Mata Goldman in Beirut!

Speaking about Lebanon, has anyone followed the story of the ‘Zionist spy in Beirut’? =)

So much for a Zionist spy - that was Lisa Goldman, one of my favourite bloggers and a gifted Canadian-Israeli journalist. She’s also very involved in cross-border blogging (which is how I know her, in effect). And of course, she has many friends all across the globe including in Lebanon, many through her laptop.

Lisa was in Lebanon to visit (with her Canadian passport), and when she went home to Tel Aviv her television network - Channel 10 - thought it would be really cool to have a news reporter do a piece FROM Beirut on the anniversary of the July 2006 War on Lebanon. A piece of human interest - merely what the mood is like on the street. (she also wrote this on her trips).

Since her reportage, she’s been a star :) But not in a good way: many authorities and people in Lebanon - and I so understand them - are upset that an Israeli was in Lebanon despite the illegality of such an act; Al- Jazeera, and Al-Manar ran stories on this ‘scandal’ which allowed an Israeli ‘spy’ to roam around in Beirut. And people’s comments on those stories are just outlandish. Click here for a summary of some of those comments.

Oh please. a) there are already LOTS of spies in Lebanon. Israelis, and non-Israelis. Just get a phalangist. Easy. And b) If she were a spy, I doubt she’d stand on the balcony of her hotel, with Beirut in the background, and report live from there. Duh.

People, grow up. She’s just a journalist who was doing what is one heck of a daring piece. Journalistically, I’m jealous.

Press-wise, it’s free press, people!! Plus, I think they couldn’t have found anyone better than Lisa, who’s actually capable of looking through politics to see the people and paint a human picture of her subjects. Read her blog!

However, I can understand why some Lebanese would be upset of an Israeli going into their country on the anniversary of the day when Israel bombed the living hell out of Lebanon (causing about 1250 victims, let’s not forget it, and mutli-billion dollars of damages). I wouldn’t have been happy either.

Right now, I’m glad the report was out (Lisa promised a subtitled YouTube version!! We’re waiting, Lis!!), though I disagree with some segments of it, including the interviews which I think were rather silly and superficial (I mean, a cab driver and a barman to gauge the mood in the street??); and am glad she got out of there in one piece (I didn’t expect any physical danger, but jail would’ve been a possibility)..