Title: Abbas sets up journalist for illegal arrest
Video posted on the YouTube channel of the independent Palestinian news website Amad, the video contains the audio recording of a phone call between PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas and Palestinian journalist Hassan Al-Najjar, a former official PA TV employee
Palestinian journalist Hassan Al-Najjar: “After a year and eight months the court did justice with me and informed me of its decision that I have in my possession – that your dismissal [from working as an official PA TV director] is illegal…
[The court determined that] this letter from [General Supervisor of the Official PA Media] brother Ahmad Assaf is not a letter of dismissal but rather a recommendation of dismissal, and it is not official. Your Honor [PA] President [Mahmoud Abbas], from July 10, [2019] to this day my salary has been withheld from me. I live in Jerusalem and pay 2,000 [Israeli] shekels in rent. I have a chronic disease and receive chemotherapy…
I contacted all of the [PA] institutions – not one did justice with me. I went to the [official PA] TV and sat with the legal advisor.”
PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas: “Assaf’s decision is a recommendation or a dismissal?”
Hassan Al-Najjar: “Yes, brother supervisor Ahmad Assaf’s decision is a recommendation to dismiss…
A recommendation to the [PA] Commission of [Public] Employees…
The commission did not decide to dismiss me. The commission just signed General Supervisor [Assaf’s] document.” …
Mahmoud Abbas: “What do you do at [PA] TV?”
Hassan Al-Najjar: “Your Honor the president knows me personally… I work as a director of news and programs. I am the one who broadcasts the program Topic of the Day live, and the central newscasts – the very serious newscasts that have a high status.”
Mahmoud Abbas: “Okay, speak with Sa’id tomorrow [May 5, 2021] at 12:00 p.m. …
[PA Presidential Guard Senior Official Maj. Gen.] Sa’id Al-Lahham, and tell him ‘I spoke with the president yesterday and he told me to speak with you.’ …I will talk with him.” …
Hassan Al-Najjar: “Okay, and I am prepared for any confrontation.”
Mahmoud Abbas: “That’s why I told you at 12:00 p.m. …
Take Sa’id’s number…
050-211-7777…
We will do justice with you if injustice was done to you…
Would we discriminate against you? Would I discriminate against you?”
Hassan Al-Najjar: “Certainly not. After all, why did I contact you? Because you are a father to every Palestinian.” …
Mahmoud Abbas: “No, no, no. I would not discriminate against you. If there is something you deserve you will get it.”