Palestinian journalists, upset over Israeli report on Ramallah nightlife, say anyone who even speaks to an Israeli journalist is guilty of "normalization"

If you want to know how much the Palestinian media values truth and objectivity, all you need to do is look at the Palestinian Journalists' Syndicate (PJS).

Their "Vision" statement does not mention either of those words.

Instead, it stresses "professionalism" in - propaganda: "Palestinian media professionals contribute significantly to popularizing Palestinian national values, principles, meanings, and priorities, especially the struggle against the occupation."

And it does not want to have anything to do with Israeli journalists:"The Syndicate will not ...take any positions that promote normalization with the occupation state, and it will develop measures to counter any participation by members aimed at normalization..."

This week it showed that it takes its anti-Israel and propaganda stances very seriously.

At Kan News, two reporters visited Ramallah and included in the report are interviews with restaurant owners who are doing very well during the COVID-19 crisis - their establishments are full and Palestinians are enjoying themselves without any social distancing.

The PJS is livid.

First of all, this report made Palestinians look like they are not all poor refugees begging for aid, and that Ramallah's nightlife is not too different from Tel Aviv's.

Secondly, it made the residents of Ramallah look like they don't care about COVID.

Thirdly, it counters the Palestinian narrative of Israel's economic strangulation of the West Bank because some of these businesses are thriving, and that it not something the media should be showing.

The PJS released a statement against the restaurant owners for allowing themselves to be interviewed by Israeli reporters, saying that this is a form of  "normalization" that is unacceptable. 

They also called on the PA government to do what it can to ban Israeli reporters from visiting the territories and reporting on what they see.

Because the truth is not a Palestinian media principle.

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