Press statement
Decrease in media freedoms violations in the Palestinian territories during last month
Mada renew its demand for the release of journalist Johnson
Last month (March 2007) witnessed a significant decline, of media freedoms violations in Palestinian territories, compared to January and February of this year. especially by armed Palestinian groups, as there was no violation, except for the kidnapping of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) correspondent Alan Johnson, on 12th of last March, which confirmed the continuation of this strange phenomenon on the values and traditions of Palestinian people, and contrary to all international and local laws and covenants. This phenomenon has led to the departure of most foreign journalists from Gaza Strip, and even those who come for urgent press tasks, prefer to return the same day, which negatively impacted on events coverage in Gaza Strip, and media freedoms.
What’s increase concern for Johnson fate, is the continuation of his abduction, which is the longest, since the beginning of this phenomenon, where the abduction of journalists continue for one day or several days, in most cases, with the exception of journalists Steve Sentanni and Olaf Wiige from the American Fox News channel, where they were kidnapped for two weeks, during last August.
Mada Center is welcoming the significant decline in of media freedom violations by Palestinian groups, in the same time condemns the kidnapping of journalist Johnson, and discommend the continuation of his abduction until now, Mada salutes all moves made by journalists and local, Arab and international media organizations, civil society, political parties , in solidarity with Johnson, and to pressure for his release, also renews its call on concerned Palestinian official bodies, to work all that is possible for his release, and to put an end to this shameful phenomenon and the security chaos prevailing in the Palestinian territories, and to prosecute those responsible for the abduction of journalists and bring them to justice.
Last month also witnessed a decrease in violations committed by Israeli occupation forces and the Internet hackers, which included : attacking to the Palestinian News Agency (WAFA) website (March 1), wounding Ramatan Agency correspondent Fadi Hamad in Blain village (March 16), Prevention Al-Ayyam correspondent in Gaza city Hasan Jaber, editor in (Wafa) Agency Sami Abu Salem, from leaving Gaza Strip(March 16),wounding freelance photographer Rebhi al-Kobari, and (WAFA) Agency photographer Mufeed Abu Hasnah, in Blain village (March 30).
Mada Center condemns all violations, committed by Israeli occupation forces, especially preventing Palestinian journalists from moving freely or to travel outside the country, in flagrant violation of article 13 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which stipulates that “everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of the state".
Mada Center welcomes the significant decline in the volume of violations, and welcomed the release of of local Sanabel TV Director Nabeg Breack, on the 13th of last March, who was arrested by Israeli occupation forces, in February 26, after a raid on TV headquarters in the old town of Nablus city, during its military campaign against the city. And hopes that media freedoms violation decline mode will continue, and renews its call on the international institutions working in the defense of freedom of opinion and expression, to bring more pressure on government of Israel, to stop media freedoms violations, in the occupied Palestinian territories.
Mada Center welcomes Minister of Education Dr. Nasser Eddin Sha’er decision(march 10),which canceled the Ministry’s decision of withdrawal and destruction of Qool ya Tir (you say bird) book, ‘it contains 45 Palestinian popular stories’, from public school libraries, which form a serious violation to the freedom of opinion and expression, and an attack on Palestinian folklore. the abolition of the mentioned decision, was a result of a big fuss, raised in the decision on the Palestinian street, which confirms the important role, that could be played by civil society institutions and intellectuals, in the defense of freedom of opinion and expression, and is a lesson to all those trying to violate this right, which is guaranteed by Palestinian basic law and international covenants.
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Monthly summary report

1. (March 1) – Palestinian News Agency (WAFA) website was attacked by Israeli hackers, where they wrote on the site " Israelis hackers," They had deleted the files of the site in Arabic, English and French, The Agency said in a statement (this is not the first time that the Israeli attack “WAFA" as the official Palestinian agency), It is noteworthy that “Wafa" subjected to attack from Palestinians, whom claimed they are from Hamas, on 5th of February.
2.(March 12)- BBC correspondent Alan Johnson was abducted, by armed Palestinians group in Gaza City, and were taken to unknown location, it should be noted, that Johnson worked in the Gaza Strip since 2004, he is one of the few foreign journalists, who have decided to stay in the Strip , despite the kidnappings, he is the second foreign journalist, who was abducted since the beginning of this year, the Peruvian Jamie Razori France press agency photographer, was abducted in the first of January , while six foreigner journalists were abducted in the past year.
3. (March 16)- Ramatan news Agency correspondent Fadi Hamad was slightly injured, by a gas bomb in the head , during Israeli occupation forces dispersal of anti-Apartheid Wall weekly demonstration, in Blain village, the participants in the demonstration marked the four year anniversary of American peace activist Rachel Curie killing , by Israeli military bulldozer, during her attempt to protect Palestinians homes from demolition in Rafah city.
4. (March 16)- Al-Ayyam correspondent in Gaza city Hasan Jaber, editor in Palestinian News Agency (Wafa) Sami Abu Salem, were prevented from leaving Gaza Strip, by Israeli authorities, to participate in several events in Belgian capital, Brussels, at the invitation of the European Commission, it is worth to mention, that the Israeli authorities have used to prevent Palestinian journalists, from leaving Palestinian territories repeatedly, under security pretexts.
5. (March 30) – Freelance photographer Rebhi al-Kobari, and (WAFA) Agency photographer Mufid Abu Hasnah, were wounded during Israeli occupation forces dispersal of the weekly demonstration in Blain village.