Palestinians Impose Severe Restrictions on Foreign Media

[Mosby]

Last edited Sat Mar 30, 2013, 07:34 PM - Edit history (1)

It's official: the Palestinian Authority does not want foreign journalists to work in territories under its control in the West Bank unless they receive permission in advance from the Palestinian Ministry of Information.

The decision was taken earlier this week by the Palestinian Ministry of Information and the Palestinian Journalist's Syndicate -- a body controlled by Fatah-affiliated journalists.

Foreign journalists who ignore the latest restriction face arrest by Palestinian Authority security forces, said Jihad Qawassmeh, member of the Palestinian Journalist's' Syndicate.

He warned that any Palestinian journalist who helps international media representatives enter the Palestinian Authority-controlled territories without permission would face punitive measures.

http://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/3645/palestinians-impose-severe-restrictions-on

[PDJane]

1. Uh huh. And, of course, Israel does the same thing...but are exempt from the label because????

[Mosby]

2. no they don't

there are more reporters in Israel per capita than probably anywhere else in the world. They are free to go anywhere and talk to anyone they want.

From the article:

The Palestinian Journalist's Syndicate has long been opposed to "normalization" with Israel, and bans its members from holding meetings with Israeli colleagues. Some Palestinian journalists who defied the ban were recently expelled from the syndicate.

So while the Palestinian journalists are promoting a boycott of Israel, they are also demanding that the Israeli government issue them with press cards so they can enter Israel.

Besides reflecting hypocrisy on the part of these Palestinian journalists, the latest restriction serves as a reminder that the Palestinian Authority is not much different from most Arab dictatorships.

Under these dictatorships, foreign journalists need to obtain permission from the relevant authorities to enter the country to cover a story. In many cases, the authorities assign a "minder" to guide or escort the journalists to make sure that they see and hear only what the dictators want.

The Palestinian Authority, which has often displayed a large degree of intolerance toward journalists who refuse to serve as a mouthpiece for its leaders, wants to work only with sympathetic reporters.

The timing of the ban is no coincidence. It came in the aftermath of US President Barack Obama's visit to Ramallah and Bethlehem, where Palestinian protesters set fire to and trampled on his pictures. The protests seriously embarrassed the Palestinian Authority, especially because they underscored the large gap between its leaders and the street.

[PDJane]

12. And they report what they are supposed to ....if they are from outside the country.

Don't be naive.

[shira]

13. They report anything they want - including libels like Israel killing Palestinians.....

...in order to take their organs.

[azurnoir]

3. this is from the incredably Rightwing Gatestone Douglas Feith is listed as a 'contributer' for them

on their site

secondly what is so unusual about this, do journalists or anyone else for that matter enter any country without permission?

but it is nice to see that at least for these purposes Gatestone seems to recognize Palestinian sovereignty

[aranthus]

5. Is the story false because he's Rightwing? n/t

[azurnoir]

6. what country allows anyone to enter without permission? Abbas can only restrict 18% of the West Bank

I'm sure, Gatestone is being honest on some level however this one is IMO a tempest in a teacup

[aranthus]

8. Two points.

First, you raised the authors political beliefs as your first argument, chen it really has very little to do with the issue. Second, the new PA regulations aren't an immigration control. They are a news control. Why do you think this is a tempest in a tea cup?

[azurnoir]

9. I raised the publication itself and again what country allows anyone including visitors

to enter without permission, as I am sure you should realize raising immigration is a strawman at best, and I think this is a tempest in a teacup because

A no country allows anyone including foreign journalists to enter without permission

B this could only conceivably apply to 18% of the West Bank not to mention that to get to any area controled by Palestinian security one must first cross through Israeli security controlled areas, so what foreign journalists does Israel allow that the Palestinian government would not?

[jessie04]

4. I'm a big believr in freedom of speech.

Every country that limits FOS is usually a piss poor loser country that has a lot to hide.

[azurnoir]

7. Abbas an only restrict journalists from 18% of the West Bank

and by foreign could that mean Israeli journalists?

[shira]

14. Cut the crap. Here's an article from today...

Palestinian journalist jailed for Abbas photo


Posted: Mar 28, 2013 3:22 PM EDT
Updated: Mar 28, 2013 4:53 PM EDT

By DALIA NAMMARI
Associated Press
RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) - A West Bank appeals court on Thursday upheld a one-year prison term for a Palestinian journalist who had a photo on his Facebook page that authorities claimed portrayed President Mahmoud Abbas as a traitor, rights activists said.

It was the second such case in two months, and Abbas' Palestinian Authority is facing mounting criticism for stifling dissent. In particular, Abbas' security forces have targeted supporters of the Islamic militant Hamas, which seized the Gaza Strip from him in 2007.

more...
http://www.cbsatlanta.com/story/21820594/palestinian-journalist-jailed-for-abbas-photo

[azurnoir]

17. the article was about foreign journalists but you couldn't figure out another way to post that?

but if you wish to complain about Abbas jailing Hamas journalists be my guest, albeit I suspect it's some of that security co-ordination with Israel we hear about, however if he didn't you's be claiming he supported Hamas I'd wager

hasn't Israel jailed Amira Hass and restricted her movements?

[shira]

20. So u think palestinian journos are intimidated, but NOT foreign press?

Only the Palestinians are intimidated, not foreigners. Right. Got it!

==========

Check out the Freedom House rankings WRT Freedom of Press worldwide and you'll find Gaza and the W.Bank are not Free.

http://www.freedomhouse.org/sites/default/files/Global%20and%20Regional%20Press%20Freedom%20Rankings.pdf

So the foreign press is as likely to report anything they wish in the W.Bank just as they would in Iran or Cuba. Meaning they're not Free to do shit unless the PA or Hamas allows it.

Get real.

[azurnoir]

21. you mean the 18% of the West Bank that is Palestinian controlled, right?

is it willful overstating or are you ignorant of that fact?

oh and see below anything to say about Abbas pardoning Mamdouh Hamamreh? I know he was such a good talking point, for you

[shira]

22. Don't obfuscate. There's no press freedom in the W.Bank...

Your attempts to run interference for the PA's censorship and intimidation efforts is duly noted, however.

Now here's a lesson from the days of the Ramallah lynching....

Special Clarification by the Italian Representative of RAI, the Official Italian Television Station

My dear friends in Palestine. We congratulate you and think that it is our duty to put you in the picture (of the events) of what happened on October 12 in Ramallah. One of the private Italian television stations which competes with us (and not the official Italian television station RAI) filmed the events; that station filmed the events. Afterwards Israeli Television broadcast the pictures, as taken from one of the Italian stations, and thus the public impression was created as if we (RAI) took these pictures.

We emphasize to all of you that the events did not happen this way, because we always respect (will continue to respect) the journalistic procedures with the Palestinian Authority for (journalistic) work in Palestine and we are credible in our precise work.

We thank you for your trust, and you can be sure that this is not our way of acting. We do not (will not) do such a thing.

Please accept our dear blessings.

Signed,
Ricardo Christiano
Representative of RAI in the Palestinian Authority
(the official Italian station)

[azurnoir]

23. your actually using an incident from 10/00 that has nothing to do with this?

any thing I can Google links to antiMuslim/Arab websites

[shira]

24. Repeat: Press Freedom via Freedom House = NOT FREE.

What's difficult about this? Do you really believe the PA intimidates only Palestinian journalists but not the foreign ones?

The link you're looking for came via Wikipedia and it's from here:
http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/MFAArchive/2000_2009/2000/10/Coverage%20of%20Oct%2012%20Lynch%20in%20Ramallah%20by%20Italian%20TV#letter

[azurnoir]

25. Nothing too "difficult" Israel took footage from Italians

and apparently edited it then showed it on TV but ya just wanted to work that in huh? the incident right

[shira]

27. The point is, both Palestinians & Foreign Journalists are intimidated....

...in the W.Bank as well as Gaza.

The Ramallah Lynching was used in order to show how intimidated the Foreign Press is to report such things. It's one of, if not the most egregious examples proving the point.

So let's not pretend the average consumer reading the news is getting a full picture of what's going on in I/P.

[azurnoir]

45. the pretending is your own Israel edited the footage

and aired their version on Israeli TV

[azurnoir]

26. why are you ignoring that Abbas pardoned Mamdouh Hamamreh remember him?

the person you were blubbering over until you you were shown the facts? so you revert to an incident that took place over a dozen yers ago?

[shira]

28. Because you're running cover for Abbas' press intimidation efforts....

....WRT both Palestinian and Foreign Media.

And you're still doing it.

[azurnoir]

29. No I am not you are ignoring what is happening right now

you also ignore that Israel does not allow Palestinian journalists freedom in Israel in fact the new ruling is seen as being in retaliation for that the link is down thread

[shira]

35. So Palestinian and Foreign Journalists are not intimidated by Abbas' goons....

...to report freely?

[azurnoir]

41. Abbas goons? that says so much right there n/t

[azurnoir]

18. something yourlink left out President pardons journalist jailed over insult

Published yesterday (updated) 29/03/2013 11:04

President Mahmoud Abbas has pardoned a journalist whose year-long sentence for insulting him on Facebook was upheld earlier Thursday.

Abbas' office said in a statement that the president had pardoned Mamdouh Hamamreh, a correspondent for al-Quds satellite channel, hours after a Bethlehem court rejected the reporter's appeal against the jail term.

Hamamreh was charged over a photo posted to Facebook juxtaposing Abbas beside a similar-looking man who plays the part of a collaborator with French colonial forces in an old Syrian television drama.

"They resemble each other in everything," a caption read.

http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=579952

I know you must be oh so relieved for him deep as your concern is

[shira]

36. Good - but that doesn't mean intimidation of journalists doesn't happen....

....whether they're Palestinian or Foreign reporters.

[azurnoir]

42. I'm sure it does in the West Bank Gaza and Israel

whether they are Palestinian of foreign

[shira]

43. See, you're doing it again. Begrudgingly admitting PA malfeasance....

...while at the same time accusing Israel of same.

You can't condemn the PA without also bashing Israel. You're incapable of it.

[azurnoir]

44. pot meet kettle at least according to you (EDITED)

the fact is this move is in retaliation for Israel restricting Palestinian journalists in Israel and that is the tie here, but do go on and continue to ignore that fact

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

50. The insistance to keep ignoring this fact is tantamount to malice IMHO.

[azurnoir]

10. ah here's the heart of the matter and why 'outrage' really

“The Palestinian security forces are entitled to arrest any person who enters the State of Palestine without permission,” said Jihad Qawassmeh, member of the Palestinian Journalist’s Syndicate, according to the Gatestone Institute.

Although the new ruling affects all foreign journalists who want to work in Palestinian Authority territories, it also comes in retaliation against Israel, based on Palestinian journalists’ complaints that they are not being granted press credentials by the Israeli Government Press Office to work inside Israel.

http://www.jns.org/news-briefs/2013/3/28/west-bank-reporting-by-foreign-journalists-to-need-pa-permission

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

11. It sounds like more anti-Palestinian hate has been debunked.

Nice try.

[shira]

15. LOL. See #14 but also this....

The Palestinians and the Press: Hazards for Reporters Working in the West Bank and Gaza

By Dave Gilson

Journalists in Palestinian-controlled territory face restrictions, intimidation, and even outright censorship under the Palestinian Authority. There are also serious threats from "rogue elements" in the streets.

Yasser Arafat's Palestinian Authority has a reputation for shielding itself from the glare of the media by restricting press freedom in areas under its control. Local journalists, in particular, have been targeted for official harassment, intimidation and arrest. Here, a Palestinian security officer watches as Arafat speaks to reporters. (AP/Wide World Photos)

Khalid Amayreh launched the Hebron Times, an independent newspaper based in the West Bank town of Hebron, in January 2000. The weekly tabloid quickly became known for its persistent criticism of Israel, the United States and the Palestinian Authority (PA). It published unflattering caricatures of Palestinian president Yasser Arafat as well as opinion columns by Islamic nationalists. In his own writing, Amayreh depicted Arafat as a senile autocrat and called for his resignation.

The paper, not surprisingly, did not please the authorities. "The PA didn't like what we wrote," states Amayreh. The Palestinian intelligence and security forces called him in for questioning on several occasions. Stop criticizing Arafat and the PA, he was told, or face serious consequences. "But we didn't budge, as we were convinced that the battle for press freedom was too paramount," he recalls.

Palestinian security agents raided the Hebron Times' office on January 4, 2002, and shut it down. Amayreh claims agents admitted to him that they realized the closure was unfair and illegal. "They told us they had nothing against us -- no evidence incriminating us or suggesting that we were indulging in any wrongdoing." The paper has not reopened....

...http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/stories/israel.palestine/press.html

Only fools and the willfully blind would think there's Press Freedom in the Palestinian Territories. And that's why all the major news networks are wary of reporting anything too critical of the Palestinian Leadership there. Ergo, the news you read coming from there is slanted, deliberately, out of fear of arrests or worse....

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

16. This article is ten years old, Shira. Thanks for the laugh.

I was going to reply to your other post to me, but apparently the topic was locked or something.

Perhaps next time.

[shira]

19. Look up Freedom Map, Press Freedoms & you'll find the W.Bank/Gaza....

....is NOT free, along with Iran, N.Korea, etc.

Keep defending the indefensible.

[muxin]

30. Here's what I found in press freedoms

Journalists in Israel (112th, -20) enjoy real freedom of expression despite the existence of military censorship but the country fell in the index because of the Israeli military’s targeting of journalists in the Palestinian Territories.

http://en.rsf.org/press-freedom-index-2013,1054.html

Last year, Israel was ranked 92nd and it sunk a further 20 spaces to 112th this year

Israel enjoys freedom of press in all areas, except when it comes to military and security matters.

What is absurd about censorship in Israel is the fact that it is based on the 1945 emergency statutes that were passed by the British Mandate in order to prevent the Jewish press from publishing news and articles that were disagreeable to His Majesty's censors.

http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2013/02/israeli-press-and-the-military-censorship.html#ixzz2OvtC216M

How about the centralization of control of the media in Israel in a decreasing number of corporate hands? many of which are indebted to the government for their continued existence. Further, tycoons like Sheldon Adelson, through control of Yisrael HaYom and its unlimited budget, has helped drive out of business one of Israel’s leading newspapers, Maariv.

Seeing these facts the rank should even be far lower than 112

[shira]

33. Israel is Free. The OPT are not. Let's not pretend otherwise. n/t

[muxin]

39. Did I say that the OPT is a press heaven?

No, I did not.. I just want you to be fair here

Those facts are showing that Israel is not really a place where you can experience free press and the government doesn't show any respect for journalism, I wouldn't say a government that blew up a media building has any respect for journalism

The Palestinians officials are no saints in regards of free press, but it's also a fact that one of the reasons for no press freedom there is Israeli military oppressions

Both sides are guilty in this matter

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

37. I guess that Israel can be included with the afore mentioned.

How much of the West Bank has been stolen by Israel, Shira? Yes. Stolen. How much continues to be stolen from the Palestinians under the guise of "state land" only to be used later as ground for illegal settlements?

How much of the West Bank is under Palestinian control? How much does Israel control under the guise of "security zones?"


Yeah, Shira, Keep defending the indefensible.


What an amateur.

[shira]

40. Your guess is a joke. And the OP is about....

...the lack of press freedoms in the West Bank. This is not about Israel, which has a free press.

How do you trust any western media too intimidated to report anything the Palestinian leadership wants censored?

Oh, I know. You're too afraid to answer anything that makes you uncomfortable...

Poor thing.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

49. My guess is dead on, unfortunately.

And again, is this what you are whining about?

http://www.jns.org/news-briefs/2013/3/28/west-bank-reporting-by-foreign-journalists-to-need-pa-permission

[LeftishBrit]

31. Here's some much more recent info

http://www.freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-press/2011/israeli-occupied-territories-and-palestinian-authority

Palestinian press freedom is indeed a problem - and no side of the conflict is a saint here.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

32. "no side of the conflict is a saint here"

I agree with that statement. I just find it odd that anybody would only vilify one side.

[shira]

34. I find it odd you're defending the PA for its press intimidation....

...saying that it only happened a decade ago which implies it's not happening anymore.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

38. I find it odd that you are pointing to 10 year old news, Shira.

BTW: Do you support the existence of the Israeli settlements in the West Bank?

[shira]

47. It's still applicable, that's why...

What's difficult about this for you?

I'm against the settlements but I don't see a problem w/ land swaps in a future deal. I also want the occupation to end as I was for the Gaza withdrawal and the 60% withdrawal (which doesn't mean I'm against a 100% deal).

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

48. Is this what you are complaining about?

http://www.jns.org/news-briefs/2013/3/28/west-bank-reporting-by-foreign-journalists-to-need-pa-permission

[azurnoir]

46. I find it odd you'd ignore the facts here well actually ............

“The Palestinian security forces are entitled to arrest any person who enters the State of Palestine without permission,” said Jihad Qawassmeh, member of the Palestinian Journalist’s Syndicate, according to the Gatestone Institute.

Although the new ruling affects all foreign journalists who want to work in Palestinian Authority territories, it also comes in retaliation against Israel, based on Palestinian journalists’ complaints that they are not being granted press credentials by the Israeli Government Press Office to work inside Israel.

http://www.jns.org/news-briefs/2013/3/28/west-bank-reporting-by-foreign-journalists-to-need-pa-permission

[Agnosticsherbet]

51. There is no freedom of the Press under Abbas.

who sends reproters to jail for unflattering pictures.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/113437803

http://world.time.com/2013/03/29/palestinian-journalist-jailed-for-abbas-photo/

[Jefferson23]

52. None at all, is that what you're saying? Under Abbas:

snip* PA security forces assaulted several journalists covering anti-government protests in July. In the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, assaults and threats against critical journalists continued, and self-censorship prevailed.

http://cpj.org/2013/02/attacks-on-the-press-in-2012-israel-and-the-occupied-palestinian-territory.php



They keep a close watch on the entire conflict, period.

[Agnosticsherbet]

53. Israel did not jail a journalist for putting an unflattering image on his Facebook page...

of Bibi Netanyahu.

It appears that any and all dissent is being punished with prison by the Palestinian government.

For all the problems I have with Israel, they are not forcing Abbas to be just another Middle east dictator. He is a petty tyrant, who will only get worse as he gets more power.

[Jefferson23]

54. Where did I say they did?

I posted a group who watches both sides closely and if you have better documentation than
they do, post it.

[azurnoir]

55. do you know the name of the journalist your oh so concerned about? he was released

but I'm thinking not he's just a talking point a way of scoring political points nothing more

was it right he was jailed no but that has been corrected, but he still makes a good talking point huh? oh what about his name it's Mamdouh Hamamreh