The Levant is the Arab world’s most heated region, often at the center of political and social struggles. Yet, in terms of its cultural richness, it is a place that offers more than twice its size in depth, history, and intellectual output. From the ancient streets of Damascus to the vibrant energy of Beirut, from the olive groves of Palestine to the desert landscapes of Jordan, the Levant has always been a region where history converges with the present, where the land itself tells stories of civilizations past and people who continue to shape the future. This geographical space has always been a nexus of culture and thought. It is a region where the great intellectual movements of the Arab world have taken root, and where the weight of history has shaped a cultural identity that is as complex as it is enduring. Throughout centuries of upheaval, the Levant has produced some of the most important thinkers, poets, and artists of the Arab world. It is here that the seeds of the Nahda intellectual renaissance were sown, and here that writers, philosophers, and revolutionaries have consistently grappled with questions of identity, resistance, and progress. But the Levant is not just defined by its intellectual output. It is a land that has known suffering and hardship, so it has always been a place of resistance and renewal. The region’s beauty, its songs, its traditions, and its languages have all remained vital in the face of conflict, occupation, and division. The Levant is a place where identity is not simply inherited but continuously redefined. In this edition, we acknowledge the Levant’s pivotal role within the broader Arab world. We explore the deep connections between its people and their land, and how its people—whether through poetry, food, or everyday acts of defiance—continue to assert their voices. In the words of the great Syrian poet Adonis, the Levant is not simply a place on a map, but “a burning question of identity,” one that has continuously and immeasurably shaped the Arab cultural and intellectual landscape. Despite its cultural wealth, the Levant remains a region caught between the weight of its past and the uncertainty of its future. The same land that gave birth to some of the most profound works of Arab literature and art is now scarred by wars, displacement, and occupation. Still, the Levant endures—not as a passive region, but as an active and resilient force, continually asserting its cultural identity in the face of adversity. It is a land of contradictions, yes, but those contradictions have only strengthened its people’s resolve to protect and preserve their culture and identity. Through the lens of literature, history, art, and everyday life, we aim to offer a truthful representation of the Levant’s complexity—its vibrant heritage, its ongoing fight for self-determination, and its indelible place within the Arab world.