(NEW YORK)— In response to the Israeli government’s actions against Al Jazeera in the West Bank, PEN America issued the following statement:
“The Israeli government must cease its attacks on Al Jazeera. The raid on Al Jazeera’s Ramallah offices and order for it to shut down operations for 45 days are blatant violations of press freedom, and they are particularly egregious in the face of increasing violence in the West Bank that journalists must be free to cover. The Israeli government must permit journalists–both local and international–to do their work freely.”
According to PEN America’s PEN America’s 2023 Freedom to Write Index, Israel ranked as the fifth-largest jailer of writers globally, making its first appearance in the Index’s top ten. All 17 detained individuals are Palestinian writers from Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza. While three were already detained, the remaining 14 were detained after October 2023.
About PEN America
PEN America stands at the intersection of literature and human rights to protect free expression in the United States and worldwide. We champion the freedom to write, recognizing the power of the word to transform the world. Our mission is to unite writers and their allies to celebrate creative expression and defend the liberties that make it possible. Learn more at pen.org.
Contact: Dietlind Lerner, [email protected]