On the 10th anniversary of the liberation of south Lebanon, the sites that used to represent confrontation positions between the resistance and the occupation army have been turned into tourism destinations and picnic locations. It is a “Jihadist tourism” to which Hezbollah invites the Lebanese from all political directions and sectarian affiliations. Trips to where Hezbollah fighters are present with their weapons (outside the army and UNIFIL area of operation) do not cost more than 40,000 Lebanese pounds (around 26$) per tourist, aboard air-conditioned buses that wander the border areas. During these trips, the visitors listen to an explanation of the history of the past battles and the current capacities and preparations of the fighters. Despite the military preparedness which Hezbollah continually announces that it maintains, under the pretext that a new Israeli aggression is likely at any time, the feeling that prevails in the South and among the ranks of the resistance is that the lengthy years of war have come to an end, and that the time has come now to commemorate the anniversary and walk among the battlefields and what has remained of the bodies of the rusty Israeli tanks. As such, yesterday witnessed the commemoration of this holiday in Lebanon. The ceremony took a national character as it was announced to be official holiday. I do not rule out that there will be a race starting today between May 25 and November 22, the official date which the Lebanese have been accustomed to commemorating the independence of their country. This is only because the resistance, as announced by Hezbollah's Secretary General Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah, believes that there are different and conflicting readings for the Lebanese history, according to the identities and sectarian affiliations of the readers of this history. This could thus spur different readings for the reality of the independence in 1943, and [a debate over] whether or not the title suits the occasion. However, in Nasrallah's eyes, there is only one reading for the modern history represented by the resistance and liberation which is indisputable according to him. Beyond no doubt, now is not the time to write the history of May 25 nor the history of the Lebanese-Israeli confrontations that followed, namely the July war in 2006. History is not usually written under the pressure of weapons and victories, because such narration does not leave room for arguments and discussions, and it certainly does not allow for any conclusion that has a different vision. But certainly, May 25 has achieved a quantum leap for Hezbollah in the South and on the Lebanese domestic arena, one which the party did not enjoy before. Under the pressure of victory and liberation, the voices that wanted to discuss the impact of this victory on the internal situation and the political structure were silent, as well as the voices that wanted to discuss the dimensions of the “divine victory” in 2006, and its repercussions on the Lebanese-Israeli border, the most important of which are the consequences of UN Resolution 1701. As a result of this resolution, the border area was turned into an open space for tourism, without any fear or caution. Hezbollah prides itself with this tourism, calling it the “tourism of provocation” (which means for those unfamiliar with the Lebanese jargon: The tourism of irritating Israel). All of this takes place while Israel carries out its military drills behind the border, commemorating the same occasion. The drills are reportedly aimed at taking lessons from the previous defeat and trying to avoid it in forthcoming confrontations. This could mean that the South and Lebanon are expected to witness such confrontations, and it could mean that the internal tourism, which represents part of ceremonies held to commemorate the anniversary of the liberation of the South, could become a new aspect of the life of the southerners, one that points to building, construction, and desire for life. It also means that the Israeli military drills represent a message to the Israeli domestic arena, rather than an attempt to disrupt the “tourism of provocation” in Lebanon.
