Predators of Press Freedom: Palestinian territories - The Palestinian Authority's security forces
- Document source:
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Date:
3 May 2011
The Palestinian Authority's security forces, Palestinian territories
Journalists have been paying dearly in the power struggle between Fatah and Hamas in the Palestinian Territories since Hamas seized power in the Gaza Strip in June 2007. The media is sharply divided between those linked to the Palestinian Authority and those in Hamas-ruled Gaza. Arresting journalists has become a way to settle scores. Nobody is spared and the lack of agreement between the two movements on holding parliamentary and presidential elections in 2010 has aggravated the situation. In the West Bank, the Palestinian Authority's security forces and intelligence service controlled by President Mahmoud Abbas made many arbitrary arrests of pro-Hamas journalists in 2010, including about 40 journalists working mainly for the Hamas-funded Al-Aqsa TV who were questioned about their work, source of funding and links with Hamas government officials.
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