ID :
331598
Wed, 06/11/2014 - 06:57
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First Palestine Media Forum, A Platform To Serve The Palestinian Cause

From Nor Faridah Abd Rashid At the recent inaugural Palestine Media Forum in Istanbul, media participants showed their commitment to better serve the Palestinian struggle. The Palestinian cause is not only an issue for the Arab world, it is a humanitarian issue which should be kept "alive" and not overshadowed by current events in the Arab world. It should continue to get global attention. This is the first of a two-part series article. ISTANBUL, June 11 (Bernama) -- Despite being an inaugural event, one thing stood out at the Palestinian International Forum for Media and Communication held here recently - the solidarity and commitment shown among the international media participants and organisations in coming up with new and effective media projects and strategies serving the Palestinian cause. The two-day forum attended by some 400 people might not have achieved all of its objectives but at the least it was a good start for the participants to thrash out issues on how the Palestinian cause could be further advanced. This is in contrast to the Western media, which participants said have not provided a fair coverage on the struggle of the Palestinians. Speakers and participants also agreed that Palestine was not only an issue for the Arab or Muslim world. It is a humanitarian issue, which called for the support of all countries in the world. GROWING NEED TO FIND COORDINATION The organisers said the forum was held to address the growing need to find a framework for joint communication, coordination and interaction among media outlets. And this is especially so amid an increasing necessity to face the attempts to weaken the Palestinian cause and isolate it from its Arab and Islamic depth as well as its humanitarian dimension and exclude the Palestinian cause from the media attention. The organisers - the Palestine Media Club, SETA, and Middle East Monitor (MEMO) - said the Palestinian cause is about history, identity and civilisation. Its political essence is linked to the presence of the Israeli occupation in the Palestinian territories and the resulting economic and cultural consequences. SETA is a foundation for political, economic and social research; while MEMO, provides a focused and comprehensive coverage of Palestine and its regional neighbours. They pointed out that the Palestinian people have struggled for many decades for their right to freedom, dignity and the elimination of the occupation through all means of resistance. And throughout their struggle, they have withstood injustice and oppression for the sake of liberation, independence and the right of return to their homeland. MALAYSIA'S SUPPORT OF THE PALESTINIAN CAUSE The organisers described the Palestinian cause as "the most just, political and humanitarian cause" and has to be supported by the people worldwide, especially journalists, media personalities and leaders of public opinion. Indeed in this aspect, Preparatory Committee Chairman of the Forum Fayed Abu Shammala noted the firm support by the Malaysian government towards the Palestinian cause and Prime Minister Najib Razak’s visit to Gaza two years ago. "We are aware of the Malaysian position towards Palestine. We are thankful for that. However, we believe we have to do more to help you understand what is going on in Palestine. "This forum is also putting some duty on the Palestinian side to try to access your (Malaysian) media and give the message about Palestine", he said. ASIAN MEDIA’S ROLE One of the forum’s moderators, Khaled Trani, said that without a doubt the Asian media should also play a bigger role in reporting the Palestinian cause. "The majority of the world’s population is in that side of the world, that is where the centre of gravity of the human population is. "It’s not only we should, I think we must play that (role) and make sure that side of the population is exposed to the truth and given the other side of the story about the Palestinian cause", he said. He was referring to the Western Media, which according to him did not give a fair and accurate coverage on the Palestinian issue. He also noted that the forum had helped the media professionals as well as those interested in the Palestinian cause to better craft the message about Palestinians and get the message across to the international community. WESTERN MEDIA INDIFFERENT TO PALESTINIAN ISSUE According to him, Western media reports and perspectives were not "friendly to the Palestinian issue" mainly because the media companies were "anchored in the West". "That is why the Palestinian issue does not get very good coverage because the source is contaminated", he opined. To overcome this, he said, the Muslim media should be more persistent and forceful as a well as aggressive in pursuing the stories from where they originate. "The Muslim alternative media should also be more diligent and persistent in portraying the truth and give the other side of the story", he added. PALESTINIAN ISSUE IS AN ISSUE FOR ALL MUSLIMS WORLDWIDE Turkish Semsettin Turcan, a participant at the forum, said that the Palestinian issue should not be considered as an issue to be solved only by the Palestinians. "As you know Palestine has been bleeding. It is a problem of all Muslim society worldwide. It’s not a matter for only the Palestinians but it is a matter for Muslims worldwide", he told Bernama. However, he felt that in this aspect there has to be more cooperation and collaboration among the Muslims. "If there is no unity among ourselves how can we stand up to the other power from the outside which is attacking us", he asked. FREEDOM OF JOURNALISTS TO ATTEND CONFERENCE At the start of the forum journalist and author Victoria Brittain remarked about many more Palestinian media people wanting to attend the forum but were unable to do so because of the difficulties in leaving the occupied territory. Abu Shammala who made similar remarks noted that, at least the wide coverage by Palestinian and Arab television channels, which included the Beirut-based Al Quds TV Channel, "will get across to those who are not able to make it to the forum". Al Quds was one of the many Arabic channels, which covered the event tirelessly. MANY MORE WANT TO ATTEND Looking at this situation one tend to think how lucky Malaysian journalists are. They are free to attend any media forums anywhere compared with their Palestinian counterparts. Palestinian TV correspondent Mamdooh Hamamreh lamented the fact there were many who wanted to come to Istanbul and participate in the conference. However, unfortunately they could not do so because the occupier – Israel – disallowed them from leaving the territory. Matters were made worst after Egypt’s Rafah crossing was closed, thus denying Palestinians from Gaza to get to any other part of the world as the crossing was the gateway for them, said the Al Quds correspondent who is based in Palestine. "I come from the West Bank. I was lucky to get here because many from the West Bank did not manage to do so as the Israeli did not allow them to travel. "Two of my colleagues could not come, the Israeli did not allow them, I saw them, they had to turn back", he said through an interpreter. CONFERENCE GATHERS PALESTINIAN MEDIA PEOPLE AT ONE PLACE Hamamreh said he was fortunate to be able to attend the conference. To him, the conference had enabled the media people, especially those from Palestine to focus on what they could do to enhance the international community’s awareness of the Palestinian cause. He said more than 90 per cent of Palestinian TV stations were located overseas, as such it was fortunate that these people from the various stations could gather in one place to network. "It is the place for us to collaborate and push our case on the Palestinian cause. We work as the media to make our country more safer and we hope in the future we can do more", he said. -- BERNAMA

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