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| About Palestinian media |
Palestinian Authority TV and radio (Palestinian Broadcasting Corporation, PBC) are under the direct control of the Palestinian Authority under Chairman Mahmoud Abbas and are the official media of the PA government. WAFA Palestine News and Information Agency, the official Palestinian news service, is under the PLO Executive Committee, which is also headed by Mahmoud Abbas. The newspaper Al-Hayat Al-Jadida is the PA’s official daily newspaper.
The PA leadership actively uses its media to send out ideological and political messages to its people, and also exerts its influence over the independent media. Bassem Eid, Director General of the Palestinian Human Rights Monitoring Group, explained in a 2009 interview that there was no freedom of expression under Abbas’s PA or under Hamas:
“’I do not think,’ Eid says, ‘that there is any kind of open media anywhere in the Palestinian territories, neither in Gaza nor the West Bank.’ Journalists continue to be confined in West Bank prisons, and critical media, he says, have been closed down. ‘Mr. [Mahmoud] Abbas,’ says Eid, ‘may talk about free media where he is ruling but in my opinion, as a human rights organization, we are receiving a lot of reports how the right of free expression is being completely violated by the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah and by the Hamas in the Gaza strip."
[JewishJournal.com, Nov. 25, 2009]
In 2010, Mahmoud Abbas, who serves as Chairman of the Palestinian Authority, the PLO and Fatah, announced a plan to make PA TV and radio more independent, while still being under his control, as head of the PLO:
“Yasser Abd Rabbo, Inspector General of the [PA’s] official media, has revealed that President Mahmoud Abbas, in his role as Chairman of the PLO, recently issued a presidential directive resolving to convert the Palestinian Broadcasting Corporation and Palestinian television from a governmental institution into an independent public institution…
In response to a question concerning the dependence of the new TV Council on the President, Abd Rabbo said: ‘We find ourselves in circumstances involving political turbulence… Therefore, the only [and] most stable body is the PLO and the Presidency. Therefore, the [TV] Council is subordinate to the PLO Chairman.’”
[Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, May 15, 2010]
However, that plan has not yet been implemented. Accordingly, while the PA media’s influence as educator of Palestinians varies depending on the number of viewers and readership at different times, the official media are excellent indicators of the ideology that the Palestinian Authority’s leaders wish to transmit to the their people.
Political, religious and ideological messages expressed today by PA and Fatah leaders, are repeated throughout Palestinian society. They are conveyed through a wide range of activities including, cultural expression, sporting events, religious teachings, music videos, and in political events. These messages reflect the beliefs, opinions and goals of the Palestinian Authority, and their repeated transmission through the different media and other structures the PA controls, indicates an intentional pattern rather than coincidence.
Abd Rabbo explained that once PA TV ceases to be “official TV”, it will no longer be a “mouthpiece” of the PA leaders’ ideology, since the goal is “to achieve a TV and radio broadcasting that will express the will of our Palestinian society in all its shades and contradictions, and [such] that the TV will not be the mouthpiece of the government, with an attempt to dictate to society and to direct it as the government sees fit.”
[Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, May 15, 2010] |
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Abbas sends Inspector General of Palestine Broadcasting Corporation to speak in his name to media employees
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Source:
Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Jan. 27, 2013
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Headline: "In a speech delivered by Riyad Al-Hassan on [President Abbas’] behalf, the President praises the performance of radio and TV personnel."
“President of the State of Palestine Mahmoud Abbas yesterday, Saturday [Jan. 26, 2013], praised the performance of radio and television employees. This was done in a speech delivered on his behalf by Chairman of Palestine Broadcasting Corporation (PBC), Riyad Al-Hassan, during a tribute held by the PA in Gaza City…
The President [Abbas] said, ‘I have sent you your brother, the Chairman of the [Palestine Broadcasting] Corporation [Riyad Al-Hassan], as my representative to convey to you my warmest wishes and my great appreciation for the efforts you have made over a long period and that you [continue] to make in order to introduce to the world your nation's cause and your people's great struggle to reclaim its stolen rights, and to establish its independent state on its national land with its capital, Jerusalem.’
He added: ‘Our attention has been drawn to your admirable performance during major national events on our land, especially during the attack on Gaza (i.e., reference to Israel’s Operation Pillar of Defense that in response to Hamas rockets, targeted the terror infrastructure in the Gaza Strip), our great political victory at the UN (i.e., Palestine’s status as non-member state at the UN), and finally [the media] coverage of the rally in Gaza [celebrating] the Launch of the Palestinian revolution (i.e., reference to the anniversary of the Fatah Movement)…’
[Riyad] Al-Hassan, the Inspector General of the Palestine Broadcasting Corporation (PBC) and Chairman of the Board of Trustees [of the PBC], reviewed new milestones of PA TV."
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PA TV censors broadcast as citizens criticize PA leaders
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Source:
Palestinian TV (Fatah), Sept. 6, 2012
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PA TV host: "We return to you, sir. What did you want to say?"
Razi in studio audience: "President Abbas, may Allah protect him, and Prime Minister Dr. Salam Fayyad: Where are you when prices keep rising? Where are you when there is unemployment? Where are your ministers, Dr. Salam? They should see the people in the streets. What are we, cows and donkeys? The Palestinian people has begun to speak..."
[Sound is muted for half a minute while Razi continued speaking and crowd was cheering.]
Razi: "This is despicable..."
Host: "The Jews have failed too."
Razi: "Whenever prices go up, you say: 'The Jews.'"
[Sound is muted]
Host: "Don't say such things."
Razi: "So arrest me..."
[Sound is muted]
Host: "I gave you a chance [to speak]. Let others speak." [...]
Man in audience: "I've been told on the phone that you keep cutting off the sound."
Host: "Who did I cut off now? ... I won't let you talk."
Man in audience: "Don't cut off the broadcast, you talk about the youth. We're the youth."
Host: "If you don't think that this is a live broadcast, don't be on the program. [...] e had wanted to continue the program, but it's clear we can't."
[Program abruptly ends.]
Click to view video
Click to view bulletin |
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Broadcasts on PA TV about Palestinian suicide attacks "increased honor for Palestinians"
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Source:
Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, July 19, 2012
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Headline: "At a Conference held by the Al-Sham Center for Studies and Researches in Gaza: Demand for Strategy to Intensify Media Role for the Palestinian Cause"
“Politicians and media personalities emphasized the importance of formulating a clear national strategy to strengthen the role of the media in the Palestinian cause and resistance… This was during a conference on 'Palestinian Resistance Discourse in the Media and the Palestinian Cause' organized by the Al-Sham Center for Studies and Researches. Head of the House of Wisdom for Conflict Resolution & Governance, Dr. Ahmed Yousef… noted that following the [Fatah-Hamas] split, local channels began to drift away from their role… He stated that following the split, the official TV channels began to lose credibility, especially regarding the Arab revolutions. He noted that prior to the split, PA TV and the Al-Aqsa satellite channel had a prominent role, focusing on the struggle and the resistance, and that especially with the beginning of Martyrdom-seeking operations (i.e., suicide terror attacks) in 1994, Palestinian communities would follow and take pride in all that was broadcast. [Yousef said that] this had restored and increased honor for Palestinians, and that the Arab and Islamic nation had felt the same way, viewing Palestinians as blessed, since they are from the land of heroism."
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PA daily: Protestors who clashed with police in Ramallah claim right to free expression was violated
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Source:
Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, July 2, 2012
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“Many young men and women as well as security officers suffered numerous injuries, and one person’s hand was broken, during scuffles that began again yesterday afternoon between youth activists who work in social networks, and police and security personnel who intervened to prevent protesters from reaching the Mukata building in Ramallah where the presidential offices are located.
The police released three journalists and activists after the national forces intervened, not long after they had been detained at the police station…
This came as part of a series of demonstrations protesting the visit of Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Shaul Mofaz that was to take place yesterday in the Mukata so that [Mofaz] could meet President Mahmoud Abbas, but the President decided to cancel on Friday...
Activists tried to reach the Mukata building… and the police interceded and moved them back to the square where shouting and arguments developed into confrontations. Reporters covering the march said that men in civilian dress asked them not to photograph, and took three of them into custody when they refused. All the same, they said that they were not attacked either physically or verbally...
Official spokesman of the security forces Adnan Al-Damiri stated in reaction to yesterday’s incidents that freedom of expression is guaranteed by law, and President Mahmoud Abbas stresses this at every opportunity. He noted that the young people’s march yesterday received all due consideration and its organizers were permitted to choose the place freely. Al-Damiri assumed that a few organizers’ insistence on reaching the President’s offices without having notified the police was the reason for the confrontations..."
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PA daily: Palestinian Journalists Association condemns PA for arresting a journalist
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Source:
Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, July 2, 2012
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“The Palestinian Journalists Association yesterday condemned the arrest of Muhammad Jaradat who was attacked by [PA] security personnel in civilian clothing and taken for interrogation to the Ramallah police station, after covering a march of young people’s groups protesting the [Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Shaul] Mofaz’s visit Saturday afternoon.
In its press release, a copy of which has reached WAFA (the official Palestinian Authority news agency), the Association said: ‘The attack on Jaradat and his arrest constitute a clear departure from the government’s and police force’s commitment to ensure journalistic practice….’
[Attorney] Raed Abd Al-Hamid said that marks of a beating were clearly visible on Jaradat’s face and body. He suffers from injuries to his face, a black eye, a wound to his nose, and wounds on his back, chest, knees, and legs.”
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Abbas appoints Chairman of Board of Trustees of Palestine Broadcasting Corporation - Chairman reports to Abbas
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Source:
WAFA news agency, June 19, 2012
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Headline: “Presidential decree appoints Riyad Al-Hassan to Chairman of the Palestine Broadcasting Corporation Board of Trustees”
“President Mahmoud Abbas issued today, Tuesday, a decree appointing the Chairman of the Palestinian Information and News Agency Wafa, Riyad Al-Hassan, to Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Palestine Broadcasting Corporation (PBC). Within a month, Al-Hassan will recommend to the President the composition of this council.”
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PA official says Abbas told newspapers not to publish congratulations on the formation of the new government
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Source:
Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, May 17, 2012
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Headline: "President [Abbas] asks not to publish congratulatory [notices] to new government"
"The government Secretary-General, Na'im Abu Al-Humus, said that President Mahmoud Abbas had instructed all local newspapers and asked them not to publish congratulatory [notices] upon the establishment of the 14th Palestinian government, after the ministers took their oath of allegiance before him last night."
Note: PMW can confirm that the official PA daily reported on the formation of the new PA government, but did not publish any congratulatory notices. This lends corroborates the fact that the media in the PA is government-controlled.
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PA launches prisoners' satellite channel
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Source:
Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Apr. 2, 2012
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Headline: "Under the auspices of the President [Abbas] and in the presence of Karake and Al-A'araj – announcement of the launch of 'The Prisoner' satellite channel in Jenin"
"Head of the Office of the President, Hussein Al-A'araj, inaugurated 'The Prisoner' satellite channel yesterday in Jenin, on behalf of President Mahmoud Abbas and under his auspices. Al-A'araj conveyed President Mahmoud Abbas' congratulations upon the inauguration of this satellite channel, since it has adorned itself with the colors of the Palestinian flag…
He said: 'Two days ago we commemorated Land Day, for the sake of which the heroes were taken into captivity (i.e., imprisoned in Israel), and prior to that the Martyrs (Shahids) sacrificed that which was dear to them for the sake of their only and unified land, Palestine, whose sole capital is Jerusalem.' He conveyed greetings to the prisoners… [saying], 'The leadership, headed by the President, emphasizes that we will not abandon them until they return as free people, because our nation suffers from their tragedy, and their suffering pains all of us. This is a tax that we all have to pay.' … He emphasized that no peace agreement would be signed without all the prisoners returning to their homes… Minister of Prisoners' Affairs, Issa Karake, congratulated the prisoners on the launch of this satellite station, which will broadcast our prisoners to all the satellite stations in the world, conveying their resolve and their acts of heroism to all nations." |
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New “Palestine Live” channel to be established
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Source:
Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Jan. 25, 2012
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Headline: "Abd Rabbo: Preparations begin for establishment of 'Palestine Live' channel and implementation of radio and TV reforms"
"General Supervisor of the official media, Yasser Abd Rabbo, held a meeting yesterday in Ramallah with the General Director of radio [Ahmad Zaki] and General Director of TV [Ahmad Al-Hazouri]… It was decided that preparations for the establishment of the 'Palestine Live' channel should begin immediately."
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Official statement re. Fatah’s official website and Facebook page
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Source:
Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Oct. 11, 2011
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Headline: "Fatah: Website of the Information and Culture Commission is the [Fatah] movement's official information website"
"The Information and Culture Commission of the Fatah movement has announced that the ’Information of the Palestinian National Liberation Movement – Fatah’ page on Facebook is not related to the movement's official information. In a press release published yesterday (Monday) the Commission emphasized that the official website, which has been approved by the movement's supreme leadership bodies, and which officially conveys the movement's information and culture, is the website of the Information and Culture Commission –www.fatehmedia.ps. [The Commission] added that the [Commission's] Facebook page is entitled 'The Information and Culture Commission of the Fatah Movement.'" |
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Abbas defends show cancellation in interview about PA media censorship
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Source:
Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Aug. 29, 2011
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Headline: “In interview with Qatari 'Al-Watan' newspaper – President [Abbas]: Hamas has no objections concerning the 'September target date'"
Host: "You spoke about freedom of opinion and said that you support this, so why did you discontinue the program 'Watan Ala-Watar' [Homeland on a string], which was broadcast on PA TV?"
Abbas: "This program has been broadcast for the past three years, and the first episode of the program criticized me. At the time I was glad, because this reflected an atmosphere of freedom. The program soon came out against all the senior [PA] personnel, but those responsible for the program are inexperienced and don't have anyone to write [scripts] for them. Since this is a comedy show, what is needed is a professional writer to write criticism without slandering people.
More than once I brought to the attention of Yasser Abd Rabbo, who is in charge of TV, that sometimes the program sinks to a very low standard and that it would be better to avoid this low level.
In one episode they came out against the head of the Anti-Corruption Authority, Rafiq Al-Natsheh, saying that he appointed relatives to various positions. These are untrue statements which were used as a joke, but they remain unacceptable." |
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PA TV Ramadan program that criticizes PA officials forcibly taken off the air
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Source:
Ma’an, Palestinian news agency, Aug. 17, 2011
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Headline: "PA takes satirical TV series off air"
"A Ramadan TV series that became notorious for its criticism of Palestinian Authority officials has been discontinued on the PA-run Palestine TV, Attorney General Ahmad Al-Mughni said Tuesday evening. Al-Mughni told Ma'an that the decision had been made to stop broadcasts of Watan Ala Watar [Homeland on a Thread] after Tuesday's episode because 'it is full of mistakes, is meaningless and is a waste of time for people to watch.' The serial, aired during the holy month of Ramadan when broadcasters compete for captive audiences with soap operas and special series, had been praised the year earlier as an emblem of PA's ability to tolerate self-criticism.
Al-Mughni said Tuesday that the series is 'harmful to Palestinian society.' 'It mocks leaders terribly, and has a poor scenario,' he said, adding that episodes had crossed 'red lines.' 'There are people and personalities that can't be imitated in any way,' the Attorney General said.
The series had targeted the beleaguered Palestinian Authority health ministry, public sector workers union head Bassam Zakarneh and teachers union in recent weeks, and officials are reported to have complained to the Attorney General about the send-up.
Palestine TV is operated by the Palestinian Broadcasting Corporation, and supervised by the Ramallah-based Ministry of Information.
Watan Ala Watar gained a huge following for its uncompromising look at themes of politics, corruption, nepotism, religion and morality." |
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Internal disaggreement in PA over freedom of speech
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Source:
Jerusalem Post, Aug. 17, 2011
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Headline: "Lawsuits, complaints lead PA to cut satirical TV series: Palestinian prosecutor-general tells Ma'an Watan ala Watar (Nation on a String) crosses 'red lines'; producer cries violation of democracy."
"The Palestinian prosecutor-general announced Tuesday night that the satirical television series Watan ala Watar (Homeland on a String) will no longer air on the Palestinian Authority-run Palestine TV channel.
Prosecutor-General Ahmad Al-Mughni told Palestinian news channel Ma'an that the decision was made because the show, broadcast during Ramadan, 'is full of mistakes' and 'meaningless,' adding that it had crossed 'red lines' in its impersonations of Palestinian leaders. 'There are people and personalities that can't be imitated in any way,' Ma'an quoted Mughni as saying.
Yasser Abed Rabbo, head of the Palestinian Broadcasting Corporation (PBC) board and a senior official in the Palestine Liberation Organization, described the decision as a 'dangerous precedent in the history of the Palestinian Authority.'
'The prosecutor-general has appointed himself as the one responsible for artistic works, becoming 'the artistic authority' in the country,' he told Al-Ayyam newspaper.
'We are facing a great disaster which violates the most basic of freedoms.'
He said an appeal would be lodged against the decision." |
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PA TV still the "official government TV [station]"
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Source:
Al-Ayyam, Aug. 5, 2011
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Article about a strike by about 20 friends of the late Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish at the PA TV building. The strikers protested the broadcast of the Syrian series "In the Presence of Absence" about the poet's life.
“Following the sit-down strike, a meeting was held between some of the strikers and the PA TV administration, during which the Executive Director of the Radio and TV Authority, Ahmad Al-Hazouri, said: 'These protests are welcome, and they support our efforts – [we,] the PA TV administration] to transform ourselves from an official government TV [station] to a public national TV [station]."
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Union head: Palestinian Broadcasting Corporation censors the media
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Source:
Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, June 26, 2011
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Headline: "Zakarneh: "Preventing me from speaking on official TV and radio will not stop my message about unions"
"Head of the Union of Public Service Employees, Bassam Zakarneh, said that preventing him from speaking, and preventing coverage of union activities on [official PA] TV and on 'Voice of Palestine' [official PA radio] will not prevent him from carrying out his union mission and defending the rights of the oppressed public [sector] employees.
In a press release, Zakarneh said: 'The general supervisor of the PBC (Palestinian Broadcasting Corporation) prevented coverage of news related to the unions; this may be defined as suppression of freedoms and as a blow to the freedom of union activity, by a prominent leader of the PLO. This is dangerous and a contravention of the Basic Law, the Declaration of Independence, and agreements on the international and Arab level to which the [Palestinian] Liberation Organization is a signatory.'
Zakarneh added: 'The general supervisor is intimidating TV and 'Voice of Palestine' employees, especially concerning holding any kind of discourse with someone who has been blacklisted by the national leadership. He doesn't permit any interviewing of them, and many [media] employees who have transgressed these instructions have been interrogated and removed from their positions.'…
Zakarneh warned Palestinian citizens against accepting reports about the unions from Palestinian radio and TV, since these represent the views of one party [only]. Zakarneh demanded of President Abbas to intervene in order to halt the suppression of freedoms of the press, which are protected by Palestinian law."
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Survey: Over half of Palestinian media say PA and Hamas restrict their work
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Source:
WAFA news agency, May 21, 2011
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"More than half of the Palestinian media organizations (53%) said they have suffered restrictions at some time in the past such as closure, threats and attacks on staff or property, according to a new survey on the media published Saturday.
The survey, conducted by Near East Consulting (NEC), said a majority of 75% of the media organizations see the Israeli occupation as the main restriction they currently face, but a significant number also cited the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah and Hamas in Gaza as restricting their work.
NEC said there were 192 functioning media organizations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and out of 184 media organizations that responded to the survey, 27 were TV stations and 66 were radio. It said 145 were in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and 39 in the Gaza Strip."
Note: The poll is not yet featured on the website of the polling institute. |
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WAFA news agency under Abbas' control by presidential order
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Source:
Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, May 10, 2011
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Headline: “President [Abbas] issues order regulating activity of WAFA agency”
“Last night, President Mahmoud Abbas issued a presidential order regulating the activity of the WAFA Palestine News and Information Agency. The order emphasizes that the Palestine News and Information Agency is subordinate exclusively to the Chairman of the PLO Executive Committee.”
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PA controls media, ceases to broadcast incitement against Hamas
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Source:
Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, May 8, 2011
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This article illustrates that the PA controls the media. It made a decision after the reconciliation to stop inciting against Hamas.
Headline: “After ceasing to broadcast incitement and to disseminate media poison - Palestinian circles once again showing faith and interest in news stations
“The news stations once again have the faith and interest of the Palestinian public, now that they have ceased to broadcast incitement [of Fatah and Hamas against each other]and to disseminate media poison, which intensified anxiety and confusion owing to the use of inappropriate terms not suited to the nature and values of the media.
Since the signing of the reconciliation agreement [between Fatah and Hamas], there has been unusual interest in the various types of news stations, both radio and TV, as well as in local newspapers, because now everyone is using and sticking to professional and national terminology, far removed from slander and mud-slinging.”
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PA daily: PA accused of impinging on journalistic freedom
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Source:
Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Apr. 7, 2011
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Following a report in 2011 by the US-based Human Rights Watch, the PA security forces responded to accusations that they abused journalists :
“Official spokesman of the security forces, Adnan Al-Damiri, emphasized: ‘The security establishment is ready to investigate any personal violation and to adopt all legal measures against those who are committing violations, if there are any.’
Damiri’s words came in response to the report published yesterday by Human Rights Watch, accusing the Palestinian security services of violations against journalists… The security forces spokesman denied that arrests are made on the basis of politics or profession, and said that the instances in which arrests [of journalists] are made arise from harm to security or crimes… He rejected the comparison between the functioning of the security establishment in the West Bank, which has undergone great development, and what Hamas is doing in Gaza.”
Note: To view the full Human Rights Watch report detailing the accusations against the PA and Hamas concerning journalistic freedom and harm to journalists, click here. |
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Banned TV program elicits angry response about PA TV censorship
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Source:
Al-Hayat (London), Mar. 5, 2011
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“Viewers of the Palestinian [TV] comedy Homeland on a String waited for last Thursday’s episode… but the episode was not broadcast…. [The series’ creator] and star [Imad] Farajin publicized on his Facebook page… “Palestinian TV prohibited the episode on [Libya's] Gaddafi” … Responses to this statement [on Facebook] came one after another. Some spoke of the policy of suppression adopted by PA TV, about the range of freedoms which is being diminished instead of broadened, and some demanded of [Imad Farajin, creator and star of the program] to seek alternative satellite channels and to broadcast the episode on Facebook and YouTube. Some of the angry responses on the [program’s Facebook] page even read, ‘The people want to bring down PA TV and the PA TV administration.’
In an interview with Al-Hayat (i.e., the London-based Arabic language paper)… Farajin expressed fury over the ban on broadcasting the episode, especially since it had been filmed after the script had been shown to the PA TV administration and approved by the chairman of the Board of Directors of the PBC, Yasser Abd Rabbo....
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