(NEW YORK)– PEN America today sharply criticized the Palestinian Authority decision on New Year’s Day to pull Al Jazeera off the air in the West Bank, calling it a “blatant violation of press freedom.”
“The Palestinian Authority (PA) must not interfere with journalists covering the West Bank,” PEN America said in a statement. “Especially in light of the escalating violence by the Israeli military and settlers against Palestinian civilians, and the ongoing crackdown by the PA on armed groups, this is a blatant violation of press freedom, attempting to close off the world to informed reporting on the conflict. Al Jazeera’s broadcast capacity must be restored to uphold its right to freely report on all aspects of the conflict in this region.”
On Wednesday, the PA took Al Jazeera off air and temporarily shuttered the news network’s offices and suspended the work licenses of its employees. The PA accused the network of breaking the law and “inciting sedition” with its coverage of a weeks-long standoff between Palestinian security forces and militant fighters in Jenin.
The standoff between the PA and local armed groups comes amid escalating violence against Palestinians by settlers. According to reporting last November by NPR, human rights groups say there have been at least 1,000 attacks by extremist Israeli settlers on Palestinians in the occupied West Bank in the past year. Hundreds have been driven from their homes.
Palestinian rights defenders including the Palestinian Journalists’ Syndicate have called for the reversal of the PA’s decision, which comes several months after the network was banned by Israel. In September 2024, the Israeli government raided Al Jazeera’s Ramallah bureau in the West Bank and ordered it to shut down for 45 days.
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: Suzanne Trimel, [email protected], 201-247-5057