AGP Executive Report

Southern Lebanon Under Strain: Residents face an uncertain future as Israeli forces expand control, raze homes, and shell villages, with Ali Al-Taher Hill and the “Yellow Line” deepening fears of permanent displacement. Regional Dialogue Push: Kashmir’s Mirwaiz Umar Farooq met Iran’s president and foreign minister at BRICS in New Delhi, urging restraint, dialogue, and Muslim unity amid suffering in Iran, Palestine, and Lebanon. Everyday Cost Crunch: In Lebanon, food prices are climbing fast as fuel jumps—imported beef, potatoes, lamb, and more all rise sharply, squeezing rent, schooling, and bills and pushing families toward harder choices. Hezbollah Tunnel Setback: Israel’s demolition of a Hezbollah tunnel network in southern Lebanon is framed as a major operational blow. Education Under Fire: UNESCO warns attacks on schools rose 33% in 2025, leaving hundreds of millions of children disrupted—Lebanon is cited for psychological support needs. Religious Tourism, Lebanon Style: A guide spotlights five lesser-known Christian shrines and monasteries beyond St. Charbel and Harissa. Dance & Culture: Santa Monica College launches a free Fall 2026 Masters of Dance series, blending injury-prevention science with contemporary ballet and belly dance heritage.

Education Under Fire: UNESCO says attacks on schools jumped 33% in 2025, disrupting learning for hundreds of millions and raising dropout risks—especially for girls and displaced children. Lebanon’s Faith & Pilgrimage: A new guide spotlights Lebanon’s lesser-known shrines beyond the usual hotspots, from Miziara’s St. Maria Goretti to Ghosta’s Mountain of Divine Mercy. Regional Dialogue Over War: Mirwaiz Umar Farooq met Iran’s foreign minister and president on the BRICS sidelines, urging restraint, diplomacy, and Muslim unity amid suffering across Iran, Palestine, and Lebanon. Houthis & the Red Sea: Reports say Yemen’s Houthis have seized key Red Sea chokepoints including Bab al-Mandab, underscoring how quickly the conflict map is shifting. Culture Calendar (Lebanon-linked): Cyprus’ September arts roundup includes an exhibition featuring artists from Lebanon, while a Lebanon-focused literacy push in Syria highlights how education remains a frontline issue. Sports & Community Noise: Local “what’s happening” and sports listings dominated the week’s lighter items, with little Lebanon-specific culture coverage beyond the faith and education themes.

Venice Biennale & Art Politics: Israeli artist Belu-Simion Fainaru brings sculpture and installations to the Venice Biennale, with the piece framed as a bid for common ground even as politics presses into culture. Jewish Identity & Antisemitism: Lisa Edelstein opens up about playing Jewish women on screen and anchoring her own identity in Netflix’s Long Story Short, as antisemitism fears shape Jewish campus life and community conversations. Palestinian Voices in Film: Edward Said: Between Worlds returns Edward Said to life through a new documentary—yet its U.S./Canada distribution fight shows how Palestine stories still face a tougher path to mainstream screens. Lebanon’s Education Under Strain: Reports highlight how war and displacement leave Lebanese children without classrooms, while schools struggle to balance students and the displaced. Regional Tensions Ripple to Lebanon: Condemnations over attacks on Saudi oil infrastructure and escalating Red Sea conflict include Lebanon among the countries backing Saudi Arabia and warning against strikes on civilian, critical infrastructure. Human Rights in Heatwaves: Tunisia’s prison deaths—at least 23 reported by rights groups—spotlight overcrowding and extreme heat, including mention of a Lebanese businessman among the dead. Culture & Community Calendar: A local “Good Neighbor Day” dinner and library support services point to ongoing community-building beyond headlines.

Yemen & Red Sea: Houthis say they’ve seized Perim Island and completed control of the Bab al-Mandab corridor, while Saudi Arabia shuts an East-West oil pipeline as attacks hit infrastructure—raising fresh worries for shipping and regional stability. Human Rights & Detention: Tunisia’s League for Human Rights reports at least 23 prisoner deaths linked to extreme heat and overcrowded cells, with authorities still withholding official figures. Culture & Faith: A Lebanese-British writer/producer’s new EP and a Tyre history explainer both spotlight how Levant stories keep finding new audiences—from electronic jazz-house to Crusader-era memory. Arts & Books: Abu Dhabi’s book fair returns at 35, tracing its roots to an early Islamic Book Fair “tent” and its growth into a major multilingual publishing hub. Local Lebanon angle: Lebanon’s education sector is under strain as the new school year begins, with displacement and classroom shortages still shaping daily life. Community & Identity: In the U.S., a Dearborn 9/11 ceremony highlights Christian-Muslim solidarity in a city with a large Arab American population.

Lebanon & Regional Security: Lebanon’s army carried out a security raid in the eastern Bekaa, arresting a relative of Bashar al-Assad and the son of a Lebanese drug lord, underscoring how Lebanon’s internal security and Syria’s shifting politics remain tightly linked. Human Rights & Work: A new report spotlights how Lebanon’s war with Israel is worsening exploitation of domestic migrant workers, with shelters turning them away and wages withheld—linked to Article 7 of Lebanon’s labor law and the Kafala system. Film & Culture: Venice’s parallel section Giornate degli Autori crowned María Aparicio’s Sometimes Sadness, Sometimes Rebellion with the GdA Director’s Award, with Beirut’s Metropolis cinema named in the jury—another reminder of Lebanon’s cultural footprint in the region. Arts & Identity: In the UK, calls are growing to investigate a billionaire settlement-linked sponsor tied to the British Museum’s Bayeux Tapestry exhibition, raising fresh questions about culture funding and politics. Music & Public Debate: Pop star Pink doubled down on her backlash to Macklemore’s pro-Palestine stance, fueling another round of debate over art, identity, and antisemitism.

Southern Lebanon Daily Life: Residents in Mansouri watched Israeli drones drop explosives and reported the Israeli military detonated the village’s public school, as displaced families weigh what the Lebanese state can or can’t protect in the south. Nabatiyeh Security Zone Debate: A major blast on the Ali Al-Taher ridge near Nabatiyeh followed Israel’s claim it destroyed Hezbollah underground facilities, while locals in the city read the event as fresh urgency in the question of who controls and safeguards southern Lebanon. Travel & Lifestyle Disruption: Dubai International Airport stayed open and operating despite regional tensions, with some delays and cancellations across UAE routes—an everyday reminder of how Middle East conflict ripples into travel plans. Education & Community: A report on Jewish campus climate highlights how administrators’ responses to antisemitism and anti-Israel organizing can shape whether students feel safe and included. Culture Spotlight: Salman Rushdie is set to receive the National Book Award medal for lifetime achievement, adding another high-profile moment for literature and diaspora storytelling.

Education & Recovery: UN humanitarian chief Imran Riza says reopening schools and keeping children learning is central to Lebanon’s recovery. Protection of Learning: UNESCO warns that attacks on schools are rising, urging stronger safeguards for education during conflict, including support for displaced children in Lebanon through mental health and creative activities. Regional Peace Efforts: Israel’s President Isaac Herzog proposes a trilateral meeting with Lebanon and Cyprus to advance peace, while talks on redeployments in southern Lebanon remain under pressure from ongoing attacks. Diplomacy & Memory: The UN General Assembly held a special session honoring late Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, highlighting Qatar’s role in mediation, humanitarian work, and education. Culture & Community: Volunteers across the diaspora are preparing Lebanese food for festivals, including a Lebanese Festival in Wilkes-Barre featuring tabbouleh, hummus, and grape leaves. Rights & Funding: A new report says 90% of LGBTQ+ organisations worldwide have lost funding since January 2025, raising fears for groups in difficult environments.

Lebanon in the spotlight: Amal Clooney met Greece’s President Constantine Tassoulas in Athens as UNESCO hosted a culture-focused meeting, including a closed-door discussion on “Artificial Intelligence and Culture,” with proceeds aimed at protecting cultural property. Culture & literature: The Arab Foundation for Studies and Publishing in Beirut released Abdullah Abu Shumais’s book bringing two poetic plays to the stage, blending modernist voices with sea-soaked symbolism and dialogue. Education & public life: A Purdue-linked Indiana Senate candidate, David Sanders, criticized a state higher-ed bill for weakening tenure and “muzzling” academic free speech. Community & faith: St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church in Niagara Falls marked its Lebanese-and-Greek immigrant roots ahead of a centennial celebration. Music & identity: Lebanese rapper Whyvsef teamed up with BADER on the experimental hip-hop EP “Ward & Shouk,” mixing grime, trap, and Arabic rhythms. Diaspora culture: An Israeli-owned Berlin restaurant, Kanal 61, landed on Vogue Germany’s best-of list for its mussel toast and cross-cultural menu.

Lebanon’s education under strain: With Israeli strikes and displacement continuing, Lebanon’s schools are trying to reopen while balancing students and newly displaced families, spotlighting how conflict reshapes everyday learning. Hezbollah and schooling: A separate report argues Hezbollah uses private education networks to build an ideological “resistance society,” raising fresh questions about control, curriculum, and the future of youth. Lebanon in the wider region’s spotlight: Iran condemned Israel’s intensified airstrikes across southern Lebanon, while coverage also points to the UN’s limited response and the risk of escalation beyond Lebanon’s borders. Culture & community: The FrancoFilm Festival returns to Beirut with 12 films from the French-speaking world, free to attend at Dana Mall, with Lebanon among the partner missions. Global culture debate: A CUNY investment disclosure reignited criticism over university ties to weapons firms supplying Israel. Human rights focus: UNESCO warned that attacks on education are rising, urging stronger protection for students and teachers across conflict zones including Lebanon.

Beauty & Identity: Beirut native Nour Tayara shares how a reset in Mexico helped him launch AORA Mexico, a plastic-free beauty brand built on “color, fun, and sexiness.” Media Freedom: Lebanon’s new media law replaces outdated rules, decriminalizing some insults and defamation while still leaving gaps like prison penalties for “false or harmful news,” according to Amnesty. Arts & Lifestyle: Whisky Live Beirut 2026 returns with 60+ producers, masterclasses, cocktails and food pop-ups—another big signal that Lebanon’s events scene is bouncing back. Community & Culture Economy: Lebanon Valley Chamber Foundation launches a 2026 micro-grant program for small businesses and nonprofits, offering up to $3,000 each. Education Under Strain: Reports highlight Lebanon’s schools reopening amid displacement, with classrooms still disrupted for many children. Regional Context: A new book on peacemaker Yaron Lischinsky spotlights his life through photos and essays, adding a human, culture-focused angle to the region’s politics.

Lebanon Diplomacy & Sovereignty: A Lebanese editorial argues the country’s only realistic path is state-led negotiations to secure an Israeli withdrawal, deploy the Lebanese Army in southern pilot zones, and dismantle Hezbollah’s military infrastructure. UNESCO Education Watch: UNESCO warns attacks on schools jumped 33% in 2025, leaving tens of millions of children out of school and calling for stronger protection of education. Regional Peace Effort: Egypt, Greece, and the Greek Cypriot administration urged implementing the second phase of the Gaza plan and ending Israeli attacks on Lebanon after a trilateral meeting. Humanitarian Spotlight in Lebanon: UNIFIL reports hundreds of projects across southern Lebanon—education, health care, energy, water, and minefield handovers—plus food and hygiene support for displaced families. Culture & Community: A new show at Praxis explores birth, place, migration, and memory with a focus on Black maternal health, with a free reception in Beirut-linked programming. Heritage & Lifestyle: S’hail 2026 opened in Qatar, celebrating falconry and heritage with participation including Lebanon, and running through Sept. 12. International Rights Pressure: The UK announced sanctions targeting illegal West Bank settlements and extremist settlers, alongside measures against Hezbollah’s Al-Qard Al-Hassan bank.

Lebanon Border Violence: Israeli airstrikes hit southern Lebanon, including Kfar Reman and Arab Salim, killing at least 10 (with an infant reported among the dead) and injuring others as residents brace for renewed escalation. Cultural Exchange on Screen: A free film festival in Santiago, Chile, linked to Qatar, Argentina and Chile’s 2025 Year of Culture, screened works including Elia Suleiman’s “It Must Be Heaven” and Joana Hadjithomas & Khalil Joreige’s “The Lebanese Rocket Society,” with a panel on youth, migration and identity. Fashion, Identity, and Backlash: Adidas Arabia apologized after a Single Shoe campaign featuring an amputee former Israeli soldier sparked boycott calls, while online backlash also swirled around BLACKPINK’s Jennie for promoting the brand. Human Stories in the Spotlight: A profile on 3EIB founder Dania Arafeh highlights community-building through SWANA fashion and culture, reclaiming identity through events and emerging designers. Displacement and Daily Life: Reports say thousands of Lebanese children remain displaced as the school year nears, with families still searching for safe places to go.

Lebanon Under Strain: Israeli airstrikes across southern Lebanon have killed at least 27 people and wounded 69 over three days, with families in towns near Nabatieh and Kafr Rumman hit hard, and fresh displacement reported as residents flee a widening “ring of fire.” Culture & Film: Jammu and Kashmir’s first International Film Festival (IFFJK) opened in Srinagar with a Lebanese film, “Dead Dog,” signaling a renewed push to revive cinema ties after decades of shutdowns. Music & Politics: Macklemore doubled down on his “Free Palestine” remarks while opening for Ed Sheeran, insisting his message is “in no way” a criticism of Jewish people—after backlash and calls to remove him from the tour. Sportswear Backlash: Adidas apologized after criticism of a local Israel promotion featuring an amputee former IDF soldier, as activists drew comparisons to Gaza’s limb-loss crisis. Education Spotlight: Lebanon named Cynthia Violette “Teacher of the Year,” honoring her long-running work in sixth-grade humanities and language teaching. Scholarships: Chevening applications for 2027-28 close in October, with Lebanese citizens eligible under the Lebanon scheme.

Southern Lebanon Strikes: Israeli airstrikes hit Kfar Roummane overnight, killing at least nine people (including a child) and injuring others, as Lebanon warns the violence is jeopardizing the June US-brokered ceasefire. Cultural Diplomacy in Film: At Venice, MAD Solutions and Erth announced a new collaboration to develop Arab film/TV projects and help them reach Arab and international markets. Lebanon’s Cultural Heritage Returns Home: The US returned Roman-era sarcophagus lead fragments looted from Tyre, recovered via an FBI probe, with Lebanon’s Culture Ministry calling it a boost to protecting cultural property. Kashmir Cinema Spotlight: Srinagar opened the first International Film Festival of Jammu & Kashmir, selecting 135 films from 80+ countries to spotlight regional culture and attract global production. Fashion & Identity in the Spotlight: Adidas apologized after a campaign featuring amputee Israeli soldier Shalev Biton sparked boycott calls. Music & Activism: Macklemore faced backlash after saying “Free Palestine” during Ed Sheeran’s tour stop in New Jersey. Sports as a Return: Palestinian football resumed with the “1,000 Martyrs Cup,” including teams from the West Bank, Gaza, and refugee camps in Lebanon.

Lebanon’s cultural pulse amid conflict: Lebanon’s southern Christian villages (Ain Ebel, Rmeich, Debl) are living through a “road to Calvary” as returning home means long convoys, checkpoints, and fear of airstrikes. Humanitarian & daily life: Thousands of Lebanese families are still sheltering in schools as the new term nears, with education officials trying to reopen classes while keeping refuge spaces. Faith & community building: Three young Lebanese men’s small Catholic Bible study has grown into a major nationwide initiative, drawing 3,000+ participants with structured sessions and priest-led guidance. Arts & heritage: Lebanon’s traditional dance troupe Hayakel Baalbeck is touring Korea for the Arab Culture Festival, bringing dabke and the production “Laylet Farah” to Seoul stages. Regional culture spotlight: Qatar’s S’hail 2026 falconry and hunting exhibition opens at Katara with 14 countries, including Lebanon, blending heritage, tourism, and commerce. Music & identity: Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood and Dudu Tassa are set to kick off the Jerusalem Oud Festival, with cross-Middle East musical collaborations featuring Lebanese connections. Sports as return: Palestinian football’s official comeback is marked by the “1,000 Martyrs Cup,” including teams from West Bank, Gaza, and refugee camps in Lebanon. Fashion & lifestyle: Elie Saab’s Lebanese glamour is heading to H&M in a major collaboration, adding more high-end style to the high street.

Southern Lebanon Ceasefire Under Strain: President Joseph Aoun urged the US to step in after Israeli strikes killed four and injured at least 20 across Nabatieh al-Fawqa, Arab Salim and Kfar Remman, damaging homes and destroying an out-of-service hospital. Displacement and School Life: Thousands of Lebanese families are still sheltering in schools as the new term nears, with education officials trying to reopen while keeping emergency spaces for displaced people. Faith and Community: Three young Lebanese men expanded a parish Bible study into a nationwide-style movement, now drawing over 3,000 participants and growing with structured sessions led under Catholic priests. Culture on the Move: Lebanese traditional dance troupe Hayakel Baalbeck toured Korea for the 19th Arab Culture Festival, bringing dabke and “Laylet Farah” to Seoul stages. Humanitarian Spotlight: Qatar marked the International Day of Charity by emphasizing sustainable humanitarian impact, while UNRWA aid cuts continue to threaten Palestinian refugees’ daily survival in Lebanon. Beirut Lifestyle: Dancing Goat Coffee is opening in Beirut, with an international giveaway tied to its first overseas branch. Arts & Ideas: A Beirut-published philosophy book explores how to overcome the fear of death, linking mortality to meaning and life choices.