Is there anything left to say about Hayy el Tanak?

This article looks at Hayy el Tanak in Tripoli, not as an example or proof of randomness or disorganization, but rather as a question about the meaning of a neighborhood; for the neighborhood is not a product of chance or an architectural sin. It is, in fact, a testament to the architecture of exclusion.

The Reconstruction Framework scheduled for discussion in the government: We still have a lot of work ahead of us

Critiquing the government’s “Reconstruction Framework”, this article exposes a narrow technical approach that reduces cities and villages to figures and compensation, while overlooking vital sectors and issues. The text calls for imagining a comprehensive recovery that goes beyond addressing the aftermath of war to encompass the form of urban justice we strive for.

Tripoli or the city that falls apart piece by piece

Buildings are falling apart in Tripoli, not haphazardly, but as a logical result to the city’s policies vis-a-vis old buildings. This article presents PW’s analysis of the underlying reasons, and proposes steps for a better and fairer management of the situation.

Urbicide as a strategy: The southern suburbs of Beirut between the attacks and the urban fragmentation

Amid rubble and a fractured social fabric, Beirut’s southern suburbs bear the scars of the Israeli war, which struck homes, markets, schools, and hospitals. Drawing on data, maps, and local testimonies, the article documents the scale of destruction and raises urgent questions about urban justice and the future of the city’s reconstruction.

Parliament Approves Loan for Infrastructure Reconstruction:

Between Rapid Response and Delayed Comprehensive Reconstruction

The Lebanese Parliament approved a $250 million World Bank loan to implement the LEAP project, aimed at emergency reconstruction of damaged infrastructure, restoring essential services, and managing debris, as one of the three tracks in the government’s reconstruction strategy. The loan represents a limited portion of reconstruction needs, focusing on densely populated areas, which excludes southern villages and border regions and does not cover the rebuilding of destroyed buildings. Despite its importance, LEAP remains a partial, short-term step amid ongoing delays in comprehensive reconstruction.

Where is the Fund? On old tenants’ struggles with applications to the rent support fund

Field documentation reveals how misinformation and discretionary practices in public administrations have blocked old tenants from applying to the rent support fund and protecting their housing rights.

The Government Legalizes Violations and Complicity in Environmental and Housing Damage:

The Issued Decree Authorizes Industrial Expansion in Kfour, Despite Pending Court Challenges

The government has legalized a harmful industrial expansion in Kfour, neglecting environmental and health threats and ongoing legal objections. Residents and civil society are calling on the government to withdraw Decree 1962 before more damage is done to their health, homes, and land.

Removing encroachments from the Litani riverbed:

Water protection is a priority, but who protects the housing rights of the refugees?

The text reviews the Litani River Authority’s removal of what it classifies as “encroachments” along the river and the resulting pressures on Syrian displaced communities in the Beqaa. It highlights the tension between protecting water resources and safeguarding the housing rights of vulnerable groups.

The State’s Limited Role in Reconstruction and Its Submission to the Discourse of Inaction

Despite the government’s repeated rhetoric about its commitment to reconstruction and recovery, and the emergence of what appears to be a comprehensive plan, its efforts remain delayed, limited, and fragmented. They rely almost entirely on external loans and grants amid weak local financing, reflecting the absence of an effective, long-term national vision and a surrender to the discourse of state incapacity.

A law proposal to establish a separate cadastral zone for the municipality of Saadiyat, submitted by MP Bilal Abdullah, represents a pivotal point for a deeper discussion around the history of these areas and their evolving social boundaries. In the case of Damour and Saadiyat, the area became a symbol of the profound political crisis brought about by demographic changes in the Chouf coastal region, resulting from transformations and repeated waves of displacement to and from it.

Eviction of Camp “044” in Ghazzeh–Bekaa: Between Protecting the Litani and Undermining the Right to Housing

In September 2025, the Litani River Authority ordered the eviction and dismantling of Camp 044 in Ghazzeh, West Bekaa. Citing environmental violations and the need to remove encroachments from the river course, this action is part of a larger campaign targeting over 34 Syrian refugee camps. This text documents the eviction, its repercussions, and its impact on the fundamental right to housing.

Green light to destroy Beirut’s theater:

The Ministry of Culture removes protection under pressure from the Shoura Council and the owner's threats

The Ministry of Culture delisted lot number 243 in the Ain Mreisseh district (Beirut) from the general inventory list of historical buildings is a striking decision. This contradiction raises questions about the motives behind the decision, specifically that the lot includes Beirut Theater.
In this article, we review the details of the property and previous attempts to protect it, revealing an alarming threat on the theater and the adjacent buildings.