Abi Saab at MU
On the Ninth of January 2018, the Faculty of Mass Communication and Fine Arts at Al-Maaref University hosted the deputy editor-in-chief of the Lebanese newspaper, Al-Akhbar, Mr Pierre Abi Saab, who presented a seminar titled "Cultural Normalisation with the Zionist Enemy and the Ways of Confrontation."
Mr. Abi Saab received a warm welcome by Al-Maaref's Chancellor Professor Ali Alaeddin, and the Faculty's Dean Dr. Ali El-Takach, the instructors of the course Seminars in Journalism Dr. Samar Kalakesh and Dr Ali Kassir and the students.
The meeting, which lasted for an hour and a half and organised successfully by the students, dealt at the beginning with the Palestinian cause, mainly the recent situation before delving in the historical junctures of cultural normalisation over the years in Lebanon, and how the vision of some elites has changed towards this cultural issue.
Mr. Abi Saab stressed the need to intensify efforts to counter normalisation in all its forms whether culturally or through media, arguing that "the first disaster in Lebanon was turning the conflict with "Israel" into a sectarian one, which played a role in changing the visions of some national elites who engaged in political projects do not consider facing "Israel" a priority. This issue contributes to the fading of the Palestinian cause. "
Mr. Abi Saab stressed that "we need serious political lobbies working to raise awareness about cultural normalisation," saying that "confronting "Israel" is the title of liberties desired. Liberate Palestine, then free yourself from any injustice".
Abi Saab added that the Zionist project in Lebanon seeks to involve the Lebanese to go consciously to surrender to the idea of "Israel", considering that "the achievements of the resistance has advanced but we retreat in the awareness about the danger of normalisation. "
Mr Abi Saab recommended the students "to listen to the other and to know and converse in modern language, and try to change the reality, because we are not all the country and our fight with the Lebanese public opinion with different people on several levels, but they met on national dignity