Brussels: Launch of the Palestinian Media Support Fund in Cooperation with the Palestinian Journalists' Syndicate

SadaNews - The International Federation of Journalists, the Palestinian Journalists' Syndicate, the founding body of the Palestinian Independent Media Association, and the Global Fund for Public Media have launched a Support Fund for Independent Palestinian Media during a conference held in the capital of the European Union, Brussels.

The conference included opening speeches and workshops, followed by discussions addressing the Palestinian media reality in light of the Israeli targeting of Palestinian journalists, in addition to the implications arising from the ongoing war on work and sustainability.

Bollangi: We strive to support the media and protect journalists through this fund  

Anthony Bollangi, President of the International Federation of Journalists, opened the conference and welcomed the attendees on behalf of the Federation, expressing gratitude to everyone present at the International Press Center in the European Union for their support of Palestinian journalism.

The President of the International Federation of Journalists indicated that today's meeting aims to contemplate and answer complex questions about the tormented Palestine, noting that the Federation has documented 220 journalists who have died in the pursuit of truth, which claims a death toll of 65,000 victims, calling for action from the representatives of the countries present at the meeting to work towards ending the massacre.

He emphasized that the Federation continues to work primarily to protect journalists and to establish a fund to support Palestinian journalism through cooperation with the International Fund for Public Media "independent," with which they have had prior cooperation experience, stressing the importance of ensuring press and journalist protection.

Minister Assaf: The occupation will not succeed in silencing the Palestinian media through killing and targeting  

For his part, Minister Ahmed Assaf, Head of the Palestinian Broadcasting and Television Authority, thanked the International Federation for the initiative to hold this meeting and appreciated all European and Arab political institutions and figures present, indicating that this meeting and the launching of the fund is a form of support and endorsement for this sector.

Assaf announced on behalf of the State of Palestine that work is underway to finalize the law that defines the fund's operations, promising to expedite the completion of the fund's law, expressing his confidence that the fund will play a vital role in enabling journalists to continue their work in conveying the truth amid the ongoing massacres that have led to the deaths and injuries of 250,000 and the displacement of 2.2 million Palestinians who have become homeless, moving from area to area after Gaza was destroyed in a continuous crime.

Assaf pointed out that the killing of 230 journalists since the outbreak of the aggression is a war crime, noting that the number of journalists killed in Palestine exceeds that of those who died during World War II by multiples, explaining that Israel has killed more journalists than have died in the last 100 years.

He also noted that the killing of journalists by Israelis does not stop at their deaths alone, but the occupation army kills them along with their families as part of an Israeli policy that relies on killing even before the war, as happened with his colleague, the martyr Shireen Abu Akleh.

Assaf questioned why the criminals escape punishment, stressing the necessity of holding Israeli war criminals accountable in general and the killers of journalists in particular, expressing his confidence in the support of the international federation and all the free people.

He also emphasized that Palestinian journalists pay the price for their success in conveying the narrative and confronting the occupation and its narrative, deconstructing it before the world. Still, they paid a heavy price because their narrative triumphed worldwide, thanking the federation and the syndicate for their efforts, stressing that the occupation will not succeed in obscuring the truth or silencing it, and journalists and media will continue their work.

The European Parliament: We warned Israel about the continuation of its crimes against the press 

For his part, Munir Sator, Head of the Subcommittee on Human Rights in the European Parliament, stated that the European Parliament issues a warning to Israel about continuing its crimes, demanding it to stop immediately its violations against journalists.

Sator confirmed that all we are doing is symbolic support to affirm our stand with free journalism, stressing that being a journalist in Palestine means living in a state of war and an uncomfortable situation, sending the message while protecting oneself and one’s family above all, which is not found anywhere else in the world. He emphasized that we must not forget what is happening in the West Bank, Gaza, and Jerusalem in terms of crimes in various forms.

The Chair of the Committee for Human Rights in the European Parliament confirmed support for the rights of journalists to protection, adding that the parliament supports efforts to protect and assist Palestinian journalists.

The Journalists' Syndicate: The fund will support the media and journalists, and we strive to make it a global experience 

Nasser Abu Bakr, President of the Journalists' Syndicate and Vice President of the International Federation of Journalists, began his speech by thanking the International Federation for organizing the conference, along with thanking Assaf for his promise to establish the fund and extending greetings to European Parliament member Munir Sator. He also appreciated Anthony Bollangi for the efforts of the International Federation of Journalists and thanked Nishan Lalwani, Director of the Global Fund for Public Media, for their support for the fund and the success of their previous experience, which encouraged them to receive support for 22 media institutions, six of which are in the Gaza Strip. He also thanked representatives of Palestinian media institutions who attended to express what the Palestinian media is suffering from.

Abu Bakr pointed out the continued massacre against journalists amid global silence about what is happening, as last night saw the fall of the latest martyr, raising the number of journalist martyrs to 248, with an average of 11 journalists being killed monthly, meaning a martyr every three days since the aggression began.

He also mentioned the documentation of 1,641 assaults, affirming that Israeli attacks against journalists are executed by government decisions that carry out the most heinous massacre against the press.

He confirmed that all these massacres have driven us to think about how to ensure the continuity of Palestinian media, as we have hundreds of journalists working in media solidarity tents that serve as temporary locations after their offices were demolished. Moreover, Palestinian media is collapsing in the West Bank and Jerusalem due to Israeli targeting.

Abu Bakr emphasized the importance of expediting the establishment of the fund and starting its work in a professional manner with standards that adhere to international professional criteria, ensuring that procedures are transparent, making it an inspiring experience for everyone worldwide, adding that today’s discussions will support the establishment of the fund.

International Promises of Funding for the Fund 

For his part, Nishan Lalwani, Director of the International Public Media Support Fund "AFAM," stated that he is honored to be here representing the International Public Media Support Fund and offers his condolences to journalists and the entire Palestinian people.

He added that he understands the feelings of Palestinian journalists and the Palestinian community in general regarding the sense of betrayal in light of this continuous massacre against the Palestinian media, which has become a target of the occupation.

He pointed out that we have gathered here today to defend journalists, reaffirming his organization's commitment to support all activities aimed at assisting Palestinian journalists through the syndicate and the international federation, emphasizing their prior experience in supporting Palestinian media in a transparent manner, where funding was provided to 22 institutions, including six in Gaza, to supply salaries for 100 journalists, enabling journalists in the West Bank to work professionally and proficiently.

He also emphasized the importance of continuing to work better, expressing admiration for the quality of Palestinian journalism and its capabilities, pledging to continue working with various organizations to secure further support, as what has been provided does not meet all forms of need.

He also called for the importance of conducting studies on the Palestinian media reality and ensuring laws for the fund to increase the number of contributors in the continuous pursuit of financing for independent and public Palestinian media aimed at serving the community.

UNESCO Confirms Support for the Fund Idea and Emphasizes its Importance of Transparency

Hala Tannous, Director of Media and Communication at UNESCO, stated that her organization supports the launch of the Independent Media Support Fund, expressing hope that this fund will be a model of transparency, trust, and independence for Palestinian media, with which UNESCO seeks to cooperate and develop through various programs.

Tannous affirmed that independent media reflects civilized societies and is not an option but a decision and a foundation that must be maintained.

She applauded journalists and confirmed UNESCO's support for any projects that assist them, also thanking the attendees and participants for their solidarity and support.

Tannous also confirmed support for training and development for professional and independent media by UNESCO and stressed the importance of protecting independent media and journalists.

Several participating journalists spoke at the conference, including colleagues Mohamed Faraj, Director of Ma’an TV, Riyad Khamis, Director of Radio Al-Rabi’a, Moamer Arabi, Director of Watan Network, Shrouq Al-As’ad, and Dr. Walid Nassar, Director of Ajyal Radio and Munjed Jado, Director of PNN Network, who discussed a series of challenges facing journalists and media on several levels.

The attendees, including donors and representatives of media institutions, also discussed the fund's mechanisms of work, its programs, and the activities that can be implemented in the future.