HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK ---------------------------In a message dated 05/01/02 00:37:47 Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
CIA, Israel, force PA to close down independent weekly
Hebron (West Bank): 4 January
The Palestinian Authority on Thursday closed down the offices of the
"Hebron Times," an independent weekly newspaper published in the southern
West Bank town of Hebron.
The paper's editor, Walid Amayreh, said more than 30 Palestinian security
operatives arrived at the offices of the paper shortly after midnight
Thursday with an order to close his tabloid-like weekly.
"They told me that they were acting under duress and that they were
embarrassed but had no choice."
Earlier, a high-ranking PA security official intimated that CIA officials
had recommended the closure of the paper for being overly critical of
Israel and US policy toward the Palestinian people.
"It is lamentable that the United States which values press freedom at home
is bullying the Palestinian Authority to suppress press freedom in
Palestine. What happened to the American First Amendment, or maybe it
doesn't apply to non-Americans?" Amayreh asked rather bitterly.
The Hebron Times occasionally hosted Islamist columnists, such as Nayef
Rajoub, a brother of PA Security Chief Jebril Rajoub.
Last week the editors of the Hebron Times were summoned to the Hebron
Governor's office where they were told to tone down the paper's criticisms
of American policy.
Amayreh said he would sue the PA for damage.
"This is a licensed publication, we didn't violate the press law or any
other law, the PA itself didn't cite any wrongdoing on our part, so the
closure is absolutely illegal.
"The paper was the only source of income for more than ten families, the
CIA-ordered closure of the paper means that ten families are going to live
in poverty, and poverty breeds lots of nasty things."
A PA official, who asked for anonymity, said "Amayreh is absolutely right,
but we are obliged to close the paper, because the Americans and the
Israelis want it to be closed because they don't like it, and we can't say
no."
The PA recently closed more than 40 charities, offices and youth clubs the
Israeli intelligence and the CIA claimed were associated with Hamas.
However, the extremist Israeli Prime Minister has so far refused to give
the PA credit for the draconian measures, insisting that much more ought
to be done.
(end)
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--- Begin Message --------------------------- Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~--> <FONT COLOR="#000099">Tiny Wireless Camera under $80! Order Now! FREE VCR Commander! Click Here - Only 1 Day Left! </FONT><A HREF="http://us.click.yahoo.com/WoOlbB/7.PDAA/ySSFAA/wYOolB/TM";><B>Click Here!</B></A> ---------------------------------------------------------------------~->To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/--- Begin Message ------ End Message ---Shame... Hanna ----- Original Message ----- From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Cc: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Thursday, January 03, 2002 4:57 PM Subject: [Al-Awda-media] CIA, Israel force PA to close independent newspaper CIA, Israel, force PA to close down independent weekly Hebron (West Bank): 4 January The Palestinian Authority on Thursday closed down the offices of the "Hebron Times," an independent weekly newspaper published in the southern West Bank town of Hebron. The paper's editor, Walid Amayreh, said more than 30 Palestinian security operatives arrived at the offices of the paper shortly after midnight Thursday with an order to close his tabloid-like weekly. "They told me that they were acting under duress and that they were embarrassed but had no choice." Earlier, a high-ranking PA security official intimated that CIA officials had recommended the closure of the paper for being overly critical of Israel and US policy toward the Palestinian people. "It is lamentable that the United States which values press freedom at home is bullying the Palestinian Authority to suppress press freedom in Palestine. What happened to the American First Amendment, or maybe it doesn't apply to non-Americans?" Amayreh asked rather bitterly. The Hebron Times occasionally hosted Islamist columnists, such as Nayef Rajoub, a brother of PA Security Chief Jebril Rajoub. Last week the editors of the Hebron Times were summoned to the Hebron Governor's office where they were told to tone down the paper's criticisms of American policy. Amayreh said he would sue the PA for damage. "This is a licensed publication, we didn't violate the press law or any other law, the PA itself didn't cite any wrongdoing on our part, so the closure is absolutely illegal. "The paper was the only source of income for more than ten families, the CIA-ordered closure of the paper means that ten families are going to live in poverty, and poverty breeds lots of nasty things." A PA official, who asked for anonymity, said "Amayreh is absolutely right, but we are obliged to close the paper, because the Americans and the Israelis want it to be closed because they don't like it, and we can't say no." The PA recently closed more than 40 charities, offices and youth clubs the Israeli intelligence and the CIA claimed were associated with Hamas. However, the extremist Israeli Prime Minister has so far refused to give the PA credit for the draconian measures, insisting that much more ought to be done. (end) To subscribe to Al-Awda-Canada, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/--- End Message ---
