The Palestinian Authority is a tool of Israeli imperialism which is why Hamas
won that election in Gaza back in 2006. Palestinian leadership has been
fragmented by Israeli policy and the policy of western countries. We've been
watching slow moving genocide since 1948.
Miriam
-----Original Message-----
From: blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Carl Jarvis
Sent: Friday, August 11, 2017 10:26 AM
To: blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Cc: jamesjarvis98 <jamesjarvis98@xxxxxxxxx>; delores selset <dselset@xxxxxxx>
Subject: [blind-democracy] Re: Mahmoud Abbas decrees sweeping internet speech
restrictions
Can we say, Muzzled? Of course we can. It's a Beautiful Day in Israel!
Kara remains committed to shutting Al Jazeera down, stating: "The safety of our
citizens and their well-being supersedes freedom of expression during times of
terror."
Back in the late 40's and 50's, "We" had to protect Americans from those sneaky
Commies, who slid out from under every rock and infiltrated our Labor Unions,
our National Teacher's Union, Hollywood and "The Arts". It seemed that the
only people safe were the Ruling Class! Not since we beat back those Pesky
Redskins, had honest, hard working Americans been so threatened. Oh sure,
there was that brief flutter over an invasion from Flying Saucers, but they
seemed to lose interest after they got stuck in mid day rush hour traffic in
Pasadena.
But it's so confusing.
I mean, how can we protect our Ruling Class, our beloved Corporate Capitalism,
when we are being taxed and worked into poverty already?
But that's dangerous talk, putting us close to being labeled "Homeland
Terrorists". It's hard to know just who to believe. But soon that problem
will be solved when all opinions other than those of our Empire are ruled
Terrorist Attacks, and they are shut down. Then we will be free to think
whatever we want...as long as we keep our mouths shut.
"God Bless America, Land of the Free and the Brave"...just so long as we kiss
the ring of the Empire.
Carl Jarvis
On 8/10/17, > From The Electronic Intifada
Mahmoud Abbas decrees sweeping internet speech restrictions
Charlotte Silver Rights and Accountability 9 August 2017
Decree by PA leader Mahmoud Abbas imposes fines, prison and hard labor
on Palestinians who violate "public manners" or harm "social harmony"
with online comments.
(Wisam Hashlamoun / APA images)
Palestinian media and human rights groups are calling on the
Palestinian Authority to suspend the new "Electronic Crimes" law that
critics say is a sweeping attack on the right to free expression and privacy.
Meanwhile, an Israeli minister is facing difficulties in his effort to
shut down Al Jazeera.
The law was approved in secrecy by PA leader Mahmoud Abbas on 24 June.
Without any public discussion, it reportedly went into effect just two
weeks later.
Groups including the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate, the
Independent Committee for Human Rights and the Palestinian Center for
Development and Media Freedoms (MADA), have all denounced the law,
warning it will further erode Palestinians' rights.
Social Media Exchange, a group that monitors laws that affect digital
rights in the Arab world, translated the most troubling parts of
Abbas' decree.
It stipulates that acts online that harm "national unity" or "social
harmony" will be punishable by hard labor for three to 15 years.
The law allows for anyone to be imprisoned for one year and fined up
to
$7,000 for violating "public manners" online.
It requires internet service providers to cooperate with Palestinian
intelligence agencies, and collect, store and share user information.
It also empowers the PA attorney general to block any website and
allows the public prosecutor "to monitor and record online
communications" deemed "necessary for investigations."
Writing for Global Voices, digital rights researcher Marwa Fatafta
reports that the law extends to Palestinians living abroad, though it
is not clear how it would be enforced on people outside the occupied West
Bank.
PA crackdown on journalists
Both Israel and the Palestinian Authority, which work together closely
to control the Palestinian population under military occupation,
already jail Palestinians for their postings on social media.
The decree's enactment comes as the PA oversees a wave of press
violations including arrests for statements made on social media.
At the beginning of June, the Palestinian Authority arrested
23-year-old Nassar Jaradat for posting on his Facebook page a call for
a "people's revolution" against the Fatah leadership - Abbas' political
faction.
This week, PA intelligence agencies in the occupied West Bank arrested
four journalists from several local outlets, accusing them of "leaking
sensitive information."
Speaking at a recent forum of groups concerned about the new decree,
Mousa Rimawi, the director of MADA, noted that the PA's press
violations exceeded Israel's in June and that authorities have blocked
access to 29 news websites that belong to political critics.
Trouble with Al Jazeera
Meanwhile, Israel's communications minister Ayoub Kara is running into
difficulties as he moves forward with his promise to shut down Al
Jazeera's Jerusalem bureau.
Following in the footsteps of Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states that
have mounted a campaign against Qatar and its media network, Kara and
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have accused Al Jazeera of
"incitement"
and vowed to shut it down.
Amnesty International has called Israel's attempt to shut down Al
Jazeera a "chilling message that Israeli authorities will not tolerate
critical coverage."
"This is a brazen attack on media freedom in Israel and the occupied
Palestinian territories," Magdalena Mughrabi, Amnesty's deputy Middle
East and North Africa director, said in a statement on Monday.
But the Tel Aviv newspaper Haaretz reports that Kara is meeting
resistance as he attempts to shutter the network in Israel, starting
with his request that the Government Press Office revoke the
credentials of Al Jazeera journalists.
According to Haaretz, the Government Press Office does not have the
authority to revoke press credentials. Israeli security agencies would
have to first make the recommendation on the basis that Al Jazeera
would "endanger national security."
"I have contacted these agencies, asking for a professional opinion
regarding Al Jazeera," said Government Press Office director Nitzan
Chen, who noted that credentials will not be revoked without an "an
orderly hearing, as specified by regulations."
Kara has asked broadcast companies for help, but they have so far
failed to express any willingness to remove Al Jazeera from their service.
He has also asked public security minister Gilad Erdan for assistance,
but Erdan referred him to the Israeli police, who sent Kara back to
the public security ministry.
This leaves Kara with the option to try to pass an amendment to the
law, a process that would not begin until the fall.
Bending over backwards
During Israel's regular attacks on Gaza, including the last major one
three years ago that killed more than 2,200 Palestinians, Al Jazeera
has regularly provided Israeli officials with air time to justify
their lethal attacks on Palestinians.
Amid the recent increase in tension around the al-Aqsa mosque compound
in Jerusalem, Al Jazeera's Arabic channel interviewed Yoav Mordechai,
the Israeli military officer who governs the occupied West Bank.
Despite the network extensively providing Israel with a platform, Kara
remains committed to shutting Al Jazeera down, stating: "The safety of
our citizens and their well-being supersedes freedom of expression
during times of terror."
"The freedom of expression is not the freedom to incite and foment strife,"
he added. "Even democracy has its limits."