Media freedom violations in the Palestinian territories during October 2007
Last October witnessed new violations of media freedoms, in the Palestinian territories, by Israeli occupation forces, Palestinian security services and Internet pirates, as well as ordinary thieves, despite the violations decline compared the precedent month, but it’s continuation is an additional indicator of the bad situation of media freedoms , so it is not strange Palestinian territories to occupy the 158 rank in 2007index for measuring the degree of press freedom in 169 States, issued by Reporters Without Borders last month which covers the period between first of September 2006 and end of August 2007, while it occupied the 134 rank in last year, that shows the extent of deterioration in this field, as a result of conflict intensification between Fatah and Hamas movements, and the continued Israeli attacks.
Although this retreat is not a surprise to us, which was reflected in Mada monthly reports, but it underlines the urgent need to make further efforts to defend media freedoms in the Palestinian territories.
Mada condemns all attacks on journalists and media outlets, whether committed by Israeli occupation forces, or Palestinian sides, it demands that all parties to desist from violations of media freedoms, and allow journalists to work freely.
Mada renews call to the Governments of Salam Fayyad, and Ismail Haniya, to enable the media outlets, which headquarters have been closed or seized, during last June, to return to work, and to allow the distribution of newspapers, which were prevented from distribution in the Palestinian territories, Mada also call on international society to pressure Israeli government, to stop media freedom violations in Palestinian territories.
Summary monthly report
(1/10) - Felesteen newspaper office director in West Bank Walid Khalid, continued solitary confinement in Al-Ramlah prison since 30th of last August, Khalid was arrested by Israeli occupation forces in 18/5/2007, was transferred to administrative detention in 7/6/2007, Khalid is the most Palestinian prisoner, who served administrative detention which reached 66 month in deferent periods of time.
(Hundreds of Palestinians are under administrative detention in Israeli jails, this policy had been practiced by the occupation authorities since 1967).
(2/10) - Reuters cameraman Mohammed Jadallah wounded in the leg, by Israeli occupation forces fire, during his coverage of the families receiving their son prisoners, who were released from Israeli jails at the Beit Hanoun crossing, north of Gaza Strip.
(7/10) - Channel Eqrae Director Office in Palestine Younis Al_husasneh, cameraman Haneen Rishmawi, journalist’s trainees Samer Khuerah and Hamad Alqeeq, were arrested by Palestinian Preventive Security Service, while training on the preparation of a press report in Ramallah city center. (Eqrae (Read) is a religious Arabic satellite Channel).
(9/10) - Al-Quds newspaper correspondent Muna Al-Qawasmi, and MBC Channel crew (Qasim Al-Khatib, Rajaei Al-Khatib) were prevented of covering excavations, carried out by settlers in the old city of Jerusalem, by the Israeli security forces, which tried also to arrest them.
(16/10) - WAFA Agency photographer Rami Almelh was attacked by the executive force, while trying to cover the damage caused by unknown to the courts compound in Gaza city, who raided it during Eid holidays.
(16/10) – Southern Forum of Women Media Workers headquarters in Rafah city (Gaza Strip) was raided by unknown persons, they stole digital camera, keyboard and mouse of a computer (the rest of the computer was in the repair), they submitted a request to the Ministry of Interior for linces before five months, but didn’t receive any response.
(16/10) -European Press Agency(EPA) photographer A’laa Bdarneh was injured by four rubber bullets in the back ,fired deliberately at short distance by an Israeli soldier, while trying to exit from the neighborhood of Ras al-Ayn neighborhood in Nablus city, after coverage of Israeli occupation forces incursion, where soldiers prevented him, Reuters photographer Abdel Rahim Qusini, France Press Agency photographer Jaa’far Eshtiyeh, Ma’an Agency photographer Rami Suweidan, from leaving the place, he has been transferred to Nablus specialized Hospital for treatment, Bdarneh participated in the, the Arab Union of photographs festival competition that took place in Berlin earlier this month, won the bronze prize, he had also won other prizes during past years.
(17/10) -Pal. today news net, which belongs to the Islamic Jihad Movement, was vandalized by Israelis Internet pirates.
(24/10) - Pal. today news net was closed, as well as Sarraya Al-Quds the military wing of Jihad site, by the hosting Canadian ground site company.
(27/10) - Sawt Al-Aqsa Radio website was vandalized by Palestinians Internet pirates, called themselves Samih Al -Madhoun group; they had manipulated the site and published news on it.
(Samih Al –Madhoun was officer in Palestinian security service, he was killed by executive force in Gaza city in 14 of last July)
Media freedom violations in the Palestinian territories during October 2007
Last October witnessed new violations of media freedoms, in the Palestinian territories, by Israeli occupation forces, Palestinian security services and Internet pirates, as well as ordinary thieves, despite the violations decline compared the precedent month, but it’s continuation is an additional indicator of the bad situation of media freedoms , so it is not strange Palestinian territories to occupy the 158 rank in 2007index for measuring the degree of press freedom in 169 States, issued by Reporters Without Borders last month which covers the period between first of September 2006 and end of August 2007, while it occupied the 134 rank in last year, that shows the extent of deterioration in this field, as a result of conflict intensification between Fatah and Hamas movements, and the continued Israeli attacks.
Although this retreat is not a surprise to us, which was reflected in Mada monthly reports, but it underlines the urgent need to make further efforts to defend media freedoms in the Palestinian territories.
Mada condemns all attacks on journalists and media outlets, whether committed by Israeli occupation forces, or Palestinian sides, it demands that all parties to desist from violations of media freedoms, and allow journalists to work freely.
Mada renews call to the Governments of Salam Fayyad, and Ismail Haniya, to enable the media outlets, which headquarters have been closed or seized, during last June, to return to work, and to allow the distribution of newspapers, which were prevented from distribution in the Palestinian territories, Mada also call on international society to pressure Israeli government, to stop media freedom violations in Palestinian territories.
Summary monthly report
(1/10) - Felesteen newspaper office director in West Bank Walid Khalid, continued solitary confinement in Al-Ramlah prison since 30th of last August, Khalid was arrested by Israeli occupation forces in 18/5/2007, was transferred to administrative detention in 7/6/2007, Khalid is the most Palestinian prisoner, who served administrative detention which reached 66 month in deferent periods of time.
(Hundreds of Palestinians are under administrative detention in Israeli jails, this policy had been practiced by the occupation authorities since 1967).
(2/10) - Reuters cameraman Mohammed Jadallah wounded in the leg, by Israeli occupation forces fire, during his coverage of the families receiving their son prisoners, who were released from Israeli jails at the Beit Hanoun crossing, north of Gaza Strip.
(7/10) - Channel Eqrae Director Office in Palestine Younis Al_husasneh, cameraman Haneen Rishmawi, journalist’s trainees Samer Khuerah and Hamad Alqeeq, were arrested by Palestinian Preventive Security Service, while training on the preparation of a press report in Ramallah city center. (Eqrae (Read) is a religious Arabic satellite Channel).
(9/10) - Al-Quds newspaper correspondent Muna Al-Qawasmi, and MBC Channel crew (Qasim Al-Khatib, Rajaei Al-Khatib) were prevented of covering excavations, carried out by settlers in the old city of Jerusalem, by the Israeli security forces, which tried also to arrest them.
(16/10) - WAFA Agency photographer Rami Almelh was attacked by the executive force, while trying to cover the damage caused by unknown to the courts compound in Gaza city, who raided it during Eid holidays.
(16/10) – Southern Forum of Women Media Workers headquarters in Rafah city (Gaza Strip) was raided by unknown persons, they stole digital camera, keyboard and mouse of a computer (the rest of the computer was in the repair), they submitted a request to the Ministry of Interior for linces before five months, but didn’t receive any response.
(16/10) -European Press Agency(EPA) photographer A’laa Bdarneh was injured by four rubber bullets in the back ,fired deliberately at short distance by an Israeli soldier, while trying to exit from the neighborhood of Ras al-Ayn neighborhood in Nablus city, after coverage of Israeli occupation forces incursion, where soldiers prevented him, Reuters photographer Abdel Rahim Qusini, France Press Agency photographer Jaa’far Eshtiyeh, Ma’an Agency photographer Rami Suweidan, from leaving the place, he has been transferred to Nablus specialized Hospital for treatment, Bdarneh participated in the, the Arab Union of photographs festival competition that took place in Berlin earlier this month, won the bronze prize, he had also won other prizes during past years.
(17/10) -Pal. today news net, which belongs to the Islamic Jihad Movement, was vandalized by Israelis Internet pirates.
(24/10) - Pal. today news net was closed, as well as Sarraya Al-Quds the military wing of Jihad site, by the hosting Canadian ground site company.
(27/10) - Sawt Al-Aqsa Radio website was vandalized by Palestinians Internet pirates, called themselves Samih Al -Madhoun group; they had manipulated the site and published news on it.
(Samih Al –Madhoun was officer in Palestinian security service, he was killed by executive force in Gaza city in 14 of last July)
