A Hebrew-language commentary published by Kikar HaShabbat takes aim at Lebanese journalist Ali Baro, whom it describes as a Hezbollah propaganda mouthpiece, after he appeared on camera this week claiming Hezbollah had “won” while waving a shoe. The writer says the performance exposed how detached he is from the reality on the ground.
The article argues that thousands of displaced people in Lebanon are not on a beachside outing, but living in schools and tents in harsh conditions after losing their homes. It says Baro and Hezbollah are trying to disguise what is actually a “total collapse” by talking about victory and staging upbeat imagery from Beirut’s Raouche promenade.
The author says he confronted Baro directly and told him that what Hezbollah calls victory is in fact defeat. He repeats that the group’s supporters are not camping for fun, but living in overcrowded tents far from Beirut’s waterfront.
The piece concludes that Hezbollah and Baro have lost control, public backing, and standing, and are left only with attempts to manipulate public perception. It says the gesture of boasting about a shoe, rather than confronting destruction, shows that the movement is selling illusions to people who have little left to lose.
