Months ago, on January 28, 2023, the founder of “International Information” and businessman Jawad Adra appeared as a guest on the “Nokta Fasela” program on OTV. In this episode, Jawad Adra discussed pivotal and current issues that still impact the Arab and regional world today. Link to the interview. Jawad Adra began his talk by saying that we the citizens forgot our rights because the officials made it their goal to distract us from our rights.
In the interview, Jawad Adra touched on several topics, most notably the wars between Ukraine and Russia on one side, and between Israel and the Palestinians on the other. Adra said, “In the war on Gaza, Western governments fell morally, especially France, America, and Britain, with the exception of Spain, Belgium, and Ireland… It is a moral fall in the sea of Gaza’s blood.” He continued, “This moral fall has been happening for a long time, but it has become more apparent today, especially to the European and American public, through the demonstrations that take to the streets in many cities around the world, which raises questions about the position of Arab countries.”
Adra also addressed the issue of normalization, considering that “the Palestinian cause is a humanitarian and moral issue, and one cannot be neutral about it.”
In detail, Jawad Adra referred to the martyrs who fell in the Israeli war on Gaza and southern Lebanon, especially children and journalists.
Adra added, “I primarily hold the United States responsible, even though it is shying away from the issue… Weapons companies, pharmaceutical companies, technology and oil industry, the and Zionist lobby… these are five key elements in the war, and they are either present in the United States or controlled by the United States.” Regarding the relationship between the United States and China, Adra described it as “a complicated relationship.”
On the Lebanese front, Jawad Adra stated that “When we receive foreign envoys, for example, we say one thing to them, and another to our citizens.” Adra also touched on the issue of the presidential vacancy, saying that “electing a president will not prevent the crisis from continuing because we are witnessing a systematic crisis that cannot be reproduced and a political class that cannot renew its system, which has historically gone politically bankrupt. The Hassan Diab government was its [Lebanon’s] last chance to reform the system, but it refrained from doing so.” He also pointed out that “the current Mikati government is managing the crisis and maintaining the status quo: a settlement between the political class and the banks.” Adra emphasized that “the ruling class opposes the IMF plan to reduce the size of the public sector because it is a field for sectarian employment and political patronage.”
It should be noted that Jawad Adra is the founder of “International Information” in partnership with Zeina Akar, an independent research and statistical company founded in Beirut in 1995. “International Information” publishes research, survey, economic, financial, social, and cultural topics of interest to citizens and officials, in addition to periodic public opinion surveys on various topics.
In addition to presiding over and managing “International Information,” Jawad Adra is one of the founders of Nabu Museum located in northern Lebanon. Nabu Museum provides space for displaying artworks and functions as an institution to maintain the connection of communities with their culture through educational programs, training, organized tours, public lectures, and guided exhibitions.
Summary:
“Lebanon’s problem is lying” and “In the war on Gaza, the world fell morally”… This is part of what the founder of “International Information,” Jawad Adra, said in his interview on the “Nokta Fasela” program.
