Hariri Announces Suspension of Future TV For Financial Reasons

Lebanon's Prime Minister Saad Hariri announced the suspension of work at Future TV. Photo taken on February 26, 2019 (AFP Photo/WAEL HAMZEH)
Lebanon's Prime Minister Saad Hariri announced the suspension of work at Future TV. Photo taken on February 26, 2019 (AFP Photo/WAEL HAMZEH)
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Hariri Announces Suspension of Future TV For Financial Reasons

Lebanon's Prime Minister Saad Hariri announced the suspension of work at Future TV. Photo taken on February 26, 2019 (AFP Photo/WAEL HAMZEH)
Lebanon's Prime Minister Saad Hariri announced the suspension of work at Future TV. Photo taken on February 26, 2019 (AFP Photo/WAEL HAMZEH)

Prime Minister Saad Hariri announced on Wednesday the suspension of work at the Future Television, a year after the closure of Al-Mustaqbal newspaper for financial reasons.

The crisis started three years ago, leading the employees to resort to a strike after the TV’s continuous failure to pay their salaries.

Imad Assi, director of news at Future TV, told Asharq Al-Awsat that broadcasting would continue by running old programs, in parallel with meetings between the concerned officials to clarify the course and take the appropriate decision in this regard. He also noted that the television would be restructured and re-launched.

In a statement, Hariri said: “It is with a sad heart that I announce today the decision to suspend the work at Future TV and settle the rights of the workers, for the same financial reasons that led to the closing of Al-Mustaqbal newspaper.”

He added: “The decision is not easy for me and for the public of the Future movement, nor for the generation of founders, workers and millions of Lebanese and Arab viewers, who accompanied the station for more than a quarter of a century and witnessed a distinguished media experience that devoted effort, potential and competencies to serve Lebanon and the Arab causes.”

The channel was founded in 1994 under late Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, the father of Saad.

“Martyr Prime Minister Rafic Hariri wanted the Future TV to be at the image of the Lebanese citizens, their diversity, their coexistence and their passion for culture, freedom, openness and joy. He called it "Future TV" so it could be a bridge to the Arab conscience, with all its national, civilized, social and cultural meanings,” the Lebanese premier underlined.

He noted, however, that the channel would not be shut down forever, but would be re-launched in the coming months, after addressing the financial problems.

“It is important that Future TV employees and all Lebanese and Arab brothers know that the screen will not be turned off,” he said.

“The station is not taking the decision to stop work in order to become part of the past. Rather, it is announcing the end of a period in its journey, to be able to address the accumulated material burdens… and preparing for a new phase.”



Israeli Gunfire Hits Perimeter of UN Peacekeeping Post in Lebanon, UNIFIL Says

A post for UN peacekeepers of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) is pictured near the border with Israel, southern Lebanon, April 6, 2023. (Reuters)
A post for UN peacekeepers of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) is pictured near the border with Israel, southern Lebanon, April 6, 2023. (Reuters)
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Israeli Gunfire Hits Perimeter of UN Peacekeeping Post in Lebanon, UNIFIL Says

A post for UN peacekeepers of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) is pictured near the border with Israel, southern Lebanon, April 6, 2023. (Reuters)
A post for UN peacekeepers of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) is pictured near the border with Israel, southern Lebanon, April 6, 2023. (Reuters)

The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said on Wednesday that direct fire from the Israeli army had hit the perimeter of one of its peacekeeping positions in south Lebanon.

In a statement, UNIFIL said the incident on Tuesday was the first of its kind since Israel and Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah agreed to a ceasefire last November.

There was no immediate comment from the Israeli army on the incident, in which UNIFIL said one of its bases in the village of Kfar Shouba in southern Lebanon was hit.

"In recent days, UNIFIL has also observed other aggressive behavior by the Israeli military towards peacekeepers performing operational activities in accordance with Security Council Resolution 1701," it said, referring to a UN resolution originally adopted in 2006 to end hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah.

Tuesday's incident occurred near the Blue Line, a UN-mapped demarcation separating Lebanon from Israel and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.

Any unauthorized crossing of the Blue Line by land or by air from any side constitutes a violation of Security Council Resolution 1701.

UNIFIL cited other alleged incidents it blamed on the Israeli army, including being targeted by lasers while it was performing a patrol with the Lebanese army in the southern border town of Maroun al-Ras on Tuesday.

Israel has continued to occasionally strike areas in south Lebanon, saying that it was targeting Hezbollah infrastructure. It has also struck the Hezbollah-controlled southern suburbs of Beirut several times.

The ceasefire terms require that neither Hezbollah nor any other armed group have weapons in areas near the border south of the Litani River, which flows into the Mediterranean some 20 km (12 miles) north of the Israeli border.

They require Israel to withdraw troops from the south and that the Lebanese army deploy into the border region.

Lebanon and Israel have accused each other of failing to fully implement the deal. Israel still occupies five hilltop positions in the south. Rockets have been fired from Lebanon towards Israel twice, though Hezbollah denied any role.

Israel killed thousands of Hezbollah fighters in the war, destroyed much of its arsenal and eliminated its top leaders, including Hassan Nasrallah.

The war spiraled after Hezbollah opened fire at the beginning of the Gaza war, declaring solidarity with its Palestinian ally Hamas.