How come you don't want to talk about Palestinian intimidation of journalists which I described in my post #27? How about their attempt to confiscate the film of the 9/11 parties and arrest of journalists who might portray them in a bad way.
From Reporters Without Borders
October 15 2001
Repression against journalists intensifies
In a letter to deputy Minister of Interior, Ahmed Saïd Tamimi, Reporters without borders, (Reporters sans frontières - RSF) protested against the arrest of Alaa Saftaoui. "The Palestinian authority is going further and further: no longer content to intimidate journalists, it now arrests them. We ask for explanations on this arrest", said Robert Ménard, general secretary of the organisation. "We are also worried about the fact that now decrees ban journalists from covering demonstrations", he added.
According to information collected by RSF, on 11 October the Palestinian police arrested Alaa Saftaoui, editor-in-chief of the weekly Al Istiqlal, a mouthpiece for the Islamic Jihad, the Islamic radical movement. That same day, in an article, the journalist had written that he found the Palestinian Authority "very weak" and demanded "the removal of all heads of the security services". Moreover, on 12 October, the Palestinian Authority issued a decree banning journalists from covering a demonstration of the Islamic Djihad in the centre of the West Bank, in the Al Maghazi refugee camp. The AFP journalist was escorted by the police out of the camp while other journalists could not enter the camp.
Following the attacks in the U.S.A., some Palestinians expressed their joy, in front of cameras. Since then, the Palestinian Authorities has tried to preserve its image on the international scene by stopping these demonstrations. On 8 October 2001, in Gaza, police prevented journalists from covering an anti-American demonstration through to the end. A cameraman with the French TV TF1 was arrested for three hours and at least four journalists were assaulted. During this demonstration, said by the police to be illegal, two Palestinians were killed [We didn't hear about it because it couldn't be blamed on the Israelis--Alouette]. Journalists were also banned from covering incidents which occurred after the funeral of one of the two victims. On the same day, in the territories under its authority, the Palestinian Authority decided to ban interviews with Palestinians on the attack launched by the United States in Afghanistan. "We don't want anything which could undermine our image", explained a senior official who required anonymity. Since 9 October, access to Gaza is forbidden to foreigners, including journalists. The Palestinian Authority justified this measure, explaining that it was not able to secure the safety of foreigners against possible attacks. Moreover, on 18 September the Palestinian police at Bethlehem announced the implementation of a new regulation concerning Palestinian television and radio stations. These should not broadcast any news concerning calls for general strikes, nationalistic activities or demonstrations, or concerning security matters, without permission from the police or National Security Services. On 11 September 2001, police forces and armed gunmen prevented journalists in Nablus from covering celebrations following the New-York and Washington attacks. Moreover, on 14 September 2001, five journalists were detained by the Palestinian police. They were covering demonstrations in the Nusseirat refugee camp in memory of the perpetrator of the suicide-attack on 9 September, at Nahariya, in Israel. During this commemoration, a portrait of Osama bin Laden was held up by young people.
Why do the Palestinians always get a free ride with you?