Can we say, Muzzled? Of course we can. It's a Beautiful Day in Israel!
Kara remains committed to shutting Al Jazeera down, stating: "The safety of our
citizens and their well-being supersedes freedom of expression during times
of terror."
Back in the late 40's and 50's, "We" had to protect Americans from
those sneaky Commies, who slid out from under every rock and
infiltrated our Labor Unions, our National Teacher's Union, Hollywood
and "The Arts". It seemed that the only people safe were the Ruling
Class! Not since we beat back those Pesky Redskins, had honest, hard
working Americans been so threatened. Oh sure, there was that brief
flutter over an invasion from Flying Saucers, but they seemed to lose
interest after they got stuck in mid day rush hour traffic in
Pasadena.
But it's so confusing.
I mean, how can we protect our Ruling Class, our beloved Corporate
Capitalism, when we are being taxed and worked into poverty already?
But that's dangerous talk, putting us close to being labeled "Homeland
Terrorists". It's hard to know just who to believe. But soon that
problem will be solved when all opinions other than those of our
Empire are ruled Terrorist Attacks, and they are shut down. Then we
will be free to think whatever we want...as long as we keep our mouths
shut.
"God Bless America, Land of the Free and the Brave"...just so long as
we kiss the ring of the Empire.
Carl Jarvis
On 8/10/17, > From The Electronic Intifada
>
> Mahmoud Abbas decrees sweeping internet speech restrictions
>
> Charlotte Silver Rights and Accountability 9 August 2017
>
> Decree by PA leader Mahmoud Abbas imposes fines, prison and hard labor on
> Palestinians who violate "public manners" or harm "social harmony" with
> online comments.
> (Wisam Hashlamoun / APA images)
>
> Palestinian media and human rights groups are calling on the Palestinian
> Authority to suspend the new "Electronic Crimes" law that critics say is a
> sweeping attack on the right to free expression and privacy.
>
> Meanwhile, an Israeli minister is facing difficulties in his effort to shut
> down Al Jazeera.
>
> The law was approved in secrecy by PA leader Mahmoud Abbas on 24 June.
> Without any public discussion, it reportedly went into effect just two
> weeks
> later.
>
> Groups including the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate, the Independent
> Committee for Human Rights and the Palestinian Center for Development and
> Media Freedoms (MADA), have all denounced the law, warning it will further
> erode Palestinians' rights.
>
> Social Media Exchange, a group that monitors laws that affect digital
> rights
> in the Arab world, translated the most troubling parts of Abbas' decree.
>
> It stipulates that acts online that harm "national unity" or "social
> harmony" will be punishable by hard labor for three to 15 years.
>
> The law allows for anyone to be imprisoned for one year and fined up to
> $7,000 for violating "public manners" online.
>
> It requires internet service providers to cooperate with Palestinian
> intelligence agencies, and collect, store and share user information.
>
> It also empowers the PA attorney general to block any website and allows
> the
> public prosecutor "to monitor and record online communications" deemed
> "necessary for investigations."
>
> Writing for Global Voices, digital rights researcher Marwa Fatafta reports
> that the law extends to Palestinians living abroad, though it is not clear
> how it would be enforced on people outside the occupied West Bank.
>
> PA crackdown on journalists
>
> Both Israel and the Palestinian Authority, which work together closely to
> control the Palestinian population under military occupation, already jail
> Palestinians for their postings on social media.
>
> The decree's enactment comes as the PA oversees a wave of press violations
> including arrests for statements made on social media.
>
> At the beginning of June, the Palestinian Authority arrested 23-year-old
> Nassar Jaradat for posting on his Facebook page a call for a "people's
> revolution" against the Fatah leadership - Abbas' political faction.
>
> This week, PA intelligence agencies in the occupied West Bank arrested four
> journalists from several local outlets, accusing them of "leaking sensitive
> information."
>
> Speaking at a recent forum of groups concerned about the new decree, Mousa
> Rimawi, the director of MADA, noted that the PA's press violations exceeded
> Israel's in June and that authorities have blocked access to 29 news
> websites that belong to political critics.
>
> Trouble with Al Jazeera
>
> Meanwhile, Israel's communications minister Ayoub Kara is running into
> difficulties as he moves forward with his promise to shut down Al Jazeera's
> Jerusalem bureau.
>
> Following in the footsteps of Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states that have
> mounted a campaign against Qatar and its media network, Kara and Israeli
> Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have accused Al Jazeera of "incitement"
> and vowed to shut it down.
>
> Amnesty International has called Israel's attempt to shut down Al Jazeera a
> "chilling message that Israeli authorities will not tolerate critical
> coverage."
>
> "This is a brazen attack on media freedom in Israel and the occupied
> Palestinian territories," Magdalena Mughrabi, Amnesty's deputy Middle East
> and North Africa director, said in a statement on Monday.
>
> But the Tel Aviv newspaper Haaretz reports that Kara is meeting resistance
> as he attempts to shutter the network in Israel, starting with his request
> that the Government Press Office revoke the credentials of Al Jazeera
> journalists.
>
> According to Haaretz, the Government Press Office does not have the
> authority to revoke press credentials. Israeli security agencies would have
> to first make the recommendation on the basis that Al Jazeera would
> "endanger national security."
>
> "I have contacted these agencies, asking for a professional opinion
> regarding Al Jazeera," said Government Press Office director Nitzan Chen,
> who noted that credentials will not be revoked without an "an orderly
> hearing, as specified by regulations."
>
> Kara has asked broadcast companies for help, but they have so far failed to
> express any willingness to remove Al Jazeera from their service.
>
> He has also asked public security minister Gilad Erdan for assistance, but
> Erdan referred him to the Israeli police, who sent Kara back to the public
> security ministry.
>
> This leaves Kara with the option to try to pass an amendment to the law, a
> process that would not begin until the fall.
>
> Bending over backwards
>
> During Israel's regular attacks on Gaza, including the last major one three
> years ago that killed more than 2,200 Palestinians, Al Jazeera has
> regularly
> provided Israeli officials with air time to justify their lethal attacks on
> Palestinians.
>
> Amid the recent increase in tension around the al-Aqsa mosque compound in
> Jerusalem, Al Jazeera's Arabic channel interviewed Yoav Mordechai, the
> Israeli military officer who governs the occupied West Bank.
>
> Despite the network extensively providing Israel with a platform, Kara
> remains committed to shutting Al Jazeera down, stating: "The safety of our
> citizens and their well-being supersedes freedom of expression during times
> of terror."
>
> "The freedom of expression is not the freedom to incite and foment strife,"
> he added. "Even democracy has its limits."
>
>
>
>
>
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