Hamas - Fatah reconciliation brings hopes for improved freedom of expression in the Palestine territories
Ramallah, 1 May 2011: The Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA) welcomes the Palestinian reconciliation between Fatah and Hamas, with the agreement due to be signed in Cairo on Wednesday 4 May 2011.
MADA Center Director Mousa Rimawi expressed hopes that the reconciliation will contribute to enhancing freedom of expression in the occupied Palestinian territories, which has significantly deteriorated since the beginning of the division in June 2007.
Rimawi added that the division has led to numerous incidences of persecution of journalists and media outlets, including the prevention of distribution of various daily newspapers in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
Last year MADA monitored 79 violations of media freedoms by Palestinian security services in West Bank and Gaza. Over the last 4 months of monitoring and for the first time, numbers of Palestinian security services violations have surpassed those of the Israeli Occupation Forces who was the main aggressor on media freedoms in oPt.
Rimawi noted that the division increased attacks on journalists and the media outlets which led to journalists practicing self-censorship to protect themselves thereby leading to a decline in quality media output in the Palestinian territories.
MADA emphasizes that signing of the reconciliation agreement between the parties must be accompanied with an immediate end to the harassment and abuse of journalists. MADA demands respect of article 19 of Palestinian Basic Law regarding the right to freedom of expression and allows all media personnel and outlets to operate freely and safely within the Palestinian territories.
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Contact:
Riham Abu Aita
Public Relation Officer
www.madacenter.org
00970 2 2976519
