JDEIDEH, Lebanon — It was not how Father Maroun Ghafari had envisioned this Holy Week — for years, he had held Easter sermons in his predominantly Christian village of Alma al-Shaab in southern Lebanon, near the border with Israel.
This year, he is preaching from a Beirut suburb, beside a cardboard cutout depicting his church in Alma al-Shaab, now caught in the crossfire between Israeli forces and...
The strongest version of this narrative highlights the human cost of the Israel-Hezbollah conflict, particularly its impact on Lebanon’s Christian communities. The article effectively captures the displacement, loss, and resilience of Christians in southern Lebanon, providing a poignant account of their struggles. It acknowledges the role of both Hezbollah and Israel in the suffering, as stated by Patriarch Beshara al-Rai, and avoids simplistic blame. The emotional weight of the story is undenia...