A Lebanese Christian fled from Hezbollah - and found refuge in Israel

Summary

The article profiles “G,” an anonymized Lebanese Christian from a Maronite family in southern Lebanon, whose childhood was shaped by civil war, Israeli military involvement, Palestinian armed groups, and Hezbollah’s rise. It describes his family’s displacement after Israel withdrew from its security zone in southern Lebanon on May 24, 2000. According to the account, six-year-old G, his parents, and four brothers fled toward Israel with limited belongings and waited near the border before being admitted. The family was initially housed on military bases and later relocated to northern Israel. The article says G struggled with Hebrew, bullying, cultural alienation, and embarrassment about his Arabic language and Lebanese food. His Christian religious life was also disrupted because displaced families initially lacked stable churches and clergy. Over time, he reportedly developed friendships, recovered pride in his Lebanese Christian identity, and adopted a more integrated Israeli identity. The continuing threat of rockets and conflict from Lebanon remained part of his experience. The article presents his story as one of resilience, adaptation, dialogue, and bridge-building rather than victimhood. It is identified as the first installment of a two-part series by Jonathan Feldstein, president of the Genesis 123 Foundation.