and minds, especially of young people in the minds, especially of young people in the minds, especially of young people in the West. Why do you think Israel is losing West. Why do you think Israel is losing West. Why do you think Israel is losing this battle? Is it only about the this battle? Is it only about the this battle? Is it only about the pictures we saw coming out of Gaza or is pictures we saw coming out of Gaza or is pictures we saw coming out of Gaza or is it something different? Acts of

it something different? Acts of it something different? Acts of resistance led by the Islamic Republic resistance led by the Islamic Republic resistance led by the Islamic Republic in Iran were betting on casualties in Iran were betting on casualties in Iran were betting on casualties during a devastating war because Israel during a devastating war because Israel during a devastating war because Israel could not but respond with full force. could not but respond with full force. could not but respond with full force. They were preparing a campaign to use They were preparing a campaign to use They were preparing a campaign to use every victim, every lost child in order every victim, every lost child in order every victim, every lost child in order to point against Israel and tell the to point against Israel and tell the to point against Israel and tell the world this is how the Israelis behave. world this is how the Israelis behave. world this is how the Israelis behave. And indeed a lot of people are falling And indeed a lot of people are falling And indeed a lot of people are falling for their propaganda and it is our job for their propaganda and it is our job for their propaganda and it is our job to tell the truth. to tell the truth. to tell the truth. I want to come back to your upbringing

I want to come back to your upbringing I want to come back to your upbringing in Lebanon and as far as you can tell us in Lebanon and as far as you can tell us in Lebanon and as far as you can tell us or as far as you can see to which extent or as far as you can see to which extent or as far as you can see to which extent does the Lebanese population seebalah as does the Lebanese population seebalah as does the Lebanese population seebalah as a problem and not just as a resistance a problem and not just as a resistance a problem and not just as a resistance organization. What do they think of them

organization. What do they think of them organization. What do they think of them as far as you can see? as far as you can see? as far as you can see? >> Uh this is a very important and uh >> Uh this is a very important and uh >> Uh this is a very important and uh relevant question especially today after relevant question especially today after relevant question especially today after the Libanese and the Israeli ambassadors the Libanese and the Israeli ambassadors the Libanese and the Israeli ambassadors met in Washington. That is a historical met in Washington. That is a historical met in Washington. That is a historical event not that it never happened before. event not that it never happened before. event not that it never happened before. We had a Lebanese who became president We had a Lebanese who became president We had a Lebanese who became president visiting in Hara visiting in Hara visiting in Hara >> starting to change the reality but he >> starting to change the reality but he >> starting to change the reality but he was assassinated hopefully this time. Um was assassinated hopefully this time. Um was assassinated hopefully this time. Um the outcome will be better because as

the outcome will be better because as the outcome will be better because as you said the Lebanese started waking up you said the Lebanese started waking up you said the Lebanese started waking up and understanding that Hezbollah and understanding that Hezbollah and understanding that Hezbollah prioritizes Iran and the political prioritizes Iran and the political prioritizes Iran and the political agenda of the Islamic Republic there not agenda of the Islamic Republic there not agenda of the Islamic Republic there not the well-being of the Lebanese because the well-being of the Lebanese because the well-being of the Lebanese because again they brought upon Lebanon a again they brought upon Lebanon a again they brought upon Lebanon a devastating war. We had a space on X a

devastating war. We had a space on X a devastating war. We had a space on X a few days ago where thousands joined few days ago where thousands joined few days ago where thousands joined Lebanese and Israelis and they had very Lebanese and Israelis and they had very Lebanese and Israelis and they had very hard conversations and many cried when hard conversations and many cried when hard conversations and many cried when they realized what has happened to our they realized what has happened to our they realized what has happened to our region in the past decades the way region in the past decades the way region in the past decades the way Lebanese were systematically taught to Lebanese were systematically taught to Lebanese were systematically taught to glorify violence even terrorism and now glorify violence even terrorism and now glorify violence even terrorism and now they are waking up because just like you they are waking up because just like you they are waking up because just like you they want a better future for their they want a better future for their they want a better future for their children even if that meant pushing children even if that meant pushing children even if that meant pushing outside of the country which is not outside of the country which is not outside of the country which is not going to happen. We still have a lot to going to happen. We still have a lot to going to happen. We still have a lot to do but hopefully they will manage do but hopefully they will manage do but hopefully they will manage because they understand what they used because they understand what they used because they understand what they used to glorify for decades. to glorify for decades. to glorify for decades. >> Okay, >> Okay, >> Okay, I want to congratulate you once again I want to congratulate you once again I want to congratulate you once again for this winning this award. Thank you for this winning this award. Thank you for this winning this award. Thank you so much for this conversation. so much for this conversation. so much for this conversation. >> Thank you.