Solal Fakiel is an emblematic figure in Israeli society. With his long hair and imposing beard, standing at 1.90 meters tall, this French-Israeli, followed by over 53,000 Instagram followers, offers his unique perspective on Israel. Provocative and direct, with a poetic and impactful style, Solal is a personality that leaves no one indifferent. Through his blunt manner and impressive knowledge of linguistics, he introduces the world to "the real Israel"—the one rarely reflected in the media, a quirky, daring, and deeply authentic Israel.
Solal arrived in Israel 14 years ago by chance and officially made Aliyah in 2020. A photographer and videographer by profession, he worked for 7 years with Adidas Israel and the French Institute before producing his own documentary about Israel and Judea-Samaria.
During the coronavirus pandemic, he started a blog, which he quickly transformed into an Instagram page in 2022, titled IFI (Israel from Inside) in tribute to his father. "Ifi is the name of my father, whom I no longer have; it's a dedication to my dad with his initials. In Israel, we are always judged by outsiders. It seems they know better what’s happening here, and I wanted to offer another perspective, from within our daily lives," Solal explains.
Through short videos and written posts, he explores Israeli society through encounters with various communities across the country, including populations in the Palestinian territories. His aim is to engage in hasbara (public diplomacy) and tell the truth about Israel to a hostile world that perpetually spreads misinformation.
"Since I don't have a Jewish appearance, I can go anywhere without being bothered," says Solal. "That’s why I chose to make my Aliyah later, as a Frenchman I was able to travel freely in the region, even to Bethlehem, to meet people. That’s what fascinates me."
A Cosmopolitan Israel
Solal addresses a range of topics including religion, peoples, science, and his particular passion: linguistics. In making his documentary on Israel and Judea-Samaria, which has both a tourist and political focus, he has met key figures in hasbara, such as activist Rudy Rochman, as well as Jews, Christians, Druze, Bedouins, and Muslims who are keen to discuss Israel.
"I interviewed Palestinians who come to Yafo to work for the Palestinian Authority and, surprisingly, some people from Hamas. I love meeting people and making friends; it helps me enrich my content. I’ve visited Mount Tabor in Galilee and Safed. I enjoy adventure. I’ve been a guide in Jerusalem and I encourage people to visit the Temple Mount—it's a stunning place. There are many Stars of David on the Dome of the Rock that no one notices. I wish the Temple Mount could be entirely Israeli, not half Jordanian, because we manage peace better than they do," says Solal.
A Passion for Linguistics
What drives Solal above all is his love for languages, especially Hebrew. He skillfully connects words, makes term associations, and explains their meanings in multiple languages. He can’t resist making combinations and analyzing names, which he believes perfectly reflect the personality of those who bear them.
"I love words; there's a sort of dance between languages that I find fascinating. In fact, my next topic is Babel. With this story, God put people in their place with languages, but for me, the diversity of languages is a gift," he explains.
For Solal, the root of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is a lack of communication. "When I went out to clean nature with both Israelis and Palestinians, we realized we have more or less the same interests and that we’re not so different, but too many barriers remain," Solal laments.
"Being Israeli means being upright, there's the idea of yashar (upright in Hebrew), being upright towards God but also towards oneself. Meanwhile, the Palestinian is in a state of struggle—'pales' in Greek means to struggle. Either we try to be upright, or we struggle, and the problem with the struggler is that he looks down. In Judaism, we try to stand upright. The more upright we are, the easier life becomes," he asserts.
What Future for Israel?
Solal envisions a new Europe in the Middle East with a single state for two peoples. According to him, the ideal Middle East would be based on the European model with a train connecting the Emirates, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Israel.
"We need to reach out and complement each other. The encounters we make are never random; they respond to things deep within us that we might not want to admit. I think the larger Israel grows, the better it is for us. I don’t see how two states will bring peace; there is room for everyone here. Development, peace, and economic stability can stop war; Palestinians are not able to act for peace because they can't develop an economy," Solal concludes.
His future project? Solal is currently working on writing a dictionary that bridges science and religion and provides insights into the psychology of names.
Caroline Haïat
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