Lebanese Journalist in Hot Water for Israeli Interview

Flying to your home country only to be greeted by a military judge. That's what happened to Layal al-Ekhtiar, a Lebanese journalist working for Al-Arabiya in Dubai. She was questioned for interviewing an Israeli military spokesperson in October 2023, during the Hamas-Israel war. This interview sparked a lot of controversy back home, where contact with Israelis is illegal. Ekhtiar, who used to work for other Lebanese channels like LBCI and OTV, was surprised by the request to interview Israeli official Avichay Adraee. She did it anyway, asking tough questions but also treating him with respect. After all, that's what professional journalists do, right? But in Lebanon, where they're technically still at war with Israel, some people saw it differently. Ekhtiar's phone was confiscated, and she was released on bail of $558. Four other journalists faced similar charges. Ekhtiar's case has reignited discussions about press freedom in Lebanon. Some support her, others call her a traitor. It's a complicated situation, but one thing's clear: freedom of speech is at stake.