HRW suddenly discovers PA/Hamas disrespects freedom of expression, duh

In a recent report published by typically anti-Israel Human Rights Watch, Palestinian abuses against Palestinian journalists, artists, musicians, dissidents and political activists are finally exposed. For those who have been following retrograde Palestinian press laws since Oslo, this is REALLY old news. The list of many human rights abuses packed into the 1995 Press and Publications Law is impressive, and crackdowns on freedom of expression also extend to artists, musicians and teachers. But HRW has curiously discovered that the Palestinian Authority, as well as Hamas, commit human rights abuses against Palestinians who criticize the government or contradict “Palestinian identity”. I can go on this topic forever, maybe later, but in the meantime you can read the recent report HERE.  Keep in mind, this report only touches on a few of the issues and does not delve into the majority of the specific violations against basic human rights and Article 19. Stay tuned for links to this topic.

Image: © 2016 Human Rights Watch.  Graffiti that the rappers were accused of spraying on a wall in Ramallah: “The Intifada [uprising] continues,” May 31, 2016.