Israel 101: Standing on the other side of the fence, literally

(Our itinerary. Day 1 is in black, Day 2 is in dark brown).

My visit to the northern border of Israel, separating Israel from Lebanon, has been at the very least... mind blowing!

Seeing Lebanon from 25 metres away is... disconcerting. The only thing I could think of was - I’d like to drive up north to Beirut... which was nearly 80 km away from where we were in Israel, in Metula (which is roughly across the border from Marjeyoun and Khiam).

I could see cars driving in Lebanon. A few men looking back at us from the other side of the border. The mountains. The fields - which were nearly the continuation of those in Israel, if it weren’t for the two consecutive fences and the military road occasionally patrolled by Israeli Jeeps... and tractors driven by Thai labourers.

I actually was in Marjeyoun and Khiam last year. I saw this very Israeli border from there. The Israeli man whom I asked for directions might be the one I saw from Lebanon. The car I saw driving on a distant road could very well be my Lebanese driver, Khalil.

Watching from inside the mirror out is very destabilising. Standing on the other side of the fence - literally - forces you to understand what you didn’t see, what didn’t want to see in yourself and in... in the guy in the mirror.

And nothing seems simple anymore. A black and white dichotomy becomes obsolete, and all you can see if shades of grey.

More stories and many more photos from this trip to come!