Israel Matzav

Will J Street denounce this?

I'm sure you will all be shocked - just shocked - to hear that the 'moderate,' 'westernized' 'Palestinian Authority' has been torturing reporters (Hat Tip: Instapundit).

Documenting seven instances of journalist detention and abuse, Human Rights Watch concludes that the effect has not only been active censorship but also a “chilling effect” of self-censorship by journalists in the area.

“Security forces of the Palestinian Authority have arbitrarily detained scores of West Bank journalists since 2009, and in some cases abused them during interrogation in a manner that amounted to torture,” the report reads. “Like other Palestinian victims of abuse by the Palestinian Authority’s security services, these journalists confront a virtual wall of impunity when they try to hold their abusers accountable, leaving the victims feeling vulnerable to further harassment and abuse.”

Human Rights Watch points out that donations from the United States and Europe make up a large portion of the Palestinian Authority’s budget. Last year the State Department gave the Palestinian Authority $150 million to help close their budget deficit. The New York Times reports that over the past few years the Palestinian Authority has received an estimated $400 million from America.

Human Rights Watch advises the United States and Europe make any future funding decisions contingent on the Palestinian Authority taking responsibility and correcting their actions.

So who is going to protest this? J Street? Reporters without Borders? I'm actually kind of surprised to see 'Human Rights Watch' protesting it. Hmmm.

Labels: foreign reporters, Human Rights Watch, J Street, Palestinian Authority, Reporters without Borders, torture

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 12:11 AM