25 aug 2013
The Representative of Japan to the Palestinian Authority visited Ma'an News Agency in Bethlehem on Thursday.
Junya Matsuura was given a tour of the news agency's facilities and met with editors and translators working on Ma'an's English desk.
The Japanese official met with editor-in-chief Nasser Lahham and discussed politics, cultural issues and the media in Palestine.
Matsuura said he supported peace negotiations to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Junya Matsuura was given a tour of the news agency's facilities and met with editors and translators working on Ma'an's English desk.
The Japanese official met with editor-in-chief Nasser Lahham and discussed politics, cultural issues and the media in Palestine.
Matsuura said he supported peace negotiations to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The Hamas-run Al-Aqsa satellite channel on Saturday dedicated a one hour talk show to criticizing Ma'an News Agency and its senior employees.
Former chief of Hamas media, Hasan Abu Hashish, presenter Raji al-Hums, and an unknown Jordanian journalist claimed that Ma'an's editor-in-chief Nasser Lahham worked for the Palestinian Authority's preventative security services.
The channel also claimed that the general manager of Ma'an's satellite channel, Muhammad Faraj, ran Ma'an like a security cell working for PA intelligence, and said that the chairwoman of Ma'an's board of directors, Nibal Thawbta, was "suspicious."
The Hamas affiliated channel also criticized Egyptian journalists Ashraf Abu al-Houl and Ashraf Sweilam, claiming they both work for Egyptian intelligence.
Al-Houl is assistant editor-in-chief of al-Ahram newspaper and Sweilam is a Ma'an reporter based in El-Arish, Egypt.
The Hamas panel said Ma'an used "dirty" means, claiming that those who collaborate with the PA security services are no different from those who collaborate with Israel.
Ma'an's editor-in-chief Nasser Lahham issued a brief response to the talk show: "Ma'an News Agency has never hesitated to cooperate with al-Aqsa TV channel respectfully whenever they asked us for a comment. The last time we accepted an invitation to make a comment on al-Aqsa TV was earlier this month. We do not regret that cooperation because we believe in a Marwan Barghouthi's famous phrase 'partners in blood and in decision.'"
However, some journalists working closely with Hamas are harming the movement and its' "history of struggle."
"They are proving day after day that they are the real reason behind the ongoing failure of Hamas in the media and it is those people who make people abandon Hamas."
Hamas closed Ma'an's Gaza bureau on July 25, accusing the news agency of deliberately publishing "false news reports seeking to incite against Gaza."
The attorney general in Gaza also ordered the closure of al-Arabiya's Gaza office, accusing both outlets of disseminating information "unprofessionally."
Human Rights Watch has said that Hamas "should immediately revoke the summary closure of two media offices."
"If the Gaza authorities think that these news outlets have misrepresented them, it should be easy enough to provide accurate information and debunk their stories, but they shouldn't just shut down their critics," said Tom Porteous, deputy program director at Human Rights Watch.
Former chief of Hamas media, Hasan Abu Hashish, presenter Raji al-Hums, and an unknown Jordanian journalist claimed that Ma'an's editor-in-chief Nasser Lahham worked for the Palestinian Authority's preventative security services.
The channel also claimed that the general manager of Ma'an's satellite channel, Muhammad Faraj, ran Ma'an like a security cell working for PA intelligence, and said that the chairwoman of Ma'an's board of directors, Nibal Thawbta, was "suspicious."
The Hamas affiliated channel also criticized Egyptian journalists Ashraf Abu al-Houl and Ashraf Sweilam, claiming they both work for Egyptian intelligence.
Al-Houl is assistant editor-in-chief of al-Ahram newspaper and Sweilam is a Ma'an reporter based in El-Arish, Egypt.
The Hamas panel said Ma'an used "dirty" means, claiming that those who collaborate with the PA security services are no different from those who collaborate with Israel.
Ma'an's editor-in-chief Nasser Lahham issued a brief response to the talk show: "Ma'an News Agency has never hesitated to cooperate with al-Aqsa TV channel respectfully whenever they asked us for a comment. The last time we accepted an invitation to make a comment on al-Aqsa TV was earlier this month. We do not regret that cooperation because we believe in a Marwan Barghouthi's famous phrase 'partners in blood and in decision.'"
However, some journalists working closely with Hamas are harming the movement and its' "history of struggle."
"They are proving day after day that they are the real reason behind the ongoing failure of Hamas in the media and it is those people who make people abandon Hamas."
Hamas closed Ma'an's Gaza bureau on July 25, accusing the news agency of deliberately publishing "false news reports seeking to incite against Gaza."
The attorney general in Gaza also ordered the closure of al-Arabiya's Gaza office, accusing both outlets of disseminating information "unprofessionally."
Human Rights Watch has said that Hamas "should immediately revoke the summary closure of two media offices."
"If the Gaza authorities think that these news outlets have misrepresented them, it should be easy enough to provide accurate information and debunk their stories, but they shouldn't just shut down their critics," said Tom Porteous, deputy program director at Human Rights Watch.
24 aug 2013
The family of a Palestinian journalist who was kidnapped 16 months ago in the Philippines on Friday appealed to rights organizations to do more for his release.
Baker Atyani, Al-Arabiya's TV bureau chief for Southeast Asia, was kidnapped in June 2012 by the Abu Sayyaf group while filming a documentary in the the Philippines.
The journalist's wife Um Khalid, who lives in Jordan with their four children, said the family had urged organizations and officials to help free him to no avail.
Atyani holds Jordanian citizenship but his family is from Anza village in the northern West Bank.
"The family in Anza is really worried and has sent pleas to President Abbas and the King Abdullah Jordan, and efforts have been made to release him," his brother Mahmoud Atyani told Ma'an.
He criticized the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate and the journalists' union in Jordan for failing to intervene or act for his brother's release.
Baker Atyani, Al-Arabiya's TV bureau chief for Southeast Asia, was kidnapped in June 2012 by the Abu Sayyaf group while filming a documentary in the the Philippines.
The journalist's wife Um Khalid, who lives in Jordan with their four children, said the family had urged organizations and officials to help free him to no avail.
Atyani holds Jordanian citizenship but his family is from Anza village in the northern West Bank.
"The family in Anza is really worried and has sent pleas to President Abbas and the King Abdullah Jordan, and efforts have been made to release him," his brother Mahmoud Atyani told Ma'an.
He criticized the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate and the journalists' union in Jordan for failing to intervene or act for his brother's release.
By Nasser Lahham
In some countries, people use the term watchdog journalism. In a way, journalism is described as dog because media outlets "bark and howl" at those who arouse suspicion. This is allegedly a positive comparison because dogs have the ability to recognize smells ten times better than humans. In addition, dogs are loyal and faithful when they guard properties against thieves and drug dealers.
A few days ago, a new youth movement was announced in Gaza on Facebook with the name Tamarrad (Rebel) Against Injustice. It is not clear whether this is a serious youth movement, or who stands behind this group. The public cannot tell whether this movement is a factional offset trying to support Fatah, or a group of amateurs who look at the world in their own way.
Surprisingly, the reaction of Hamas and its de facto government in Gaza to the new phenomenon reflects fear and dismay. The reaction to Tamarrad in Gaza seems even tougher than the rebellion itself, prompting a curious question of whether the Hamas-run government in Gaza fears any popular action in the Gaza Strip? Is popular action forbidden? Aren't young people in Gaza entitled to protest and express their points of view? Why have all these threats and intimidation been aimed at the Tamarrod activists?
The reason I ask is to touch on the mentality of the rulers in Gaza and whether there really is good governance there or not. If it is forbidden to speak, to criticize and to demonstrate, people in the opposition will have to consider other means which could eventually become more harmful, less moral and more vehement.
It is worth remembering that the opposition leaders in Israel are entitled to a government salary similar to that of the prime minister. They are also entitled to a car and two body guards. Opposition leaders take part in all decisive decisions such as declarations of war. They also partake in decisive leadership meetings and reception of high-profile visitors to the country. The French foreign minister Laurent Fabius, who is currently visiting Israel, has asked to meet with opposition leader Shelly Yechimovich right after his meeting with Netanyahu.
Thus, if current Palestinian leaders stubbornly insist on treating opposition with intimidation, they will eventually end up behind bars just like their counterparts in some Arab countries who "wake up as presidents, and enter the evening as humiliated prisoners." Each government, namely the Hamas-run government, should realize that excessive use of power against opposition will sooner or later negatively affect the rulers. I wish we could have learned lessons from the examples of our neighboring countries. I wish rulers and officials could stop this empty tone of intimidation which proves their fear of the future as they have no self-confidence, and neither do they trust their people.
Hackers affiliated to Hamas recently took over Ma'an Network’s Facebook page, using it as a platform to verbally attack the Palestinian president and other Palestinians. The Hamas-run ministry of interior surprisingly started to run the page. Ma'an has been in contact with Hamas leaders including the bureau of premier Ismail Haniyeh about the case and several leaders expressed solidarity with Ma'an. They tried their best to work out a solution but "a handful of narrow-minded people in the ministry of interior foiled all efforts." This highlights that the Hamas ministry of interior is running the Gaza Strip like gangsters and smugglers rather than responsible governments. Otherwise, what does it mean when a government hacks a media outlet? "We can grasp it when a dog bites a man, but we can never understand that a man bit a dog."
In other words, a person or a recidivist may hack a website of a ministry or government, but I never heard of a government hacking a media outlet and publishing its interior ministry data on a hacked page. It is possible they don't trust their own media outlets, satellite channels, and the large numbers of spokesmen they have, and so they needed Ma'an's Facebook page to publish their thoughts? If hacking Ma'an's Facebook page will solve problems in the Gaza Strip, our page is at your service, and we hereby offer to create another page for you.
Had the Gaza ministry of interior asked Ma'an's editor-in-chief to publish all its data on Ma'an for free, I swear we would have agreed politely and respectfully. Nevertheless, "nature can't beat out inherently evil nature," and "a lizard's eyes reveal its bad intentions."
More surprising was the Facebook administration who were reluctant to intervene and help Ma'an restore its page. This situation actually leaves no room for doubt that the Palestinian programmer Khalil Shreateh was treated unjustly by the Facebook administration which proved to be deceitful, irresponsible and immoral and is evidence that "all that glitters is not gold."
In some countries, people use the term watchdog journalism. In a way, journalism is described as dog because media outlets "bark and howl" at those who arouse suspicion. This is allegedly a positive comparison because dogs have the ability to recognize smells ten times better than humans. In addition, dogs are loyal and faithful when they guard properties against thieves and drug dealers.
A few days ago, a new youth movement was announced in Gaza on Facebook with the name Tamarrad (Rebel) Against Injustice. It is not clear whether this is a serious youth movement, or who stands behind this group. The public cannot tell whether this movement is a factional offset trying to support Fatah, or a group of amateurs who look at the world in their own way.
Surprisingly, the reaction of Hamas and its de facto government in Gaza to the new phenomenon reflects fear and dismay. The reaction to Tamarrad in Gaza seems even tougher than the rebellion itself, prompting a curious question of whether the Hamas-run government in Gaza fears any popular action in the Gaza Strip? Is popular action forbidden? Aren't young people in Gaza entitled to protest and express their points of view? Why have all these threats and intimidation been aimed at the Tamarrod activists?
The reason I ask is to touch on the mentality of the rulers in Gaza and whether there really is good governance there or not. If it is forbidden to speak, to criticize and to demonstrate, people in the opposition will have to consider other means which could eventually become more harmful, less moral and more vehement.
It is worth remembering that the opposition leaders in Israel are entitled to a government salary similar to that of the prime minister. They are also entitled to a car and two body guards. Opposition leaders take part in all decisive decisions such as declarations of war. They also partake in decisive leadership meetings and reception of high-profile visitors to the country. The French foreign minister Laurent Fabius, who is currently visiting Israel, has asked to meet with opposition leader Shelly Yechimovich right after his meeting with Netanyahu.
Thus, if current Palestinian leaders stubbornly insist on treating opposition with intimidation, they will eventually end up behind bars just like their counterparts in some Arab countries who "wake up as presidents, and enter the evening as humiliated prisoners." Each government, namely the Hamas-run government, should realize that excessive use of power against opposition will sooner or later negatively affect the rulers. I wish we could have learned lessons from the examples of our neighboring countries. I wish rulers and officials could stop this empty tone of intimidation which proves their fear of the future as they have no self-confidence, and neither do they trust their people.
Hackers affiliated to Hamas recently took over Ma'an Network’s Facebook page, using it as a platform to verbally attack the Palestinian president and other Palestinians. The Hamas-run ministry of interior surprisingly started to run the page. Ma'an has been in contact with Hamas leaders including the bureau of premier Ismail Haniyeh about the case and several leaders expressed solidarity with Ma'an. They tried their best to work out a solution but "a handful of narrow-minded people in the ministry of interior foiled all efforts." This highlights that the Hamas ministry of interior is running the Gaza Strip like gangsters and smugglers rather than responsible governments. Otherwise, what does it mean when a government hacks a media outlet? "We can grasp it when a dog bites a man, but we can never understand that a man bit a dog."
In other words, a person or a recidivist may hack a website of a ministry or government, but I never heard of a government hacking a media outlet and publishing its interior ministry data on a hacked page. It is possible they don't trust their own media outlets, satellite channels, and the large numbers of spokesmen they have, and so they needed Ma'an's Facebook page to publish their thoughts? If hacking Ma'an's Facebook page will solve problems in the Gaza Strip, our page is at your service, and we hereby offer to create another page for you.
Had the Gaza ministry of interior asked Ma'an's editor-in-chief to publish all its data on Ma'an for free, I swear we would have agreed politely and respectfully. Nevertheless, "nature can't beat out inherently evil nature," and "a lizard's eyes reveal its bad intentions."
More surprising was the Facebook administration who were reluctant to intervene and help Ma'an restore its page. This situation actually leaves no room for doubt that the Palestinian programmer Khalil Shreateh was treated unjustly by the Facebook administration which proved to be deceitful, irresponsible and immoral and is evidence that "all that glitters is not gold."
23 aug 2013
The Palestinian Authority’s General Intelligence in the city of al-Khalil in the southern West Bank summoned journalist Khalid Amayreh, but did not specify the reasons. Safa news agency quoted Amayreh as saying that GI officers visited him at his home in Dura, 10 Kilometers South West al-Khalil, and handed him a summons to attend the GI’s offices in al-Khalil at 9:30am Saturday.
Amayreh said that he does not know exactly what they want to interview him about. This is not the first time he gets summoned by the PA intelligence who interrogated him several times before concerning articles he wrote or television interviews he gave which did not please the Palestinian Authority.
Amayreh said that he does not know exactly what they want to interview him about. This is not the first time he gets summoned by the PA intelligence who interrogated him several times before concerning articles he wrote or television interviews he gave which did not please the Palestinian Authority.
22 aug 2013
A Palestinian journalist was attacked by unidentified masked men in a street in Gaza City Wednesday morning.
Ahmad Fayyoumi told Ma’an that while he was standing in the street, a motorcycle stopped beside him and two masked men got off and hit him with an iron bar on his hand dropping a bag he carried.
The assailants stole the bag and fled the scene.
Fayyoumi confirmed that his laptop, a camera and a sum of money were in the stolen bag. Several bystanders, he said, witnessed the attack which took only a few seconds.
Fayyoumi notified Gaza police who opened an investigation.
Ahmad Fayyoumi told Ma’an that while he was standing in the street, a motorcycle stopped beside him and two masked men got off and hit him with an iron bar on his hand dropping a bag he carried.
The assailants stole the bag and fled the scene.
Fayyoumi confirmed that his laptop, a camera and a sum of money were in the stolen bag. Several bystanders, he said, witnessed the attack which took only a few seconds.
Fayyoumi notified Gaza police who opened an investigation.
20 aug 2013
A Palestinian journalists rights group on Monday expressed concern that unrest in Egypt has had an adverse effect on press freedom in Palestine.
"The repercussions of these events must not be used as an excuse for any Palestinian to gag the press, and we must all remember that freedom of expression is a basic right for all journalists and citizens," Mousa Rimawi, the general director of MADA, said.
Rimawi cited the closure of the Gaza bureaus of Ma'an News Agency and Al-Arabiya and a demonstration outside of Ma'an's office.
The press group also said that Fatah leader in Gaza Yahya Rabah had been threatened with arrest for posting comments on his Facebook page.
In the West Bank, Mada said that PA security forces had suppressed a protest organized to demonstrate against the Egyptian army's crackdown on Muslim Brotherhood supporters.
"Palestinian journalists were prevented from covering the protest in the Hebron city south of West Bank and were insulted verbally," he said.
"This escalation will lead to a serious deterioration of public freedoms in Palestine and will lead to enhancing self-censorship, where journalists and citizens will fear to express their opinions freely, whether through traditional media, blogs, or social networks," he added.
Ma'an's Gaza bureau has been closed since July 25.
The attorney-general in the Hamas-run government ordered the closure after Hamas officials accused Ma'an of deliberately publishing "false news reports seeking to incite against Gaza."
"The repercussions of these events must not be used as an excuse for any Palestinian to gag the press, and we must all remember that freedom of expression is a basic right for all journalists and citizens," Mousa Rimawi, the general director of MADA, said.
Rimawi cited the closure of the Gaza bureaus of Ma'an News Agency and Al-Arabiya and a demonstration outside of Ma'an's office.
The press group also said that Fatah leader in Gaza Yahya Rabah had been threatened with arrest for posting comments on his Facebook page.
In the West Bank, Mada said that PA security forces had suppressed a protest organized to demonstrate against the Egyptian army's crackdown on Muslim Brotherhood supporters.
"Palestinian journalists were prevented from covering the protest in the Hebron city south of West Bank and were insulted verbally," he said.
"This escalation will lead to a serious deterioration of public freedoms in Palestine and will lead to enhancing self-censorship, where journalists and citizens will fear to express their opinions freely, whether through traditional media, blogs, or social networks," he added.
Ma'an's Gaza bureau has been closed since July 25.
The attorney-general in the Hamas-run government ordered the closure after Hamas officials accused Ma'an of deliberately publishing "false news reports seeking to incite against Gaza."
19 aug 2013
MADA: Preventing Journalists from Covering a Protest in Hebron is An Attack on Freedom of Expression
The security services in the city of Hebron prevented journalists from covering the peaceful protest initiated by Hamas, which began after Friday prayers on from the Hussein mosque16th august 2013, to protest against the Egyptian army practices against Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood protesters.
Alquds TV cameraman Akram Al-Natsha reported to MADA that he went with a number of his colleagues to cover the protest, and when the security service began the suppression of the participants, they prevented the journalists from filming, threatened, and insulted them. Al-Natsha added: "We have been attacked verbally, and my colleagues "Reuters cameraman Mohammed Abu Ghania and Pal Media Agency photographer Amer Abdeen" and I were pushed and pulled by force". Al-Natsha noted that he had seen members of the security forces attack the youths who were filming with their mobile phone cameras, and the devices were confiscated.
The French News Agency photographer Hazem Badir reported to MADA that the journalists were at the site before the protest for about 30 minutes, and the security forces were there as well, and no communication between both sides occurred. He then added: "but when the security forces decided to suppress the protest, they began preventing us from covering and filming, and threatened the journalists, so we backed up".
The Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA) condemns preventing journalists from covering, and condemns the verbal and physical attacks on the journalists, and considers this an attack on freedom of expression which is guaranteed in the Palestinian basic law in its article 19, and MADA demands an end to such practices against the Palestinian journalists.
Alquds TV cameraman Akram Al-Natsha reported to MADA that he went with a number of his colleagues to cover the protest, and when the security service began the suppression of the participants, they prevented the journalists from filming, threatened, and insulted them. Al-Natsha added: "We have been attacked verbally, and my colleagues "Reuters cameraman Mohammed Abu Ghania and Pal Media Agency photographer Amer Abdeen" and I were pushed and pulled by force". Al-Natsha noted that he had seen members of the security forces attack the youths who were filming with their mobile phone cameras, and the devices were confiscated.
The French News Agency photographer Hazem Badir reported to MADA that the journalists were at the site before the protest for about 30 minutes, and the security forces were there as well, and no communication between both sides occurred. He then added: "but when the security forces decided to suppress the protest, they began preventing us from covering and filming, and threatened the journalists, so we backed up".
The Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA) condemns preventing journalists from covering, and condemns the verbal and physical attacks on the journalists, and considers this an attack on freedom of expression which is guaranteed in the Palestinian basic law in its article 19, and MADA demands an end to such practices against the Palestinian journalists.
18 aug 2013
Head of the government employees union Bassam Zakarneh on Sunday condemned Hamas for violating press freedoms in Gaza.
The union head slammed the Islamist movement for targeting news agencies and journalists who had published stories about Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt.
Hamas security forces have organized rallies against Ma'an News Agency in Gaza and have instructed officers to detain journalists, Zakarneh added.
He urged international organizations to intervene to protect Palestinian journalists in Gaza.
On Saturday, dozens of people demonstrated outside Ma'an News Agency's Gaza bureau to protest the agency's coverage of events in Egypt and Gaza.
Head of the Palestinian journalists syndicate Abdul-Nasser Najjar told Ma'an that Hamas had ordered the demonstration against Ma'an, saying the Islamist group aims to terrorize media institutions and suppress media pluralism.
Ma'an's Gaza bureau has been closed since July 25.
The attorney-general in the Hamas-run government ordered the closure after Hamas officials accused Ma'an of deliberately publishing "false news reports seeking to incite against Gaza."
The attorney general in Gaza said Friday that the closures of Ma’an Network and al-Arabiya are temporary, but he accused both outlets of disseminating information "unprofessionally."
Gaza officials have not indicated when the offices will be reopened.
The union head slammed the Islamist movement for targeting news agencies and journalists who had published stories about Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt.
Hamas security forces have organized rallies against Ma'an News Agency in Gaza and have instructed officers to detain journalists, Zakarneh added.
He urged international organizations to intervene to protect Palestinian journalists in Gaza.
On Saturday, dozens of people demonstrated outside Ma'an News Agency's Gaza bureau to protest the agency's coverage of events in Egypt and Gaza.
Head of the Palestinian journalists syndicate Abdul-Nasser Najjar told Ma'an that Hamas had ordered the demonstration against Ma'an, saying the Islamist group aims to terrorize media institutions and suppress media pluralism.
Ma'an's Gaza bureau has been closed since July 25.
The attorney-general in the Hamas-run government ordered the closure after Hamas officials accused Ma'an of deliberately publishing "false news reports seeking to incite against Gaza."
The attorney general in Gaza said Friday that the closures of Ma’an Network and al-Arabiya are temporary, but he accused both outlets of disseminating information "unprofessionally."
Gaza officials have not indicated when the offices will be reopened.
16 aug 2013
Muhammad Mona
The Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA) demanded the release of “Qud press News Agency” correspondent in Nablus Mohamed Mona and “Watan TV” cameraman Mohamed Awad who were arrested by the IOF from their homes in Nablus and Budrus village west of Ramallah during August. MADA denounced the policy of detaining journalists, which is against all international human rights conventions.
MADA urged the international community to pressure Israel to release the journalists detained in prisons and stop the policy of administrative detention for journalists, where they are imprisoned without charge or trial.
The center pointed out that other journalists are held in Israeli jails as well, such as the journalists Walid Khaled, arrested on 6th March 2013, and Baker Attili arrested on 10th August 2013.
The journalist Mohamed Mona was arrested on 7 August 2013 after raiding and searching his house. The IOF confiscated his computer, cell phone, and some papers. Mona was transferred to administrative detention for 6 months on Tuesday 13th August 2013 without pressing any charges against him.
The Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA) demanded the release of “Qud press News Agency” correspondent in Nablus Mohamed Mona and “Watan TV” cameraman Mohamed Awad who were arrested by the IOF from their homes in Nablus and Budrus village west of Ramallah during August. MADA denounced the policy of detaining journalists, which is against all international human rights conventions.
MADA urged the international community to pressure Israel to release the journalists detained in prisons and stop the policy of administrative detention for journalists, where they are imprisoned without charge or trial.
The center pointed out that other journalists are held in Israeli jails as well, such as the journalists Walid Khaled, arrested on 6th March 2013, and Baker Attili arrested on 10th August 2013.
The journalist Mohamed Mona was arrested on 7 August 2013 after raiding and searching his house. The IOF confiscated his computer, cell phone, and some papers. Mona was transferred to administrative detention for 6 months on Tuesday 13th August 2013 without pressing any charges against him.
Israeli occupation forces assaulted a number of participants in al-Masara weekly demonstration protesting against the Apartheid wall and settlement on Friday morning.
Photographers, who were covering the protest, said that Israeli forces brutally assaulted some of the protesters in the march, including journalists. Israeli soldiers assaulted Abdul Rahman Younes, a photographer and correspondent at al-Quds.com newspaper, before arresting him.
It's worth mentioning that al-Masara march is one of the weekly demonstrations that take place every Friday to denounce the practices of the Israeli occupation, especially the Apartheid Wall and the settlement expansion in areas south of Bethlehem.
Photographers, who were covering the protest, said that Israeli forces brutally assaulted some of the protesters in the march, including journalists. Israeli soldiers assaulted Abdul Rahman Younes, a photographer and correspondent at al-Quds.com newspaper, before arresting him.
It's worth mentioning that al-Masara march is one of the weekly demonstrations that take place every Friday to denounce the practices of the Israeli occupation, especially the Apartheid Wall and the settlement expansion in areas south of Bethlehem.
15 aug 2013
The Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA) demanded Israel to stop all of its violations against Palestinians journalists, and to release all detained reporters in compliance with International Law.
MADA said that, on August 7, Israeli soldiers kidnapped Mohammad Mona, a reporter working for the Al-Quds Press Media Agency, after breaking into his home, and violently searching it, in the northern West Bank city of Nablus.
The Center added that, on August 8, another journalist, identified as Mohammad Awad, a cameraman working for Wattan TV, from Bodrus village, west of the central West Bank city of Ramallah, was also kidnapped by the army after the dozens of soldiers broke into his home and searched it.
His brother told MADA that the soldiers confiscated the personal computer of Awad, his mobile phone and several documents.
He was sentenced to six months in arbitrary Administrative Detention without charges.
The Center said that, on March 6, the army kidnapped a journalist identified as Waleed Khaled, and on March 10, the soldiers kidnapped another journalist identified as Baker Al-Atteely. Both are also held under Administrative Detention orders.
MADA strongly denounced the ongoing and escalating Israeli violations against the journalists, and demanded the International Community to oblige Israel to release all detained reporters, as they imprisonment violates all human rights treaties.
It added that Israel must end its illegitimate Administrative Detention policies against the Palestinians, including journalists, adding that the detainees held under Administrative Detention are imprisoned without charges, or a fair trial.
MADA said that, on August 7, Israeli soldiers kidnapped Mohammad Mona, a reporter working for the Al-Quds Press Media Agency, after breaking into his home, and violently searching it, in the northern West Bank city of Nablus.
The Center added that, on August 8, another journalist, identified as Mohammad Awad, a cameraman working for Wattan TV, from Bodrus village, west of the central West Bank city of Ramallah, was also kidnapped by the army after the dozens of soldiers broke into his home and searched it.
His brother told MADA that the soldiers confiscated the personal computer of Awad, his mobile phone and several documents.
He was sentenced to six months in arbitrary Administrative Detention without charges.
The Center said that, on March 6, the army kidnapped a journalist identified as Waleed Khaled, and on March 10, the soldiers kidnapped another journalist identified as Baker Al-Atteely. Both are also held under Administrative Detention orders.
MADA strongly denounced the ongoing and escalating Israeli violations against the journalists, and demanded the International Community to oblige Israel to release all detained reporters, as they imprisonment violates all human rights treaties.
It added that Israel must end its illegitimate Administrative Detention policies against the Palestinians, including journalists, adding that the detainees held under Administrative Detention are imprisoned without charges, or a fair trial.
13 aug 2013
Mohammad Awad - Wattan News
The International Solidarity Foundation for Human Rights have reported that Israeli soldiers kidnapped, on Tuesday at dawn, a Palestinian journalist identified as Mohammad Shokry Awad, from his home in Bodros village, west of the central West Bank city of Ramallah.
Ahmad Al-Beetawy, the Foundation’s lawyer, stated that the dozens of soldiers invaded the village, and violently broke into the home of Awad before kidnapping him.
He said that the soldiers gathered all family members in one room, and took Awad to a corner in the house where they violently interrogated him.
Soldiers also confiscated cameras, equipment, computers, and mobile phones, and caused excessive property damage during the violent search, Al-Beetawy stated.
Awad is a cameraman working from the Wattan News Agency in Ramallah; he was kidnapped by the army in 2005, and was imprisoned for five months.
The Palestinian security forces in the West Bank also previously arrested and imprisoned him, the Wattan News Agency has reported.
IOF arrests 5 citizens including journalist in WB
Tadhamun Foundation for Human Rights said that the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) arrested at dawn Tuesday a Palestinian journalist from the city of Ramallah. The researcher at the foundation Ahmed Betawi said that a large military force stormed the village of Budrus, west of Ramallah, and arrested journalist Mohamed Awad, aged 25, from his home.
He pointed out that the soldiers broke into his house and attacked his brother's children.
Betawi added that the soldiers confiscated Awad's equipment of photojournalism, computers and cell phones.
Meanwhile, the Israeli troops launched a campaign of raids and searches in the towns of Silat al-Harithiya and Burqin west of Jenin and arrested two citizens.
They also stormed at dawn Tuesday Sherim neighborhood in town of Qalqilya and arrested two brothers, Tadhamun reported.
Israeli occupation authorities (IOA) on Tuesday afternoon transferred journalist Mohammed Mona, Quds Press agency's correspondent in the city of Nablus in the northern West Bank, to administrative detention for six months.
Mona was arrested nearly a week ago after storming his house in the city of Nablus. He had been arrested earlier 4 times by the occupation and served 5 years in its prisons.
Tadhamun pointed out that the IOA also transferred a prisoner from the town of Beta near Nablus to administrative detention for 3 months.
The International Solidarity Foundation for Human Rights have reported that Israeli soldiers kidnapped, on Tuesday at dawn, a Palestinian journalist identified as Mohammad Shokry Awad, from his home in Bodros village, west of the central West Bank city of Ramallah.
Ahmad Al-Beetawy, the Foundation’s lawyer, stated that the dozens of soldiers invaded the village, and violently broke into the home of Awad before kidnapping him.
He said that the soldiers gathered all family members in one room, and took Awad to a corner in the house where they violently interrogated him.
Soldiers also confiscated cameras, equipment, computers, and mobile phones, and caused excessive property damage during the violent search, Al-Beetawy stated.
Awad is a cameraman working from the Wattan News Agency in Ramallah; he was kidnapped by the army in 2005, and was imprisoned for five months.
The Palestinian security forces in the West Bank also previously arrested and imprisoned him, the Wattan News Agency has reported.
IOF arrests 5 citizens including journalist in WB
Tadhamun Foundation for Human Rights said that the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) arrested at dawn Tuesday a Palestinian journalist from the city of Ramallah. The researcher at the foundation Ahmed Betawi said that a large military force stormed the village of Budrus, west of Ramallah, and arrested journalist Mohamed Awad, aged 25, from his home.
He pointed out that the soldiers broke into his house and attacked his brother's children.
Betawi added that the soldiers confiscated Awad's equipment of photojournalism, computers and cell phones.
Meanwhile, the Israeli troops launched a campaign of raids and searches in the towns of Silat al-Harithiya and Burqin west of Jenin and arrested two citizens.
They also stormed at dawn Tuesday Sherim neighborhood in town of Qalqilya and arrested two brothers, Tadhamun reported.
Israeli occupation authorities (IOA) on Tuesday afternoon transferred journalist Mohammed Mona, Quds Press agency's correspondent in the city of Nablus in the northern West Bank, to administrative detention for six months.
Mona was arrested nearly a week ago after storming his house in the city of Nablus. He had been arrested earlier 4 times by the occupation and served 5 years in its prisons.
Tadhamun pointed out that the IOA also transferred a prisoner from the town of Beta near Nablus to administrative detention for 3 months.
7 aug 2013
The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) kidnapped at dawn Wednesday Mohamed Mona, a reporter for Quds Press from his home in Nablus city. His brother Abdul-Karim stated that the IOF stormed the house at two o'clock at dawn and ransacked it before taking Mohamed prisoner.
He added that the Israeli soldiers confiscated his brother's personal computer, his cellphone and some documents, pointing that his brother had been arrested several times by the IOF or the PA security forces.
He added that the Israeli soldiers confiscated his brother's personal computer, his cellphone and some documents, pointing that his brother had been arrested several times by the IOF or the PA security forces.
6 aug 2013
Israeli security forces detaining, assaulting and obstructing Palestinian journalists.
Palestinian journalists have published a petition aimed at pressuring Israel to grant them full freedom of movement and access in order to do their jobs, just as it allows Israeli journalists to work freely in Israel and Palestine. The +972 Magazine supports their petition and calls on all of its Israeli and international colleagues to do the same.
For more than a decade, Israel has placed serious hurdles in the path of Palestinian journalists, often preventing them from covering the news in their own territory and at times even putting their lives at risk.
Shortly after the Second Intifada began in 2000, the Israeli Government Press Office (GPO) stopped issuing credentials to Palestinian journalists, many of whom were veteran employees of international media outlets. GPO cards allow journalists to pass easily through checkpoints and gain entrance to press conferences and other events called by government and army officials. Most importantly, they offer protection in conflict zones and during clashes between security forces and civilians.
Palestinian journalists are given official accreditation by the Palestinian Information Ministry. Israel, however, does not honor those press cards. Palestinian journalists are unable to pass through Israeli checkpoints, are not granted access to official press events and are subject to state violence in a way that Israeli journalists are not. Israeli journalists have broad access, traveling freely between the Muqata and the Knesset.
Palestinian journalists are routinely manhandled, beaten, arrested and even shot at by Israeli soldiers, then denied the right to due process in a civilian court. For freelance Palestinian journalists and those working for international news organizations, job opportunities are often lost because they are unable to cover events and interview officials. Even within the West Bank their freedom of movement is restricted. Moreover, they cannot enter East Jerusalem or travel to Gaza, where their own people live.
As the occupier and effective sovereign, the Israeli army and its civilian political commanders make decisions that directly affect Palestinians’ day-to-day lives. But Palestinian journalists are not given the access to report on those decisions, events, political personalities and the society behind them. The result is a troubling lack of freedom of information.
Across-the-board discrimination is unacceptable, even when states reserve for themselves the right to determine who may enter their territory based on security considerations. All journalists residing in and reporting on events that occur in territory controlled by Israel should have the same human and professional rights.
Thus, +972 Magazine calls on the Israeli authorities to grant Palestinian journalists the same freedom of movement, access and protection enjoyed by Israeli reporters, in accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.
+972 stands in full, unequivocal solidarity with Palestinian colleagues and supports their petition demanding the ability to freely travel in order to work as journalists. +972 calls on all Israeli and international news organizations and journalists to do the same.
Freedom of the press, freedom of movement, freedom of information and freedom of occupation are inextricable, vital components in the struggle for democracy, peace and civil and human rights. These are principles we are unable and refuse to compromise on.
Sign the petition demanding freedom of movement for Palestinian journalists here.
This article was originally posted by +972 Magazine. Click here to read the original article.
Palestinian journalists have published a petition aimed at pressuring Israel to grant them full freedom of movement and access in order to do their jobs, just as it allows Israeli journalists to work freely in Israel and Palestine. The +972 Magazine supports their petition and calls on all of its Israeli and international colleagues to do the same.
For more than a decade, Israel has placed serious hurdles in the path of Palestinian journalists, often preventing them from covering the news in their own territory and at times even putting their lives at risk.
Shortly after the Second Intifada began in 2000, the Israeli Government Press Office (GPO) stopped issuing credentials to Palestinian journalists, many of whom were veteran employees of international media outlets. GPO cards allow journalists to pass easily through checkpoints and gain entrance to press conferences and other events called by government and army officials. Most importantly, they offer protection in conflict zones and during clashes between security forces and civilians.
Palestinian journalists are given official accreditation by the Palestinian Information Ministry. Israel, however, does not honor those press cards. Palestinian journalists are unable to pass through Israeli checkpoints, are not granted access to official press events and are subject to state violence in a way that Israeli journalists are not. Israeli journalists have broad access, traveling freely between the Muqata and the Knesset.
Palestinian journalists are routinely manhandled, beaten, arrested and even shot at by Israeli soldiers, then denied the right to due process in a civilian court. For freelance Palestinian journalists and those working for international news organizations, job opportunities are often lost because they are unable to cover events and interview officials. Even within the West Bank their freedom of movement is restricted. Moreover, they cannot enter East Jerusalem or travel to Gaza, where their own people live.
As the occupier and effective sovereign, the Israeli army and its civilian political commanders make decisions that directly affect Palestinians’ day-to-day lives. But Palestinian journalists are not given the access to report on those decisions, events, political personalities and the society behind them. The result is a troubling lack of freedom of information.
Across-the-board discrimination is unacceptable, even when states reserve for themselves the right to determine who may enter their territory based on security considerations. All journalists residing in and reporting on events that occur in territory controlled by Israel should have the same human and professional rights.
Thus, +972 Magazine calls on the Israeli authorities to grant Palestinian journalists the same freedom of movement, access and protection enjoyed by Israeli reporters, in accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.
+972 stands in full, unequivocal solidarity with Palestinian colleagues and supports their petition demanding the ability to freely travel in order to work as journalists. +972 calls on all Israeli and international news organizations and journalists to do the same.
Freedom of the press, freedom of movement, freedom of information and freedom of occupation are inextricable, vital components in the struggle for democracy, peace and civil and human rights. These are principles we are unable and refuse to compromise on.
Sign the petition demanding freedom of movement for Palestinian journalists here.
This article was originally posted by +972 Magazine. Click here to read the original article.
2 aug 2013
The Palestinian Media Forum strongly condemned the PA Intelligence Services for the arrest of the journalist Musab al-Ibrahim Said while covering a sit-in of prisoners' families in Ramallah. PA forces arrested on Thursday the journalist Said, who works with a local news agency, while covering a sit-in organized by the prisoners’ families, the forum statement said.
Said was arrested for a whole month in PA jails two years ago. He also served 10 months in Israeli jails.
The journalist has declared three weeks ago that he will not answer to a summons issued by PA Security, saying that it has no legal basis. His arrest came after repeated threats from PA Intelligence due to his blogs on the social networking websites.
This arrest came as part of the PA arbitrary policy against journalists and its violations to press freedom, the statement added.
The Forum pointed out to the journalists' sit-in that was organized by the Journalists' Syndicate in Ramallah protesting the closure of al-Arabiya and Maan offices in Gaza without declaring any position towards the PA continued arrests against journalists.
The statement said that the PA arrests against journalists came in coordination with the Israeli brutal violations to freedom press where 14 Palestinian journalists are jailed in Israeli prisons.
The Palestinian Media Forum condemned the international human rights and press organizations' silence towards the PA and Israeli continued violations against journalists.
Said was arrested for a whole month in PA jails two years ago. He also served 10 months in Israeli jails.
The journalist has declared three weeks ago that he will not answer to a summons issued by PA Security, saying that it has no legal basis. His arrest came after repeated threats from PA Intelligence due to his blogs on the social networking websites.
This arrest came as part of the PA arbitrary policy against journalists and its violations to press freedom, the statement added.
The Forum pointed out to the journalists' sit-in that was organized by the Journalists' Syndicate in Ramallah protesting the closure of al-Arabiya and Maan offices in Gaza without declaring any position towards the PA continued arrests against journalists.
The statement said that the PA arrests against journalists came in coordination with the Israeli brutal violations to freedom press where 14 Palestinian journalists are jailed in Israeli prisons.
The Palestinian Media Forum condemned the international human rights and press organizations' silence towards the PA and Israeli continued violations against journalists.
1 aug 2013
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Palestinian journalists joined a sit-in strike near Ramallah on Thursday protesting a decision by the Hamas-run government in Gaza to close media offices of Ma’an Network, Al Arabiya and others.
The protesters, among them Palestinian politicians and dignitaries, urged the Hamas government to reopen all the media offices it closed, and to end a ban on the entry of three major Palestinian newspapers. The protest was organized and called by the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate, the main press union in Palestine. |
Protesters raised posters expressing rejection of the restrictions on freedom of expression imposed by the Hamas-run government and its security services in the coastal enclave. Part of these restrictions is a policy of closing offices of media organizations, and detention of journalists, according to the posters the protesters waved.
Head of the journalists syndicate Abdul-Nasser Najjar addressed the protesters and expressed astonishment over the ongoing assaults against journalists in Gaza.
“We were surprised as Hamas continued with assaults against Palestinian media organizations, shutting down offices of Ma’an News Network and some other media offices. This is part of an ongoing practice,” Najjar said. He highlighted that “since Hamas staged its coup in Gaza, the main three Palestinian daily newspapers were banned in the Gaza Strip.”
He added that the Hamas-run government had closed several radio and TV stations and confiscated their equipment “suffocating freedom of expression and fighting Palestinian media outlets.”
Journalists have always appealed to Palestinian officials urging them to keep media outlets away from all political disagreements “because media outlets are the conscience of this people and because Palestinian journalists play a major part in resistance against Israeli occupation,” Najjar continued.
Thus, he added, we can never agree that an internal front fight against Palestinian media “when some people claim they were wronged by untrue information.”
“If any media outlet publishes false news, there is the judiciary and the union’s committee of ethics to question that outlet and hold it accountable. However, if media outlets are closed because their editorial policy conflicts with political parties, that is very dangerous. So far, all Hamas’ claims are unacceptable as all they claim is false news.”
Commenting on Hamas' decision to shut down Ma'an's office a week earlier, apparently out of anger that it quoted an Israeli news report about critical of the government in Gaza, Najjar said, “What crime did Ma’an commit translating a quote from another media outlet ... Is translation forbidden according to the Hamas authorities’ policies? This is very dangerous and can never be accepted.”
Najjar highlighted that his union lodged a complaint to the Palestinian attorney general against Hamas officials including the chair of the government’s media office in Gaza “and the one who claims to be attorney general.”
He insisted there is only one attorney general in the Palestinian Authority.
“We will lodge complaints against any Palestinian official regardless of their position,” he said, “if they close any media outlet or prevent any journalist from doing their duties.”
He added that all officials who oppress media outlets will be “blacklisted.”
Najjar also wondered why the Hamas government insisted on confiscating the keys of Ma’an’s office even though the offices were sealed, and why its journalists were not allowed to access them.
“For what purpose did they take the keys? Do they want to mess with the equipment or confiscate it? Dangerous things have been taking place in Gaza after the coup, and media organizations and journalists are paying the price.”
For her part, Ma’an Network chairwoman Nibal Thawabta addressed the protesters to remind them that violations against Palestinian media were ongoing. International watchdog reports, she added, prove that freedom of the press and public freedom in Palestine is on the decline.
She said that Palestinian journalists, press organizations, unions, and academic institutions in Palestine were united against restrictions on freedom of expression and the policy of “muzzling.”
“As journalists, we seek to exert every possible effort to enhance freedoms through sit-ins and other activities. We call upon all political parties to leave Palestinian media alone so they can practice their duties as the fourth branch (of government).”
Head of the journalists syndicate Abdul-Nasser Najjar addressed the protesters and expressed astonishment over the ongoing assaults against journalists in Gaza.
“We were surprised as Hamas continued with assaults against Palestinian media organizations, shutting down offices of Ma’an News Network and some other media offices. This is part of an ongoing practice,” Najjar said. He highlighted that “since Hamas staged its coup in Gaza, the main three Palestinian daily newspapers were banned in the Gaza Strip.”
He added that the Hamas-run government had closed several radio and TV stations and confiscated their equipment “suffocating freedom of expression and fighting Palestinian media outlets.”
Journalists have always appealed to Palestinian officials urging them to keep media outlets away from all political disagreements “because media outlets are the conscience of this people and because Palestinian journalists play a major part in resistance against Israeli occupation,” Najjar continued.
Thus, he added, we can never agree that an internal front fight against Palestinian media “when some people claim they were wronged by untrue information.”
“If any media outlet publishes false news, there is the judiciary and the union’s committee of ethics to question that outlet and hold it accountable. However, if media outlets are closed because their editorial policy conflicts with political parties, that is very dangerous. So far, all Hamas’ claims are unacceptable as all they claim is false news.”
Commenting on Hamas' decision to shut down Ma'an's office a week earlier, apparently out of anger that it quoted an Israeli news report about critical of the government in Gaza, Najjar said, “What crime did Ma’an commit translating a quote from another media outlet ... Is translation forbidden according to the Hamas authorities’ policies? This is very dangerous and can never be accepted.”
Najjar highlighted that his union lodged a complaint to the Palestinian attorney general against Hamas officials including the chair of the government’s media office in Gaza “and the one who claims to be attorney general.”
He insisted there is only one attorney general in the Palestinian Authority.
“We will lodge complaints against any Palestinian official regardless of their position,” he said, “if they close any media outlet or prevent any journalist from doing their duties.”
He added that all officials who oppress media outlets will be “blacklisted.”
Najjar also wondered why the Hamas government insisted on confiscating the keys of Ma’an’s office even though the offices were sealed, and why its journalists were not allowed to access them.
“For what purpose did they take the keys? Do they want to mess with the equipment or confiscate it? Dangerous things have been taking place in Gaza after the coup, and media organizations and journalists are paying the price.”
For her part, Ma’an Network chairwoman Nibal Thawabta addressed the protesters to remind them that violations against Palestinian media were ongoing. International watchdog reports, she added, prove that freedom of the press and public freedom in Palestine is on the decline.
She said that Palestinian journalists, press organizations, unions, and academic institutions in Palestine were united against restrictions on freedom of expression and the policy of “muzzling.”
“As journalists, we seek to exert every possible effort to enhance freedoms through sit-ins and other activities. We call upon all political parties to leave Palestinian media alone so they can practice their duties as the fourth branch (of government).”
Palestinian medical sources in Hebron, in the southern part of the occupied West Bank, have reported Thursday [August 1, 2013] that several Palestinians have been injured, and one has been kidnapped, after Israeli soldiers and settlers attacked a funeral procession in Beit Ummar town, north of the city. Media spokesperson of the Popular Committee Against the Wall in Beit Ummar, Mohammad Awad, told the Radio Bethlehem 2000 that a number of settlers attacked a funeral procession in the town, as they were leaving a local graveyard, and also attacked a local reporter identified as Nayef al-Hashlamon.
Israeli soldiers arrived at the scene and attacked the Palestinian instead of removing the settlers.
Awad also stated that he was also attacked by a settler woman who tried to slap him in the face as he tried to take pictures of the attack, and that the soldiers pushed him around causing his camera to drop, and kidnapped one youth identified as Ahmad Younis Al-Allami, 23, after violently beating him.
There have been numerous incidents of similar attacks against locals participating in burial ceremonies and funeral processions in Hebron leading to dozens of injuries and several arrests.
Israeli soldiers arrived at the scene and attacked the Palestinian instead of removing the settlers.
Awad also stated that he was also attacked by a settler woman who tried to slap him in the face as he tried to take pictures of the attack, and that the soldiers pushed him around causing his camera to drop, and kidnapped one youth identified as Ahmad Younis Al-Allami, 23, after violently beating him.
There have been numerous incidents of similar attacks against locals participating in burial ceremonies and funeral processions in Hebron leading to dozens of injuries and several arrests.
28 july 2013
Israeli military forces at dawn Sunday stormed the town of Arura, north of Ramallah, and raided citizens' houses under the pretext of "searching for wanted people." Local sources in Arura reported that the soldiers stormed and searched the houses of citizens Samir Aruri and Abdel-Rahman Khasib, and checked the identities of the inhabitants.
They said that the occupation detained journalist and activist Ahmed Aruri and Hamza Khasib, and transferred them to an unknown destination.
According to statistics issued for Umaamah site, the occupation arrested during the last week more than 40 people from several cities in the West Bank.
A report by Hamas pointed out that the detainees include five former political detainees in PA's prisons, three of them had been earlier held in Israeli jails and have been arrested by the Israeli forces shortly after their release from the Authority's prisons.
Israeli Forces Arrest Palestinians in Ramallah
Israeli military forces arrested on Sunday dawn, journalist and activist Ahmed Aruri and Hamza Khasib from the village of Arura, north of Ramallah.
The military forces stormed the town of Arura, raided citizens' houses, and checked the identities of the inhabitants under the pretext of "searching for wanted people." They were transferred to an unknown location.
The detainees include five former political detainees in PA's prisons, several of whom served time in Israeli jails.
According to statistics issued for Umaamah site, the occupation has arrested more than 40 civilians from several cities in the West Bank over the last week.
They said that the occupation detained journalist and activist Ahmed Aruri and Hamza Khasib, and transferred them to an unknown destination.
According to statistics issued for Umaamah site, the occupation arrested during the last week more than 40 people from several cities in the West Bank.
A report by Hamas pointed out that the detainees include five former political detainees in PA's prisons, three of them had been earlier held in Israeli jails and have been arrested by the Israeli forces shortly after their release from the Authority's prisons.
Israeli Forces Arrest Palestinians in Ramallah
Israeli military forces arrested on Sunday dawn, journalist and activist Ahmed Aruri and Hamza Khasib from the village of Arura, north of Ramallah.
The military forces stormed the town of Arura, raided citizens' houses, and checked the identities of the inhabitants under the pretext of "searching for wanted people." They were transferred to an unknown location.
The detainees include five former political detainees in PA's prisons, several of whom served time in Israeli jails.
According to statistics issued for Umaamah site, the occupation has arrested more than 40 civilians from several cities in the West Bank over the last week.
27 july 2013
The Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA) expressed in a press release issued Firday, its strong condemnation to the closing of the offices of Ma'an Agency and Alarabia TV and the Lents Company for media production, as MADA considers this a unwarranted flagrant violation of freedom of expression. MADA demands the respect of freedom of expression, which is guaranteed in Article 19 of the Palestinian Basic, and to reopen the offices closed where employees are able to work freely.
The Ma'an News Agency has stated that the Attorney-General Counsel Ismail Jabr had issued an order on Thursday 25th July 2013, to close the offices of Ma'an and Alarabia TV in Gaza, on a temporary basis. The reason was "fabricating News, spreading rumors, and transmitting false information that is not reality of truth, which threatens civil peace and harms the Palestinian people and its resistance". After Ma'an News Agency had published a translated news story from an Israeli news site on the escape of the Muslim Brotherhood leaders from Egypt to the Gaza Strip, later a statement by the Hamas Information Office was published "the Ministry of Information questioned Ma'an Agency office director in Gaza regarding the false news published by the agency about the escape of the Muslim Brotherhood leaders from Egypt to the Gaza Strip and their stay in a hotel in Gaza, referenced to an anonymous Israeli sources".
The same office issued a statement early yesterday accusing some local and Arab media of publishing false, fabricated, and distorted news and reports, and that this is a campaign involving some Egyptian media known for its loyalty and relationship with the Israeli occupation, and mentioned in particular Ma'an Agency and Alarabia TV, which he described intentionally avoiding integrity, credibility and leaving behind the professional commitment to journalism ethics".
The closer of Lents Company was for its work relationship with the Israeli news channel 124NEWS, according to an earlier decision of Hamas government which prohibits working with Israeli media.
MADA reaffirms the need to respect freedom of expression in Palestine, and to enable journalists and media outlets from performing their professional duty freely and away from the harassment and obstruction.
The Ma'an News Agency has stated that the Attorney-General Counsel Ismail Jabr had issued an order on Thursday 25th July 2013, to close the offices of Ma'an and Alarabia TV in Gaza, on a temporary basis. The reason was "fabricating News, spreading rumors, and transmitting false information that is not reality of truth, which threatens civil peace and harms the Palestinian people and its resistance". After Ma'an News Agency had published a translated news story from an Israeli news site on the escape of the Muslim Brotherhood leaders from Egypt to the Gaza Strip, later a statement by the Hamas Information Office was published "the Ministry of Information questioned Ma'an Agency office director in Gaza regarding the false news published by the agency about the escape of the Muslim Brotherhood leaders from Egypt to the Gaza Strip and their stay in a hotel in Gaza, referenced to an anonymous Israeli sources".
The same office issued a statement early yesterday accusing some local and Arab media of publishing false, fabricated, and distorted news and reports, and that this is a campaign involving some Egyptian media known for its loyalty and relationship with the Israeli occupation, and mentioned in particular Ma'an Agency and Alarabia TV, which he described intentionally avoiding integrity, credibility and leaving behind the professional commitment to journalism ethics".
The closer of Lents Company was for its work relationship with the Israeli news channel 124NEWS, according to an earlier decision of Hamas government which prohibits working with Israeli media.
MADA reaffirms the need to respect freedom of expression in Palestine, and to enable journalists and media outlets from performing their professional duty freely and away from the harassment and obstruction.
26 july 2013
A member of Hamas security forces stands guard during a rally welcoming Egyptian cleric and chairman of the International Union of Muslim Scholars Sheikh, Yusuf al-Qaradawi (not pictured), in Gaza City, May 9, 2013.
By: Talal Awkal Translated from Al-Ayyam (P.A.)
Of course it's a problem that Fatah and Hamas, the two poles of Palestinian politics, harass and arrest each other’s supporters. Of course, it's a problem how Fatah and Hamas view intellectuals, academics, writers and journalists. But it's a major sin for anyone to start arresting people based on their opinion. Arresting members of the political opposition is categorically rejected and condemned.
Recently, Professor Ibrahim Abrash was summoned by Hamas’ internal security services. He did not show up, so he was arrested. Abrash is a political science professor at al-Azhar University and a former minister in Salam Fayyad’s government. A few months after his appointment, he resigned to protest against the weak powers he was given and he returned to Gaza. He is one of Gaza’s most prominent academics. He is active in public issues, writes for the newspapers, and appears on local, Arab and international satellite TV channels.
Abrash is a writer with a political and objective vision. He does not use sarcasm, insults or accusations when making an argument. He is not part of any party’s political structure nor follows a partisan line. He criticizes whatever he thinks goes against Palestinian national or social interests.
We have learned that he was summoned by Hamas’ internal security services for an article he wrote where he criticized Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi, who visited Gaza. Qardawi’s positions were controversial, even among Islamists, and Abrash was not the only one to criticize them. Moreover, writers and opinion leaders have never stopped criticizing President Mahmoud Abbas and his approach to the negotiations, the Palestinian division, the anti-freedom practices. So why does criticizing a religious leader justify what happened to Abrash?
When it was learned Thursday [May 23] that Abrash was summoned, many activists, politicians, intellectuals and defenders of freedom of speech issued a statement denouncing the act. The statement was signed by dozens of political leaders, writers, intellectuals and even some Hamas members.
It was thought that this elite’s opinion would be respected and that their statement would be enough to secure Abrash’s release, but what happened disappointed everyone.
We know that Abrash will eventually be released and we know that he will not change his views and positions and that he will continue to play the role he has always played, but what happened cannot pass without a response.
After the limited campaign by some police officers in Gaza to crack down on youth with low-hanging pants and exotic haircuts, state media spokesman Ihab al-Ghussein issued a statement denying that the crackdown was a government decision and called it an “individual” decision. But what the president of the Hamas Political Bureau, Khaled Meshaal, said to Al-Monitor — and was published by Sama on May 14 — was significant. He said, “The truth is that most of what has been covered in the media recently, including reports and information on this topic, is nothing more than overstepping on the part of some individuals. It hasn't reached the level of being a government policy or an organizational decision from Hamas. I have been personally following these cases and working to address them and prevent them from recurring. It has been confirmed to me that they are individual actions, not a stated policy. The movement's leadership firmly believes it should not impose religiosity or behavioral matters on people. Personal freedom is a right for all guaranteed to all, whether religious, social, political or press freedom. Thus, I see no reason to inflate some small events here and there. Keep in mind that Palestinian society in general, and the people of the Gaza Strip in particular, are naturally religious, and religiosity is based on choice and not coercion.”
So somebody must review his position. Either Meshaal is the president of the Hamas Political Bureau or those who arrested Abrash are the ones who actually run the show. If the harsh treatment of Abrash was intended to be a message, then the response should be to resist this behavior by all peaceful and democratic means, which should govern internal relations in all circumstances.
By: Talal Awkal Translated from Al-Ayyam (P.A.)
Of course it's a problem that Fatah and Hamas, the two poles of Palestinian politics, harass and arrest each other’s supporters. Of course, it's a problem how Fatah and Hamas view intellectuals, academics, writers and journalists. But it's a major sin for anyone to start arresting people based on their opinion. Arresting members of the political opposition is categorically rejected and condemned.
Recently, Professor Ibrahim Abrash was summoned by Hamas’ internal security services. He did not show up, so he was arrested. Abrash is a political science professor at al-Azhar University and a former minister in Salam Fayyad’s government. A few months after his appointment, he resigned to protest against the weak powers he was given and he returned to Gaza. He is one of Gaza’s most prominent academics. He is active in public issues, writes for the newspapers, and appears on local, Arab and international satellite TV channels.
Abrash is a writer with a political and objective vision. He does not use sarcasm, insults or accusations when making an argument. He is not part of any party’s political structure nor follows a partisan line. He criticizes whatever he thinks goes against Palestinian national or social interests.
We have learned that he was summoned by Hamas’ internal security services for an article he wrote where he criticized Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi, who visited Gaza. Qardawi’s positions were controversial, even among Islamists, and Abrash was not the only one to criticize them. Moreover, writers and opinion leaders have never stopped criticizing President Mahmoud Abbas and his approach to the negotiations, the Palestinian division, the anti-freedom practices. So why does criticizing a religious leader justify what happened to Abrash?
When it was learned Thursday [May 23] that Abrash was summoned, many activists, politicians, intellectuals and defenders of freedom of speech issued a statement denouncing the act. The statement was signed by dozens of political leaders, writers, intellectuals and even some Hamas members.
It was thought that this elite’s opinion would be respected and that their statement would be enough to secure Abrash’s release, but what happened disappointed everyone.
We know that Abrash will eventually be released and we know that he will not change his views and positions and that he will continue to play the role he has always played, but what happened cannot pass without a response.
After the limited campaign by some police officers in Gaza to crack down on youth with low-hanging pants and exotic haircuts, state media spokesman Ihab al-Ghussein issued a statement denying that the crackdown was a government decision and called it an “individual” decision. But what the president of the Hamas Political Bureau, Khaled Meshaal, said to Al-Monitor — and was published by Sama on May 14 — was significant. He said, “The truth is that most of what has been covered in the media recently, including reports and information on this topic, is nothing more than overstepping on the part of some individuals. It hasn't reached the level of being a government policy or an organizational decision from Hamas. I have been personally following these cases and working to address them and prevent them from recurring. It has been confirmed to me that they are individual actions, not a stated policy. The movement's leadership firmly believes it should not impose religiosity or behavioral matters on people. Personal freedom is a right for all guaranteed to all, whether religious, social, political or press freedom. Thus, I see no reason to inflate some small events here and there. Keep in mind that Palestinian society in general, and the people of the Gaza Strip in particular, are naturally religious, and religiosity is based on choice and not coercion.”
So somebody must review his position. Either Meshaal is the president of the Hamas Political Bureau or those who arrested Abrash are the ones who actually run the show. If the harsh treatment of Abrash was intended to be a message, then the response should be to resist this behavior by all peaceful and democratic means, which should govern internal relations in all circumstances.
Palestinian factions on Thursday condemned the closure by Hamas of media offices in the Gaza Strip.
Hamas' attorney-general on Thursday ordered the closure of the Gaza City bureaus of Al-Arabiya and Ma'an News Agency.
"The Attorney General decided to close down Al-Arabiya and Ma'an offices in Gaza for distributing false news regarding the smear campaign against Hamas and Gaza about what's happening in Egypt," a Hamas official told AFP.
The order was relayed to Ma'an's bureau chief in Gaza by officials from the Hamas Ministry of Information and security forces, who visited the office to complain about a report that Muslim Brotherhood officials had been smuggled into Gaza.
Fatah's culture and media commission said the closures violated Palestinians' right to information. It called on Arab media organizations and human rights groups to act against threats to the media.
The Palestinian National Initiative called on Hamas to reconsider its decision to close the offices and to respect the rights to expression and stop attacks against the media freedoms.
Meanwhile, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine called on Hamas to reverse its decision. PFLP condemned "such violations against journalism and journalistic work" and described the closures as repressive.
The Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine called for the reopening of the Ma'an and Al-Arabiya offices and said the closure orders violated the rights to expression and media freedom.
The Palestinian Peoples' Party also called for an end to attacks on freedoms and condemned the Hamas decision to close the bureaus.
Hamas' attorney-general on Thursday ordered the closure of the Gaza City bureaus of Al-Arabiya and Ma'an News Agency.
"The Attorney General decided to close down Al-Arabiya and Ma'an offices in Gaza for distributing false news regarding the smear campaign against Hamas and Gaza about what's happening in Egypt," a Hamas official told AFP.
The order was relayed to Ma'an's bureau chief in Gaza by officials from the Hamas Ministry of Information and security forces, who visited the office to complain about a report that Muslim Brotherhood officials had been smuggled into Gaza.
Fatah's culture and media commission said the closures violated Palestinians' right to information. It called on Arab media organizations and human rights groups to act against threats to the media.
The Palestinian National Initiative called on Hamas to reconsider its decision to close the offices and to respect the rights to expression and stop attacks against the media freedoms.
Meanwhile, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine called on Hamas to reverse its decision. PFLP condemned "such violations against journalism and journalistic work" and described the closures as repressive.
The Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine called for the reopening of the Ma'an and Al-Arabiya offices and said the closure orders violated the rights to expression and media freedom.
The Palestinian Peoples' Party also called for an end to attacks on freedoms and condemned the Hamas decision to close the bureaus.
25 july 2013
Hamas movement has denied news alleging that some of the Muslim Brotherhood leaders moved to the Gaza Strip due to the ongoing political developments in Egypt. The movement considered in a statement on Wednesday that such allegations deliberately publish Israeli fabrications that aim to incite against the Palestinians and Gaza residents.
It called on Ma'an news agency to demonstrate professional and ethical responsibility towards the Palestinian people.
Hamas also called on the responsible authorities in the Palestinian government to take the necessary legal action towards this agency and all those who incite against the Palestinians.
Hamas shuts Al Arabiya, Maan offices over 'false' news
The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has shut down Gaza offices of Al Arabiya TV and Palestinian news agency Maan over what it called "false" reporting.
"The Attorney General decided to close down Al Arabiya and Maan offices in Gaza for distributing false news regarding the smear campaign against Hamas and Gaza about what's happening in Egypt," a Hamas official said on Thursday, AFP reported.
A Maan staff member and a Hamas official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that the news agency was closed temporarily over a report, which citied Israeli sources. The report says that Hamas government has provided asylum to Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood fugitive leaders.
Saudi-owned Al Arabiya refused to reveal the reasons behind its office closure in Gaza.
"We received the closure notice and an official statement from Al Arabiya will be published to respond to this decision," said Islam Abd Al Kareem, Al Arabiya’s Gaza correspondent.
On July 14, investigators in Egypt started instigating ousted President Mohamed Morsi, the country's first democratically elected leader, and members of his Muslim Brotherhood over their escape from prison during the 2011 revolution.
The Egyptians launched the revolution against the pro-Israeli regime on January 25, 2011, which eventually brought an end to the 30-year dictatorship of Hosni Mubarak on February 11, 2011.
The enquiry is about the escape of dozens of Brotherhood activists from Wadi Natrun prison during the revolution.
On July 3 night, Egyptian army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi announced that Morsi was no longer in office and declared that the head of the Supreme Constitutional Court, Adly Mahmoud Mansour, had been appointed as the new interim president of Egypt. The army also suspended the constitution.
Army officials said ousted President Morsi, who took office in June 2012, was being held “preventively” by the military.
It called on Ma'an news agency to demonstrate professional and ethical responsibility towards the Palestinian people.
Hamas also called on the responsible authorities in the Palestinian government to take the necessary legal action towards this agency and all those who incite against the Palestinians.
Hamas shuts Al Arabiya, Maan offices over 'false' news
The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has shut down Gaza offices of Al Arabiya TV and Palestinian news agency Maan over what it called "false" reporting.
"The Attorney General decided to close down Al Arabiya and Maan offices in Gaza for distributing false news regarding the smear campaign against Hamas and Gaza about what's happening in Egypt," a Hamas official said on Thursday, AFP reported.
A Maan staff member and a Hamas official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that the news agency was closed temporarily over a report, which citied Israeli sources. The report says that Hamas government has provided asylum to Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood fugitive leaders.
Saudi-owned Al Arabiya refused to reveal the reasons behind its office closure in Gaza.
"We received the closure notice and an official statement from Al Arabiya will be published to respond to this decision," said Islam Abd Al Kareem, Al Arabiya’s Gaza correspondent.
On July 14, investigators in Egypt started instigating ousted President Mohamed Morsi, the country's first democratically elected leader, and members of his Muslim Brotherhood over their escape from prison during the 2011 revolution.
The Egyptians launched the revolution against the pro-Israeli regime on January 25, 2011, which eventually brought an end to the 30-year dictatorship of Hosni Mubarak on February 11, 2011.
The enquiry is about the escape of dozens of Brotherhood activists from Wadi Natrun prison during the revolution.
On July 3 night, Egyptian army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi announced that Morsi was no longer in office and declared that the head of the Supreme Constitutional Court, Adly Mahmoud Mansour, had been appointed as the new interim president of Egypt. The army also suspended the constitution.
Army officials said ousted President Morsi, who took office in June 2012, was being held “preventively” by the military.
24 july 2013
Palestinian photographer Mohammed Al-Azza recovering in hospital after being shot in the cheek
In the middle of the night on June 30, Israeli forces invaded the Aida-area home of Palestinian photographer Mohamed Al-Azza, assaulted him and his family, and then arbitrarily detained him until July 11 when he was freed on a bail of 1,500 shekels. On July 25, an Israeli military court will rule on his case.
After sustaining severe injuries during his arrest June 30, Al-Azza was transferred to a hospital for three days, and then sent back to prison. In an Israeli military court, the Israeli security forces charged that Al-Azza participated in “violent and illegal” activities. Reporters Without Borders reported that, “as a journalist, [Al-Azza] has covered demonstrations in support of detainees on hunger strike and protests against the November 2012 offensive in Gaza.”
On April 8, in the Aida refugee camp near Bethlehem, an Israeli soldier shot Al-Azza in the right cheekbone with a rubber-coated steel bullet. Al-Azza, who was working for Palestine News Network (PNN), sustained a broken right cheekbone, and underwent two surgeries to remove the bullet. Reporters Without Borders has urged the Israeli security forces to investigate this deliberate shooting of a journalist, to punish the soldier responsible, and to end “the complete impunity enjoyed by IDF soldiers responsible for violence against journalists.”
In the middle of the night on June 30, Israeli forces invaded the Aida-area home of Palestinian photographer Mohamed Al-Azza, assaulted him and his family, and then arbitrarily detained him until July 11 when he was freed on a bail of 1,500 shekels. On July 25, an Israeli military court will rule on his case.
After sustaining severe injuries during his arrest June 30, Al-Azza was transferred to a hospital for three days, and then sent back to prison. In an Israeli military court, the Israeli security forces charged that Al-Azza participated in “violent and illegal” activities. Reporters Without Borders reported that, “as a journalist, [Al-Azza] has covered demonstrations in support of detainees on hunger strike and protests against the November 2012 offensive in Gaza.”
On April 8, in the Aida refugee camp near Bethlehem, an Israeli soldier shot Al-Azza in the right cheekbone with a rubber-coated steel bullet. Al-Azza, who was working for Palestine News Network (PNN), sustained a broken right cheekbone, and underwent two surgeries to remove the bullet. Reporters Without Borders has urged the Israeli security forces to investigate this deliberate shooting of a journalist, to punish the soldier responsible, and to end “the complete impunity enjoyed by IDF soldiers responsible for violence against journalists.”
Dozens of students from the Arab American University in Jenin participated in a vigil on Tuesday to protest the arrest of journalist Yousef Abdul Latif Shalabi, aged 23, by the Israeli occupation forces (IOF). Students and a number of university lecturers took part in the vigil called for by the Department of Arabic Language and Media at the university.
The protesters raised banners condemning the arrest of their colleague Shalabi and a number of other students from the Arab American University by the IOF during the last week, calling to expose the occupation crimes against the Palestinian people in general and the students in particular.
Media lecturer at the University Mahmoud Khallouf said that chasing university students and journalists in the West Bank is a violation of international laws and conventions, stressing that the freedom of speech and expression is a right for all.
Khallouf hailed the university students for their participation in the vigil, considering that this move represents a clear message to the occupation that all its repressive procedures will not affect journalistic work
Israeli soldiers raided and searched the house of journalist Yousef Shalabi at dawn Monday, then arrested him and took him to an unknown destination.
Shalabi has been earlier detained by the PA security apparatuses. His house was also raided and searched many times on charges of his affiliation with Hamas movement.
The protesters raised banners condemning the arrest of their colleague Shalabi and a number of other students from the Arab American University by the IOF during the last week, calling to expose the occupation crimes against the Palestinian people in general and the students in particular.
Media lecturer at the University Mahmoud Khallouf said that chasing university students and journalists in the West Bank is a violation of international laws and conventions, stressing that the freedom of speech and expression is a right for all.
Khallouf hailed the university students for their participation in the vigil, considering that this move represents a clear message to the occupation that all its repressive procedures will not affect journalistic work
Israeli soldiers raided and searched the house of journalist Yousef Shalabi at dawn Monday, then arrested him and took him to an unknown destination.
Shalabi has been earlier detained by the PA security apparatuses. His house was also raided and searched many times on charges of his affiliation with Hamas movement.
22 july 2013
Israeli occupation forces (IOF) raided the village of Ateel and Allar in Tulkarem at dawn Monday and rounded up two young men after violent clashes. Local sources said that young men threw stones at the invading troops, who responded by firing heavily.
They said that the soldiers arrested Yousef Shalabi, a graduate of the Arab American University in Jenin – journalism faculty.
Meanwhile, IOF units raided Allar, a nearby village, and nabbed Mohammed Shadid, 22, after searching his family home.
They said that the soldiers arrested Yousef Shalabi, a graduate of the Arab American University in Jenin – journalism faculty.
Meanwhile, IOF units raided Allar, a nearby village, and nabbed Mohammed Shadid, 22, after searching his family home.