Press Release March 7 2012

Scottish Friends of Palestine condemns the recent action of the Israeli government in authorising the raid on  Al-Quds Educational TV in al-Bireh and the theft of their transmitter. This facility is part of the Institute of Modern Media of Al Quds University. Many of its programmes, such as Sesame Street, are directed at children, it broadcasts lectures and produces public awareness films. Now in its 15th year, it receives funding from a variety of sources including US Government funding.
Scottish Friends of Palestine also expresses grave concern at the inaction and totally mute response from Israeli academic institutions to this attack on Palestinian academic freedom,  frreedom of expression, freedom to the right of education. This is happening on their doorstep yet the same institutions and academics who proclaim the greatness of the state, the wisdom of its institutions all remain silent. And this silence speaks volumes with regard to the hypocrisy of the same individuals and institutions who cry foul when the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Campaign dare suggest that Israeli academia is a legitimate target.
Or could it be that Sesame Street, its wider agenda of educating Palestinian children, is now regarded as a threat to the security of the state of Israel?
Hugh Humphries
Sec
Scottish Friends of Palestine was formed in 1982 in response to the Israeli invasion of Lebanon and the subsequent attacks on the Palestinian refugee communities. SFoP campaigns for immediate and unconditional Israeli withdrawal from all territories illegally occupied, including East Jerusalem. We work for educational, social and cultural links between the Scottish and Palestinian peoples. We argue for the right of the return, the right to restitution and compensation for the Palestinian people.
Scottish Friends of Palestine is a firm advocate of the total boycott of all Israeli institutions, academic and cultural bodies and Israeli products – until as such times that the Israeli state ceases to boycott the rights of the Palestinian people, and international law as it applies to the Palestinian people. Visit www.easi–piesi.org to find out what you can do.

PCHR Condemns IOF’s Raids on Watan TV and Al-Quds TV and Confiscation of Their Equipment

The Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) strongly condemns storming Watan TV and Al-Quds Educational TV in Ramallah and al-Bireh by Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) and the confiscation of their transmitters, computers, filed and recording taps. The two television stations have stopped broadcasting. PCHR expresses utmost concern over this attack which aims at silencing the press that reports on Israeli crimes and grave breaches of international law.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 02:00 on Wednesday, 29 February 2012, IOF stormed the fourth and fifth floors of the building of the Palestinian Agricultural Relief Committees in Qaddoura refugee camp in the central of Ramallah, where officers of Watan TV are located. At the time of this raid, 4 staff members were in their office: Abdul Rahman As’ad Dhaher, Production Manager; Ahmed Zaki, Transmission Supervisor; Hamza Salaima, Reporte; and Ibrahim Melhem. Dhaher and Melhem were on the fourth floor of the building about to leave it, when they were surprised by the presence of 7 Israeli soldiers at the entrance of the floor. The Israeli soldiers stopped them and ordered them to sit down and not move. The soldiers, lead by a fluently-Arabic-speaking officer, broke into the place without presenting any search warrant or giving any explanation. On the fifth floor, Zaki and Salaima heard sounds of shooting in the area, and they thought that IOF had moved into the refugee camp so decided to get out of the building to report on such incursion. As soon as they arrived at the entrance of the floor, they found a number of Israeli soldiers. Salaima filmed the soldiers, but the Israeli officer ordered him to turn off the camera and give him the video tape. During this raid, Israeli soldiers searched each office and confiscated the major transmitter of the station, computers, filed and recording tapes.

At approximately 03:30 on the same day, Israeli soldiers stormed offices of Al-Quds Educational TV in al-Quds Streets in al-Bireh. A number of soldiers climbed the fence surrounding the building and jumped into the yard. They used some tools in an attempt to break the lock of the main entrance of the building. When the guard heard violent knocking on the door, he showed up to ensure that the soldiers would not break the door. Nevertheless, he was surprised to find that Israeli soldiers had broken the door of the internet room. They confiscated the major transmitter and left the building. It should be noted that the building of Al-Quds Educational TV is comprised of 3 floors, and belongs to al-Quds University.

PCHR reiterates condemnation of the raids on Watan TV and Al-Quds TV, and:

1. Emphasizes that these systematic attacks are aimed to prevent the mass media from reporting on crimes committed by IOF against Palestinian civilians in the occupied Palestinian territory;

2. Calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to immediately intervene and provide protection to the Palestinian people and their property; and

3. Calls upon all international press associations and bodies to continue to follow up attacks against journalists in the occupied Palestinian Territory, and make all possible efforts to ensure pressuring the Israeli government to stop crimes against Palestinian civilians and their property, especially those committed against journalists.

Public Document

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For more information please call PCHR office in Gaza, Gaza Strip, on +972 8 2824776 – 2825893

PCHR, 29 Omer El Mukhtar St., El Remal, PO Box 1328 Gaza, Gaza Strip. E-mail: pchr@pchrgaza.org, Webpage http://www.pchrgaza.org

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