Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA)

Prior to the UN summit of world leaders in Rio in June 2012 (Rio+20) to discuss the environment and sustainable development goals, 77 civil society organisations recommend the adoption of national laws on access to information, public participation and access to justice in the environment, a new UN convention on access to environmental information, and a UN Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

In two separate incidents, an Al-Jazeera crew and four Palestinian journalists were attacked by settlers throwing stones; the latest attack resulted in one journalist being treated at a hospital for severe head contusions.

Israeli authorities extended the administrative detention of Nawaf Al-Amer, held since 28 June 2011, for four additional months.

The state of media freedom in the Palestinian territories continued to decline in September, with an increase in the number of violations perpetrated against journalists, particularly by the IDF.

Chris Hoby told MADA that he had gone to cover a march northwest of Ramallah and was standing approximately 50-60 meters from the Israeli forces when a soldier threw a metal grenade to the ground beside him, causing severe contusions on his right leg.

A Hebron judge acquitted journalist Alaa Al-Titi on all charges of “breaching the peace” and “inciting sectarian violence” via his work at Aqsa TV.

George Canawati posted a message to his Facebook page criticising Bethlehem’s Health Directorate and lamenting the presence of Israeli products on the table at a recent department managers’ meeting.

Israeli occupation forces arrested three journalists in the West Bank in August, two of which remain in custody, bringing the total number of Palestinian journalists incarcerated in Israeli jails to four.