The journalist who interviewed Edrai was detained for questioning in Beirut and released

On Wednesday, January 22, well-known Lebanese journalist Layal al-Ikhtiyar was detained by security services for questioning at Rafik Hariri Airport in Beirut.

According to the Lebanon Debate website, the detainee was taken to the investigating judge in Beirut, Fadi Sawan, who interrogated her and immediately released her.

The reason for the interrogation was an old interview that Layal al-Ikhtiyar, a correspondent for the Saudi Arabian TV channel Al-Arabiya, took in October 2023, shortly after the start of the Iron Swords War, with the head of the Arabic department of the IDF press service, Avichai Edrai.

Lebanese citizens are prohibited by law from contacting Israelis. And, although al-Ikhtiyar spoke as a representative of a Saudi television channel, she formally violated Lebanese law.

It was noted on social networks that during an interview with an IDF representative, Layal al-Ikhtiyar addressed him as “Professor Avichai.” The journalist was insulted and harassed by Hezbollah supporters. Some critics called her a “Zionist”, issued death threats and gave her the nickname “Layal Edrai”.

Al-Ikhtiyar then rejected the accusations against her, stating the “political, not legal” nature of the claims against her. However, she noted that such a reaction to the interview deprives her of the opportunity to visit Lebanon soon.

Apparently, after the actual defeat of Hezbollah and the establishment of a ceasefire, Layal al-Ikhtiyar considered it possible to return to Lebanon. Detention for questioning was a formality. One way or another, not only Lebanese, but also Israeli media wrote about this.