The Palestinian Journalists’ Syndicate (PJS) and its European Branch are appalled by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU)plan to organize a conference titled “The Future of Journalism in Gaza,” within a highly sensitive political and media context, without inviting or including representatives of the Palestinian journalism sector; the PJS, the Publishers’ Association, the Association of Local Radio Stations, and all Palestinian media organisations.
This EBU conference is a reminder of the European colonial past of deciding the future of peoples with complete disregard to their rights and interests. It is a manifestation of a supremacist mindset that views Palestinians as subjects rather than essential partners in making the decisions about their future. We affirm unequivocally that any discussion regarding the future of the media sector in Gaza remains politically, ethically, and professionally unacceptable unless representatives of Palestinian journalists and media are central to the process shaping its vision and future direction.
The evidence shows that the EBU decision to organize this conference is anything but a genuine initiative to support the Palestinian journalists and media sector that the Israeli army has completely destroyed. It is rather an attempt to whitewash its decision to allow the Israeli Public Broadcaster “KAN” to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest, which is scheduled to take place approximately two weeks after this planned conference. The EBU is attempting to project an image to its members and European audiences as if it is concerned with the plight of the Palestinian media but it is effectively banishing it from the stage.
Five European public service media institutions had already announced that they will not participate in the Eurovision Song Contest: Ireland, Spain, Iceland, the Netherlands, and Slovenia. Their ethical decision reflects a genuine commitment to holding the occupation accountable and refusing to be complicit in whitewashing its crimes. We commend their stand as an important step toward holding the Israeli occupation and its system of repression accountable.
The EBU’s decision to allow KAN into the Eurovision Song Contest is a shameful disregard for the genocide inflicted upon the Palestinian people. It is also granting KAN professional legitimacy despite compelling evidence that it has been an integral part of the Israeli media system covering up war crimes and acts of genocide committed against the Palestinian people in Gaza.
Accordingly, the Palestinian Journalists’ Syndicate and its European Branch affirm the following:
– Reject any and all initiatives about the future of the Palestinian media sector without genuine and effective involvement of its Palestinian representatives.
– Representatives of the Palestinian journalists and media are the rightholders, they will define the priorities and lead the reconstruction of their media sector.
– Call on the EBU to change its position and assume its ethical and professional responsibilities regarding the crimes committed against Palestinian journalists.
– Call for an immediate international action to ensure the protection of Palestinian journalists and to hold those responsible for targeting and killing them accountable.
– Call on European public service media institutions and journalists’ unions in Europe to take a stance of solidarity with the Palestinian journalists and reject the EBU’s exploitation of the suffering of Palestinian journalists to serve its political agenda.
We affirm our stand that the Palestinian media sector will not be an open space for international dominance. It will not be marginalised or silenced. It is an integral part of our people’s struggle for freedom and justice.
