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What the Palestinian Authority Did Not Tell the UN Security Council
What the Palestinians did not tell the Security Council is that the state they seek to establish is one that does not respect public freedoms, first and foremost freedom of expression. It will be a state where the president or any of his senior officials could order the arrest of anyone who dares to speak out against lack of democracy or reforms.
Nor does the Palestinian Authority want the international community to know that 2014 witnessed the worst assaults on freedoms since its establishment two decades ago.
The Palestinian Authority is trying to send a message that no one is immune to arrest or harassment, even if it is a woman.
Palestinian women have become the latest victims of the Palestinian Authority's assault on freedom of expression in the West Bank.
In the male-dominated Arab culture, an insult from a woman is considered far more offensive than one that comes from a man.
That is the main reason why the Palestinian Authority [PA] has been quick to take action against women who dare to speak out or make critical remarks.
The Palestinians also know that women are more vulnerable than men. By targeting women, the PA is not only trying to intimidate and silence them, but also deter others from speaking out. The PA is hoping to send a message that no one is immune to arrest or harassment, even if it is a woman.
Palestinian Authority riot police clash with protesting women in Hebron, October 2014.
The clampdown coincides with the Palestinian Authority's effort to seek a United Nations Security Council resolution that sets a timeline for an Israeli withdrawal to the pre-1967 lines and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.
Last week, Jordan submitted to the Security Council a Palestinian-drafted resolution calling for an end to the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories by the end of 2017 and a peace deal within a year.
But what the Palestinians did not tell the Security Council is that the state they seek to establish is one that does not respect public freedoms, first and foremost freedom of expression.
This would be a state where people are detained and intimidated for using social media to express their views. It will also be a state where the president or any of his senior officials could order the arrest of anyone who dares to speak out against lack of democracy and reforms.
The draft resolution that was submitted to the Security Council fails to mention the fact that the Palestinian Authority is harassing and persecuting political opponents and critics, including Facebook users.
Credit to http://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/
http://nunezreport.blogspot.com/
Source: http://nunezreport.blogspot.com/2014/12/what-palestinian-authority-did-not-tell.html
