Criticizing the Government? Ataboo in Palestinian Authority
Il Giornale, February 12 2012
Only Palestinians will not have their Arab spring, not even in its embryonalstage, i.e. messages criticizing their leaders on Facebook. In Ramallah , thesecurity forces of Mahmoud Abbas and Salam Fayyad recently arrested Rami Samara, a Wafa newsagency journalist. After the Palestinian leaders blamed Israel for the failedpeace talks, Samara posted the following: « “OK, no joking now, do the members of the‘sole legitimate leadership of the Palestinian people’ believe that thisannouncement is worth their sitting in their seats, turning on the heaters anddrinking coffee and tea in their offices in Ramallah?” Twoof the PA's two security agencies then separately called this young journalist infor questioning.
They subsequently summoned a woman whore-posted one of his comments on line. A year ago, the PA's securityauthorities detained Mamdouh Hamarneh, a TV producer from Bethlehem, for 50 days for having compared Abbason Facebook to a Syrian actor who portrayed a "traitor" in a popularSyrian soap opera.
Palestinians obviously cannot criticize theirleaders. And that’s not all. Under Abbas's new agreement with Hamas, Abbas has addedone more title, to the many he has had up to now. He will now be the PrimeMinister of the PA, in addition to being the President, head of the Fatahcentral committee, President of the PLO executive power, and the Commander ofthe Palestinian armed forces. The Council of Europe has just unanimously votedfor Palestineas a "partner for democracy”. Shouldn't it have asked the Palestinianbloggers before having done so?