The media platform "Pravda TV" was launched at a celebration sponsored by the Minister of Information in the caretaker government, Ziad al-Makhari, at the Russian House in Verdun. The event was attended by the Minister of Displaced Persons in the caretaker government, Issam Sharafeddine, the Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Lebanon, Alexander Rudakov, the Dean of Industrialists, Jack Sarraf, and a host of political, academic, and media figures.
Minister Makhari stated, "Perhaps fate has played a role in launching 'Pravda TV,' which means truth, in these circumstances, as we live in a time where there is no truth. We are in a war that has nothing to do with the truth, the truth of history, the present, and the future. Ambassador Rudakov said, 'Everyone is searching for the truth, but no one wants to hear it.' This is true and, unfortunately, it is strongly related to what is happening in occupied Palestine and southern Lebanon. God created humans with two eyes to see with, but many parties prefer to see with only one eye. In the Gaza War, they only see the lie about forty Israeli children to the extent that it reached US President Biden, and they became convinced of it, forgetting the eight thousand Palestinian child martyrs."
He added, "Some Lebanese parties want to move towards resolution 1701, but they have not seen any Israeli violations of this resolution since 2006. We always ask the Lebanese media to speak the truth because we do not have the ability to build media or a future for media and coexistence among peoples without the clear truth, especially since the largest part of the war ongoing in occupied Palestine is media-related. There are military operations, but they are completely destructive operations. For the first time, media plays the main role in exposing the Israeli enemy, which has not been able to achieve any of its military objectives. In other words, it will lose the military war and the media war and the war of images and television. For the first time in the world, we see peoples rising up against their governments and demanding matters that contradict the will of those governments. This is due to the ability of the Palestinians, Lebanese, and the world to present the true image of Palestine and the injustice occurring there, as well as the images of the genocide being perpetrated by Israel."
Makhari continued, "We ask all journalists not to underestimate this weapon, as it is the only lethal weapon through which we can triumph for this cause, which has become not just a Palestinian cause but a humanitarian one. Regarding our martyrs in Lebanon, referring to 'Issam, Farah, and Rabi', they are martyrs of truth; they did not die from bombing but were assassinated by an enemy that does not respect any professional standards in any of the battles or wars. Moreover, we find that international organizations, for example, condemn the death of journalist Issam Abdullah and Palestinian journalists in Gaza and demand a transparent investigation. In another line, they say, 'We condemn the killing of the Israeli journalist and demand an independent, transparent investigation and bring the offenders to justice.' Here we ask, what justice are they talking about? The justice and rights of the Palestinian people can only be obtained through resistance and violence."
He added, "As for the Lebanese media and journalists who are fulfilling their journalistic duties in the south, we, as the Ministry of Information, try to coordinate with all parties related to the events occurring in the south, including international forces and the Red Cross, and the army to protect our journalists as much as possible. We always ask what we can do as the Ministry of Information. We, in turn, ask what we can do in front of such an enemy that shows no respect for any international or humanitarian agreements. When you are a journalist in a specific area known to be designated for journalism, this enemy bombards you and kills you, assassinating journalists to eliminate the truth, which is the most effective weapon in defeating the Israeli enemy."
He said, "I ask Pravda TV, which will certainly live up to its name, to always report the truth, which is the foundation of everything, and certainly in Lebanon, where freedoms exist, we are committed to protecting these freedoms no matter the cost, being advocates of responsible freedom." Makhari also referred to the media law, saying, "In fact, there is a media law in the Administration and Justice Committee, and the Ministry of Information has provided its remarks on this law, where we found that the law being discussed has become outdated and does not keep pace with technology and the Lebanese media landscape. For this reason, we moved towards a more liberal law that aligns more with the rights of journalists, aiming to abolish prison sentences for journalists. The deputies are facing a serious and candid test, and the media will not spare any party that does not support a media law that resembles Lebanon and Lebanese people."
He concluded by expressing "my deep happiness on this occasion, and certainly when this television station begins its work, I will visit to support and assist and do everything required of me as Minister of Information."
