Palestinian journalists protest censorship

[slosucks]

GAZA: Journalists Protest CensorshipPosted: 8/29/2006 11:22:00 PM
Author: Khaled Abu Toameh
Source: StandWithUs.com - A pro Israel advocacy organization advocates for a secure future for Israel


Gaza: Journalists protest censorship
By KHALED ABU TOAMEH

Palestinian journalists in the Gaza Strip complained on
Tuesday that they were being subjected to a campaign of
intimidation and terror by various armed groups and urged
the Palestinian Authority to punish those responsible.

Several Palestinian journalists and editors have been killed
or beaten over the past few years by unidentified gunmen,
especially in the Gaza Strip. Until today, none of the
assailants have been caught.

At a demonstration outside the offices of the Palestinian
Legislative Council in Gaza City, dozens of journalists said
they were suffering from growing attempts to restrict their
work.

"We condemn all methods of terror and threats practiced by
some irresponsible parties in Palestinian society against
Palestinian newsmen," said one of the journalists. "We are
facing attacks from internal and external forces."

The journalists urged the PA to guarantee freedom of
expression in its territories and take legal action against
anyone who threatens or attacks them. They also denounced
the recent kidnapping of two Fox News journalists in Gaza
City and said those who carried out the abduction acted
against the interests of the Palestinians.

Ibrahim Barakat, a Fatah activist who joined the protest,
described the kidnapping of the journalists as an "immoral
act that distorts the image of the Palestinian people's
struggle." He urged the PA to reveal the identity of the
kidnappers and to bring them to court without delay.

Some of the journalists also attacked Israel for wounding
some of their colleagues during IDF incursions into the Gaza
Strip.

In a separate development, a row has erupted between
journalists in the Gaza Strip over a meeting some of them
held earlier this week with PA Prime Minister Ismail
Haniyeh.

The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate, a body dominated by
Fatah supporters, accused Haniyeh's office
of "discrimination" in deciding who would attend the
meeting. It claimed that only Hamas-affiliated journalists
were invited to the meeting.

"Haniyeh's office ignored journalists working in important
media outlets such as Palestine TV and the Wafa News
Agency," the syndicate said. "This is a very serious
development that will have repercussions on many levels."

According to the syndicate, Haniyeh's decision to boycott
many of its members coincides with increased attempts to
terrorize Palestinian journalists and prevent them from
carrying out their jobs.

In response, the 13 journalists who were invited to
interview Haniyeh launched a scathing attack on the
syndicate, accusing it of stupidity and impotence. They said
the attack on Haniyeh's office was an indication that the
syndicate was acting out of "factional considerations." They
said the syndicate had lost its right to represent all
journalists because of the behavior of its heads.

Jamal Nazzal, a spokesman for Fatah in the West Bank,
accused the Hamas-controlled government of harassing local
journalists and media outlets.

He said the government was practicing "information
starvation" by boycotting major news organizations and
journalists, including Palestine TV and radio. "They prefer
to deal with foreign journalists," he said. "They are trying
to undermine and discredit the official media."

Meanwhile, sources close to Hamas revealed that the movement
will launch its own satellite TV station next month. Last
year, Hamas's local TV station went on the air for the first
time, but its programs were viewed only in parts of the Gaza
Strip.

The sources said Hamas TV would use the services of the
Egyptian satellite company Nilesat, which was established in
1996 and which operates hundreds of satellites in the Arab
world.

[motivez]

Can you add your opinion to this thread please?

Thanks

[archangel003]

[Stylerod]

Originally Posted by archangel003

@ pic


On the issue of censorship, I hope the government takes action these recent articles of outspoken palestenians are giving me hope for a reasonable future over there

[archangel003]

That one dude has a bitchin' unibrow.

I could scrub my wheels with his forehead.

[slosucks]

Originally Posted by motivez

Can you add your opinion to this thread please?

Thanks

go outspoken journalists

too bad the palestinian government wont do shit considering the idiots voted in a terrorist organization

[JaJae]

Originally Posted by slosucks

go outspoken journalists

too bad the palestinian government wont do shit considering the idiots voted in a terrorist organization

That's really what it comes down to. At least there are people out who when they start to investigate and report on the issues they find the truth. It's a shame they're being killed for it.

The Palestinian people need to hear their message.