Ramallah – 12th August 2013: The Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA) condemns the verbal assault on Radio Bethlehem 2000 Manager George Canawati by the governor of Bethlehem district Abed Alfatah Hamayel, and Hamayel’s attempt to prevent Canawati from attending and covering the Syrian singer “Asala Nasri” concert during the “Solomon's Pools nights festival” in Bethlehem on Saturday 10th August 2013.  

Canawati reported to MADA that as he entered the gates of the festival, the governor Hamayel instructed his guards to force Canawati out, and that Hamayla said: "What is this rubbish doing here?" and then called Canawati “a dog." Canawati added that he showed his press card to the guards and they let him enter the festival concert, “I did not respond to the governor assault and did not talk to him before or after the incident, but apparently it's regarding my previous criticism of Hamayel, but I am planning to demand my rights through the court”.  

On 8th September 2011 governor Hamayel filed a complaint against Canawati for publishing a criticism on the social networking site "Facebook", regarding the work of the department of Health in Bethlehem, in addition to criticizing the presence of an Israeli product on the tables of the department’s managers meeting, where the court is still considering the complaint.

MADA stresses again the need to respect freedom of opinion and expression, and not to personalize things with regards to criticism of public figures and institutions, and that the Journalists Canwati status must be redeemed.