Barry Rubin: A Lebanese Town’s Dilemma Teaches about Islam, Freedom, and the Future of Europe

A Lebanese Town’s Dilemma Teaches about Islam, Freedom, and the Future of Europe

by Barry Rubin

I’m fascinated by little stories reflecting the big picture.

So consider the south Lebanese town of Hula, about which MEMRI provides a Lebanese television report. Hizballah militants arrived in the village — after hitting other places — to stop the sale of alcohol.


They surrounded the house of Wasef Hussein, the local liquor seller, and demanded he stop. The Lebanese army eventually arrived and got them to leave.

Hussein’s response is interesting:

Continue reading A Lebanese Town’s Dilemma Teaches about Islam, Freedom, and the Future of Europe

Barry Rubin is director of the Global Research in International Affairs (GLORIA) Center and editor of the Middle East Review of International Affairs (MERIA) Journal. His latest books are The Israel-Arab Reader (seventh edition), The Long War for Freedom: The Arab Struggle for Democracy in the Middle East (Wiley), and The Truth About Syria (Palgrave-Macmillan). His latest book is Israel: An Introduction, to be published by Yale University Press in January 2012. You can read more of Barry Rubin's posts at Rubin Reports, and now on his new blog, Rubin Reports, on Pajamas Media


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