Lebanese Ministry of Information
Caretaker Minister of Information, Ziad al-Makary, called for “avoiding being dragged behind the fake news published by Israel, and not interacting with it on social media.”
He cautioned against “turning our media message into a dangerous place for the displaced,” and called for “verifying the enemy’s crimes and archiving them to prosecute the occupation,” adding, “We will have a team and a room within the Ministry of Information to monitor and expose all fake news.”
Makary’s words came during a press conference held at the Ministry of Information, in the presence of Press Syndicate Head, Awni al-Kaaki, Deputy Head of the Editors Syndicate, Salah Takieddine, Press Club Head, Bassam Abu Zeid, and media representatives.
Makary noted that “the Israeli enemy is waging major aggression against Lebanon…multi-dimensional aggression, starting with the destruction of our villages and cities, to the point of pushing towards internal tensions, and exploiting them to weaken us all, after the Lebanese proudly showed societal solidarity and political awareness among leaders and parties, which began to crystallize over time, preserving national unity at this critical moment in our history.”
The Minister considered that, at this stage, the media is at the heart of the war, having a major role in rising to the level of national responsibility and contributing to strengthening and preserving national unity and protecting the country.
He reiterated the Lebanese confrontation against the Israeli enemy by demonstrating internal unity and civil peace, and avoiding fake news, noting that the Information Ministry is not a “censorship police” and referring to the significant role of the judiciary in this respect.
Makary praised the exerted efforts of the National News Agency media professionals, underlining its credibility with the Lebanese, the foreign press, and all embassies. “This will be the platform with which we hope everyone will cooperate, to refute all fake news that causes tensions in the country,” he asserted.
