Den som leser Jerusalem Post jevnlig, vil ha merket seg navnet Khaled Abu Toameh – avisens korrespondent i de palestinske områdene. Han er en av de få av regionens arabiske stemmer som våger å kritisere korrupsjonen, menneskerettighetsbruddene og forfølgelsen av journalister den palestinske selvstyremyndigheten er ansvarlig for. In Context gir et referat fra Abu Toamehs Philadelphia-foredrag i regi av Middle East Forum.

He’s quick to point out, without being asked, that the palestinians did indeed celebrate on 9-11. Why wasn’t that better publicized? Threats. The PA Minister of Information announced without nuance that he “could not be responsible for the safety” of journalists in the territories if the celebrations were broadcast. Why, then, not at least report verbally on them? Abu Toameh says that it’s a pattern. The journalists want to stay in the good graces of their sources, and they don’t want to make waves. Criticism of Arafat’s regime is prohibited absolutely, and no one wants to pay the price. In fact, the first thing Arafat did when he “returned” to the West Bank in 1994 was to clamp down on all free expression — close newspapers, fire reporters who wouldn’t toe the line, take over the media with an iron fist.