Syrian TV crew kidnapped by rebels

A Syrian TV news crew has been kidnapped while covering clashes between the Syrian army and rebel forces in the suburbs of Damascus.
Reporter Yarah Saleh, cameraman Abboud Tabarah, his assistant Hatem Abu Yehiah and driver Housam Imad were accompanying an army unit. They work for the pro-government television station al-Ikhbariya.   This report is the latest in our series on Syria:
Attacks on Journalists

The murder of journalists in Syria is becoming increasingly worrying. Since the beginning of this year, 32 journalists have lost their lives in Syria according to the International Press Institute’s Death Watch. The latest incidents were the murders of two Syrian journalists in Damascus, Ali Abbas and Bara’a Yusuf al-Bushi, which occurred on Saturday the 11th of August. Ali Abbas was killed at his home, with a SANA report blaming an “armed terrorist group” for killing their reporter, in reality meaning opposition members did it.
Indeed, there have been a number of attacks on pro-government media by Syrian opposition groups. Reporters Without Borders recently expressed grave concern at the disappearance of a pro-government TV crew working for Al-Ikhbariya. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported that the journalists had been kidnapped by a rebel faction.
Attacks on any non-combatant are disgraceful and should always be condemned, and journalists and their support teams are rightly protected by the international community under Resolution 1738 of the UN Security Council. However, what is worrying is the extent to which attacks on pro-government journalists are underplayed in Western discussions of the opposition. The problem is that in the West, we are often slow to criticise countries or groups that we support if they are fighting a country or group that we do not.
Fortunately, there are organisations that aim to be objective and protect journalists, whomever they might be reporting for. Reporters Without Borders has recently sent an open letter Free Syrian Army commander Riyad Al Asaad and Syrian National Council president Abdel Basset Sayda asking that they try and stop the attacks on journalists and on the ground news crews:
“Reporters Without Borders, an international organization that defends freedom of information, would like to share with you its deep concern about the growing number of acts of violence against Syrian journalists, including government and pro-government journalists.”
“The employees of Syria’s pro-government media are becoming the targets of abduction and murder with increasing frequency.”
“The Islamist group Al-Nosra announced on 3 August that it had executed Mohammad Al Saeed, a TV presenter who was kidnapped from his home in mid-July. Syrian government TV cameraman Talal Janbakeli was kidnapped in Damascus on 5 August by the Free Syrian Army’s Haroun Al-Rasheed militia. A crew working for Al-Ikhbariya, a privately-owned pro-government TV station, was captured by another FSA unit on 10 August.”
“The FSA and other components of the opposition must immediately and unconditionally release the journalists and media workers they are holding, including the Al-Ikhbariya crew members captured on 10 August.”
“...such behaviour is not only a violation of human rights and your international responsibilities but is also counter-productive, as it can only damage the Syrian opposition’s image in the eyes of the public and its international supporters.”
If the rebels inside Syria are to be seen as valid candidates to rule the country they must make clear that they do not tolerate the violation of human rights and support freedom of speech. No matter how much one disagrees with an opinion, everyone has the right to express what they believe. Attacks on journalists should stop immediately, and fundamentalist Islamic groups who have a history of abuses should be disowned by the mainstream internal opposition.

Razan Ghazzawi Released from Detention in Syria

Syrian Blogger Razan Ghazzawi has been released from a Syrian detention where she, along with thirteen others had been held since 16th February 2012. After three nights there, Ghazzawi and five other female colleagues were released and in her official statement from the 'Center for Media and Freedom of Expression' on 22nd February 2012,  she states that "those 3 nights at air security branch were the worst in comparison to my previous detention".
Ghazzawi was arrested along with others during a raid of the Syrian Centre for Media and Freedom of Expression office in damascus. This raid was carried out by members of the security apparatus, supported by several armed men which Ghazzawi describes to have "caused panic and fear among employees and visitors". The female employees who work at the centre, along with a visitor who was also arrested,  were released on saturday 18th February 2012. However, they are expected to show up at Air force Security everyday from 9AM untill 2PM for further investigation.
The Syrian Centre for Media and Freedom of Expression hold the Syrian authorities fully responsible for these events and are highly concerned about the employees who are still being detained.
The continuous arrests like that of Razan Ghazzawi, act as worrying reminders that even those who are trying to inform the public face great risks everyday. The lock down of journalist freedom in Syria has resulted in many arrests and a number of tragic deaths, showing the high levels of corruption and disorder in Syria that evidently need to be resolved as soon as possible.

Journalists Marie Colvin and Remi Ochlik killed in Homs

The latest string of violent attacks in the city of Homs has left around twenty people dead, including journalists Marie Colvin and Remi Ochlik. Ms Colvin and Mr Ochlik were reported to be staying in a house in the Baba Amr area which was being used by activists as a media centre in order to inform the world on the events which are occurring. Colvin was a well known foreign correspondent for the Sunday Times for two decades and was respected for her brave reporting in various war zones. Even after events in 2001, where shrapnel left Colvin with one eye, she carried on risking her life in order to report the most accurate and up to date events.
Twenty-eight year old Remi Ochlik was also deemed as a rising star within French photojournalism- winning first prize in the general news category of the prestigious 2012 World Press Photo contest less than two weeks ago. In a ceremony which honoured fallen journalists, Marie Colvin said that "our mission is to report these horrors of war with accuracy and without prejudice... Journalists covering combat shoulder great responsibilities and face difficult choices. Sometimes they pay the ultimate price."
The movements of the journalists which have actually been allowed into Syria are tightly controlled  by Information Ministry minders and many report that journalists are being unwelcomely treating by parties in Syria. Gordon Rayner, in his article for 'The Telegraph' relating to the deaths of the journalists today, wrote that:  'Reporters working in Homs, which has been under siege since Feb 4, have become increasingly concerned in recent days that President Bashar al-Assad's forces have locked on to their satellite phone signals and targeted the buildings they are coming from'.
UK Prime Minister, David Cameron has explained that "this is a desperately sad reminder of the risks that journalists take to inform the world of what is happening".
Thousands have died over the months during the violence against the rule of President Bashat al-Assad, and it is evident that no one in Syria is safe, including those who are bravely risking their lives in order to report these horrors. The tragic deaths of Marie Colvin and Remi Ochlik are sad reminders that Syria is in desperate need of a solution where this violence can be put to an end.

Iran is Jamming

The Iranians are actually boasting about jamming satellite broadcasting. Really pathetic

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Openness first Normalization last

Linda Menhuin sent us this. The title is her own: Openness first Normalization last

Two months ago I and my sister were delighted to receive a wedding invitation from an Iraqi family living in Amman, Jordan. We were privileged to have known the groom’s grandfather, who spent his law internship with my father, back in the Forties in Baghdad. Eventually he earned fame as an audacious lawyer in Iraq and abroad. Once, bumping into him in London a couple of years ago, I had approached him to seek help unearthing any clues about my missing father - kidnapped during Ahmed Hassan Al Baker’s time, and of whom we have heard nothing since.
Both of us have now become refugees, dispossessed from the country we once called home…but like the Arab poet Imru’e Alqais said, “Alas neighbor, we are both strangers here yet we are as kith and kin."
My younger sister and I embraced the invitation wholeheartedly. The visit to Amman lasted for two days only, yet for me it was the journey of my life. This rare opportunity enabled us to re- connect with our fellow countrymen, something which had proved to be out-of-bounds for almost forty years. They too have had to flee from the persecutions, the wars and the troubled situation in Iraq to embark on a better future. The openness with which they treated us looked so natural. We understood each other as only refugees can, and the frank discussions and the wide-ranging debate even reached out to include the Iraqi Jewish community’s numerous contributions to modern Iraq. In no time we joined the joyful crowd in Arabic popular dance. We could not take our eyes off the columns of men dancing to the Kurdish tunes of the Choppi, the national Kurdish dance. We could not help but let out intermittent sighs for what used to be part of our heritage.

The next day we were taken to Amman’s modern shopping centre. We stood mesmerized in front of the Iraqi goldsmith’s window, admiring the far-fetched enamel designs. We immediately engaged in a lively conversation, sharing with him happy memories of the country, while contrasting it with the present situation; we found ourselves shedding tears over the tragedy of it all. Then we discussed together some of the opportunities for economic cooperation that could be developed between the countries of the region; a better income, long-term prosperity, both so very vital to the livelihoods of our friends and relatives from both camps. How can this encounter be framed? In terms of normalization, openness or re-connecting, while bearing in mind that our interlocutors were well aware of our Iraqi origin and Israeli nationality.

Normalization, according to strong voices in the Arab world, is a prize that Israel is not entitled to: its “bad behavior” towards the Palestinians requires boycotting. Yet this approach has not yielded any positive outcome for Arab interests.

Israel has forged ahead in all directions to establish its presence as a leader in technology internationally, in spite of the Arab boycott. In the eyes of the majority in Israel, normalization with the Arab world is worthy compensation for the suffering from enmity we endured in the last 50 years. Most notably we, Jews from Arab countries, have paid a high price not many are aware of, because of the social and cultural deprivations we have had to endure. Indeed even now there are communities of Jewish refugees who fled in the late Forties and early Fifties from Arab countries, still living in the far-flung development towns, suffering from lack of access to Israel’s economical, cultural and political hub.
The real meaning of normalization: the abundant published material in Hebrew and Arabic reveals an enormous gap between how each party conceives normalization. From the Arab point of view, normalization will engender Israeli total dominance over the region’s culture and economy, thus threatening Arabic stability and continuity. In addition, the concept of normalization as a whole arouses concern and fear, partly from the loss of the common enemy, Israel - substantial glue behind Arab solidarity. Normalization was always conditional on time and circumstances. At one time Israel is required first to withdraw from Lebanon ….at others, it must evacuate all the territories it has annexed, and so on.
On the Israeli side, normalization is the logical step to follow recognition by the Arabs, entailing an exchange of visits as well as dismantling any trade obstacles in the face of economic cooperation. In practice, Arab countries are expected not to add to obstacles aiming to derail opportunities of cooperation with Israel in order to boost the Arabic economy, thus leaving economic initiatives to the private sector that will engender higher employment and eventually improve the standard of living. This approach will bring about tangible results on the ground. Accordingly, it is better to focus on openness rather normalization as a whole, which seems frightening from the Arab perspective.
Global economic openness: Glasnost in the former Soviet Union in 1989 was applied before any process of political reconciliation was put in motion. The reason was a drastic need to shore up the collapsing Soviet economy at the time. In contrast, political openness is more complicated and requires more time, tolerance and a forgiving mindset. Even China underwent major pain to give birth to economic openness while trying to ignore the need to introduce democracy and political openness. Since then, though, she has taken vital steps that define her as an economic giant in the global arena.
The rules of the economic game have changed during the last two decades: America has ceded its leading economic place to growing nations like India and Indonesia. To maintain effective cost margins, big organizations are willing to travel long distances in search of cheaper labor. The distance between Israel and the countries in the region is indeed an asset because it is minimal. Israel possesses ample trading and marketing savvy in a variety of fields. When combined with development of Arabic labor and skills, these can form an unbeatable package capable of winning entirely new markets never before contemplated. It is a fallacy that Israel will inundate the Arabic markets: its produce is far too expensive to sell in the region. Therefore the international markets are the only outlets.
There is no reason to roam uselessly in the labyrinth of what is called Israel’s economic dominance. Just like other growing nations, the Arabs stand to gain from the far-reaching changes which have swept across the world’s economic focus and which are set to open new horizons for all –as explained by Farid Zakaria, author of bestseller The Post-American World.
Openness before normalization: Economic peace will allow the Israeli man in the street to be introduced to indigenous Arabic language and culture. Physical encounters between Arabs and Israelis will emerge, rather than meeting virtually via media such as the Internet, if they do at all. Direct conversations, hearing the truth on each side, will open up new vistas for both sides, influencing each other’s opinions.
A “people to people” roadmap will entail positive and frank discussions based on goodwill. Cordial relations will make inroads from a more established Arabic civilization into a still nascent Israeli society open to different foreign cultures. Since reconciliation is based on truth, it is also very important for the Arabs to realize that Jews from Arab countries - in parallel with the Palestinians - have left behind vast amounts of property (estimated to be equivalent to four times the area of Israel). This is according to a survey made by Maurice Romano - as well as frozen portable and non portable assets estimated at $80 billion, losses that constitute far more than the amount left by the Palestinians. The price that Jewish refugees from Arab countries have paid has been cut off from the narrative of Arab-Israeli conflict.
To conclude: There is no doubt that we need to generate an atmosphere of goodwill to clear the air and encourage people to start talking! And even though an agenda for political recognition cannot be on the cards yet, we don’t need to aim so high: willingness to open up, awareness of each other’s needs - these should be enough initially to promote the process of opening up. It creates greater optimism on the horizon. It also gives us, the people in this region, a far better future to look forward to.

This article by Linda Menuhin (nee Abdel Aziz) first appeared in Elaph in Arabic on 26 October 2009. Linda is an active member of Israel civil society, a member of the board http://www.forum-smart-middle-east.org.il/ and a founding member of Israel-Syria peace society.

Israeli police raid peace radio station

This piece came in from Dajani of ATFP. Sometimes Israel goes crazy. I mean they complain about mosque broadcasts inciting violence on Palestinian State TV. So when they get a half-way decent broadcaster they HAMMER it into the ground. Meanwhile they give cart blanche to all the filth. Are Israelis insane or just plain stupid. They are certainly badly served by their government - unless that is their government has some sort of death wish. I have often wondered that. Else how do you explain this kind of inane policy?

JERUSALEM -- Israeli police raided the Jerusalem studio of Ram FM – an English-language peace radio station, based in the West Bank, which aims to find common ground between Israelis and Palestinians – on the grounds the station was operating without a license.

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PA government shuts down Hamas' "Mickey Mouse" of hate

With thanks to Felix for sending the link. Hamas' indoctrination of children continues despite 'Mickey' going off air...




Hamas Mouse: Blame the Jews

by Itamar Marcus and Barbara Crook - May 13, 2007

The Mickey Mouse clone named Farfur who’s been preaching hatred and Islamic domination to Palestinian kids was back on the air and blaming the Jews for his woes on Friday, despite public statements by Palestinian Authority Minister of Information Mustafa Barghouti that the show would be taken off the Hamas TV network until it could be reviewed.

Farfur, star of the Al Aqsa TV children’s show Tomorrow’s Pioneers, was joined on the broadcast by his regular co-host, a little girl named Saraa. The program also featured an adult, Hazim, who delivered most of the show’s messages about Islamic supremacy.

PMW reported last week that the Hamas Mickey Mouse character was teaching world Islamic domination, violence and hatred. The ensuing worldwide outrage over the use of this character, dubbed “Terror Mouse” by the New York Daily News and described by Walt Disney’s daughter as “pure evil,” prompted the PA to announce that it was suspending the program until further review.

But the show is still on the air, with no change in content except for a somewhat smaller role for the squeaky-voiced Mickey Mouse knockoff. The more inflammatory comments are delivered by the soft-spoken adult character.

It appears from the latest broadcast that the Hamas or PA officials who oversaw the show were concerned only with neutralizing Farfur’s dialogue, and not with moderating the show’s content. It is as if they decided that the show’s messages, which also promote hatred of Israel and the US, are completely acceptable -- as long as the more controversial comments are not coming from a corrupted version of Disney’s beloved mouse.

Even though Farfur's role in Friday’s program was minimized, however, it was definitely not benign. When chastised for cheating by copying another student’s work, he blamed "the Jews" for destroying his home, which prevented him from finding his own notebook.

Meanwhile, the adult Hazim told the child viewers that Islam will spread all over the world, including Spain, and that the spread of Islam is for the world’s benefit. He said the “massacres” in Iraq, Lebanon, and Palestine will be replaced by “love and justice” under Islamic rule.

In a debate with PMW director Itamar Marcus on FOX TV today, Barghouti again acknowledged that children shouldn't be exposed to this type of television. He said that the program would be taken off, or have its content changed, by next week.

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Press Freedom

Felix sent us this cartoon, which is one of a number relating to the arrest and detaention of journalists published in the Arab World for World Press Freedom Day. The above cartoon was published in Syria.

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Qatar TV losing its relevance, say critics

You'd think a media savvy country like Qatar could do better:

The Peninsula - 14 April, 2007
Media Critics and the native intelligentsia are worried over the fast losing relevance of Qatar Television, in the country's contemporary socio-cultural landscape. They believe that the television channel has failed to live up to the expectation of an average Qatari, reports Al Sharq. "At a time when the world of visual media is witnessing a revolution, the state-owned television channel is no where in the race. For want of good programmes, there is a steep fall in their viewership rate of the channel", said the country's leading socio-cultural figures.

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Israeli spokesman Regev on 18 Doughty Street TV

HERE