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Mahmoud Abbas Against Freedom of Expression

(Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs) Yoni Ben Menachem - Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas is no different from any other ruler in an Arab country. This is another dictator who knows how to suppress his opponents using various pretexts. In recent weeks, Abbas' security forces have been working to locate hundreds of Palestinian youths who participated in conferences organized by his rival, Mohammad Dahlan, for Fatah activists. Ten were transferred to administrative detention, accused of attempting to cooperate with Egyptian intelligence to overthrow Abbas. Gen. Majed Faraj heads Palestinian General Intelligence, an intelligence apparatus that works to locate Abbas' critics in the media and social networks. Journalists have been arrested for allegedly cursing and denouncing the PA and Abbas. At Abbas' request, the PA has prepared a "blacklist" of all activists who criticize him on Facebook and live in the U.S., Europe, and Arab countries. On March 9, 2017, the Prime Minister and Minister of Justice, Rami Hamdallah, sent a letter to Gen. Ziad al-Harih, head of PA Preventive Security, instructing him to step up oversight and monitoring of the accounts of people on social networks that "incite against our institutions." Palestinians, who live near Israel and see Israeli democracy close up, understand that they will be forced to live under a dictatorship in a Palestinian state if it is established. The writer, a veteran Arab affairs and diplomatic commentator for Israel Radio and Television, is a senior Middle East analyst for the Jerusalem Center.
2017-03-24 00:00:00
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