NPK INFO - 21 mei 2007

----- Original Message -----

From: "Kirsten Sutherland" <kirsten@almubadara.org>

Sent: Monday, May 21, 2007 10:50 AM

Subject: Israel Onslaught against Palestinian Freedom of Press Attempt to"Silence Palestinian Voices"

Israel Onslaught against Palestinian Freedom of Press Attempt to
"Silence Palestinian Voices"

Palestinian Ministry of Information

Ramallah, 21-05-07: The Israeli army attacked 5 TV and 2 radio
stations in Nablus, in the West Bank in the early hours of this
morning. At 2am, soldiers invaded the premises of the 7 private media
outlets and seized computers, broadcasting equipment, archives and
files. The TV stations Afaq, Nablus, Gamma, Assia and Sana, as well as
2 radio stations, are now effectively shut down.

According to Palestinian law, media outlets must be licensed by the
Ministry of Information and operate under its laws and regulations.
The Minister of Information, Dr. Mustafa Barghouthi, confirmed that
these 5 TV stations and 2 radio stations were fully licensed, and were
law-abiding. He strongly condemned these Israeli attacks aimed at
?silencing Palestinian voices on the conflict and destroying
Palestinian freedom of the press?.

Freedom of the press is a fundamental human right and an essential
component of democracy. By forcibly shutting down private media
outlets over which it has no authority, Israel has yet again shown
that it does not believe in democracy and actively opposes freedom of
the press.

This is just one more aspect of a wider and long-term strategy by the
Israeli government to impose its own narrative as the only legitimate
representation of the conflict, to cover up its violations of
international law and mislead world opinion with claims of ?security
reasons?. These direct attacks against the Palestinian media and
journalists are part of the war of information Israel is waging
against Palestinian democracy.

----------

Kirsten Sutherland
Media & Advocacy Officer
Palestinian National Initiative

----- Original Message -----

From: "Kirsten Sutherland" <kirsten@almubadara.org>

To: <undisclosed-recipients:>; <@deliver50.hccnet.nl>

Sent: Sunday, May 20, 2007 3:34 PM

Subject: Palestinian Minister of Information Beaten By Israeli Soliders

Palestinian Minister of Information Beaten By Israeli Soldiers

Ramallah, 20-05-07, 15:40: Palestinian Minister of Information, Dr.
Mustafa Barghouthi, was assaulted by Israeli soldiers today during a
peaceful protest against the confiscation Palestinian lands by the
Israeli military near the village of Artas in the Bethlehem District.

Dr. Barghouthi, a veteran leader of the non-violence movement in
Palestine, had been holding a press conference at the demonstration,
which was organised to peacefully protest the destruction of an
apricot and date orchard belonging to the Abu Swai family.

Once the conference was over and once most of the press had left,
approximately 50 Israeli soldiers arrived at the scene and began
beating protesters with batons and with their fists. Dr. Barghouthi
was beaten over the back with a baton and sustained moderate injuries.

More details, and video footage of the beating are to follow.

According to the International Solidarity Movement, approximately
4,000 dunums of land belonging to the villager of Artas is being
confiscated by the Israeli military in order to construct another
segment of the Apartheid Wall and to allow for the expansion of the
nearby Efrata settlement. Sewage pipes will be laid under the land
belonging to the Abu Swai family which will pump the Efrata settlers'
sewage onto other fields of lettuce and parsley belonging to villagers
of Artas some 150 metres away.

Kirsten Sutherland
Media & Advocacy Officer
Tel: 0546-514675