General Media Polices of The Palestinian Cause

General Media Policies Related to the Palestinian Cause

Media Policies Regarding the Israeli Occupation

Media Policies for the Global Discourse of the Palestinian Cause (1)

Media Policies for the Global Discourse of the Palestinian Cause (2)

Media Policies to Support Palestine in Digital Media

Media Policies Regarding Content and Media Format

Media Policies on Global Media

Discourse During Wars and Uprisings

General Media Policies Related to the Palestinian Cause

Journalists and Media Institutions’ Handbook on the General Media Policies Related to the Palestinian Cause

General Media Policies Related to the Palestinian Cause

This handbook proposes a set of policies for media discourse related to
the Palestinian cause, and proposes that journalists and press and media
institutions address them as follows:

• The Palestinian cause and Arab-Israeli conflict should be presented
  realistically and holistically; i.e., as an existential battle of a nation
  under constant occupation. This is a nation that has suffered a Nakba
  (Catastrophe) and displacement for several decades. Palestinians are
  people struggling for self-determination, freedom, independence, and
  the return of their refugees to their homes. To this end, they should be
  represented as a people demanding the implementation of principles
  of dignity and human justice. Their struggle is not a conflict between
  equals, or rooted in a difference of opinion amenable to discussion
  and negotiation. On the contrary, Palestinians consistently face
  aggression, brutality and unchecked expansion, and this situation
  cannot be justified or accepted as a fait accompli.
• Israel should be defined as an illegal entity in the region, and not
  a civil or democratic entity. It should be referred to as the “Israeli
  occupation,”“occupation entity,” “apartheid state,” “racist state” or in
  similar terms. This is based on the root cause of the issue, historical
  facts and principles of international law which Israel has not abided
  by. It also refers to the nature of the establishment of the occupation
  state, based on ethnic racism, historical myths and misinformation.
• Semi-permanent space should always be reserved for new
  developments in the Palestinian cause at all levels in media institutions.
  Vigilance should be maintained in programming cycles and different
  productions, while developing methods to reach communities around
  the world, regardless of culture and language.
• Terminology serving the Palestinian cause should be used, while
  terminology promoting the occupation’s propaganda and its agenda
  should be avoided. For instance:

“Security wall» should not be used in the place of“the racial
separation wall” or “occupation expansion wall.”
“Acts of sabotage” or “terrorist attacks» should not be used
instead of “acts of resistance”.
“Israeli Arabs” should not be used instead of “the Palestinians
of the 1948 lands,” or “the Palestinians in the lands occupied in
1948.”

• The geographical borders of Palestine are the historical borders
  demarcated under the British Mandate (historical Palestine), with an
  area of 27,000 km2.
• Media and academic institutions should focus on the continual
  improvement of journalists, developing their skill sets so that they
  can carry out their responsibilities toward the Palestinian cause in an
  enhanced and more impactful manner.
• The Palestinian cause should be spared from the disastrous effects
  of political, ideological, sectarian and ethnic conflict in the region.
  The status of the Palestinian issue should be reinforced as an Arab,
  Islamic, human, just and universal cause, and should not be reduced
  to a means of reason for political polarization and discord.
• The rights of the Palestinian people to defend themselves and resist
  occupation should be emphasized. The difference between resistance
  and «terrorism» should be made distinct and clear, as“terrorism”is
  both offensive, and a grave misrepresentation. Attention should be
  paid to the issues that achieve the interests of the Palestinian people,
  such as their rights to:

Resist
Return
Self-determination
Establish an independent state with Jerusalem as its capital
Freedom of worship in its Islamic and Christian holy sites
Freedom of expression
Freedom of political participation
Freedom of assembly in political or social groups
Freedom from imprisonment
Freedom of the press
Freedom of movement
Freedom of education
Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness

As stipulated by international covenants and conventions.

• The international community should be held responsible for ending
  the injustice imposed on the Palestinian people, as they are a victim
  of political favouritism. The absence of global justice is a serious issue,
  and there is an international responsibility to achieve justice, end
  occupation, and protect the inalienable rights of peoples and nations.
• Coverage should reinforce Palestinian national unity, and showcase
  a united front against occupation. Attention should be paid to avoid
  attempts at creating discord and disunity among the people. Blatantly
  partisan or sectarian tactics should be avoided. Differences of opinion
  should be covered, to give a chance for constructive dialogue and
  criticism, without taking away from the coverage of general affairs of
  the Palestinian people.
• It is the media’s responsibility–at the local, regional and global level–
  to expose the crimes and violations of the occupation against the
  Palestinians, while double-checking every fact and verifying all details.
• Journalists and media organisations should look at all published
  content on the Palestinian cause in Arab or global publications with a
  sceptical eye. Everything should be scrutinized. Misleading and false
  content should be identified, and should be professionally responded
  to.
• The Palestinian issue should be seen as a human issue, necessitating
  that human stories should be told. Coverage should not focus on
  “newsy” elements of the news cycle, which turn the Palestinian issue
  into a litany of local Israeli crime stories. Instead, coverage should aim
  to reflect the humanity of the Palestinians, their suffering, struggles,
  and the violation of their rights and human dignity. Stories with a
  strong human voice include:

Detention of children
Bombing of unarmed civilians
Assault and battery of elderly
Detention of women, and mothers with new-borns
Burning down of houses and trees
Occupation-induced poverty
Misery endured at checkpoints

Media Policies for Covering Israeli Occupation

Based on the principle of rejecting occupation and refusing to
recognise its legitimacy or political and legal impact, and in the
context of supporting the Palestinian cause, we propose the
following media policies while addressing the Israeli occupation:

• The Israeli occupation does not have officially demarcated sovereign
  borders, nor a constitution that restrains its expansive ambitions.
  When it is necessary to refer to geography or de facto borders,
  it is advisable to use the term “1948 Occupied Palestine” or “the
  Palestinian territories occupied in 1948.”
• Highlight the occupation’s crimes, and the violations committed
  by its institutions and settler groups’ against Palestinian civilians
  in a way that demonstrates the criminality of the occupation and
  considers the sensitivity of the audience. This includes:

Collective punishment
Indiscriminate bombing
Suffocating siege
Deliberate murder
Arbitrary detention
Assault on children, women and the elderly
Torture
Inflicting permanent disabilities
Assault against civilians
Violations of human dignity
Violations of sacred sites (Islamic and Christian)
Confiscation of land
Home demolition
Setting fire to crops
Violating human rights

• It’s important to make clear that settlers are not civilians. They are
  heavily armed, serve in the occupation army, and reside in settlement
  outposts in purely Palestinian areas and among the Palestinian
  population.
• It’s advised not to host any official and non-official figures from
  the occupation community or Zionist figures, officials, or speakers
  possessing the occupying state’s citizenship and who support the
  occupation. It’s also advised that direct live broadcasting of press
  conferences held with the occupation’s leaders be avoided. Journalists
  and editors shall be content with addressing them in news bulletins
  and programmes, based on the editorial policies of each media
  institution.
• Pay special attention to the content, terminology and expressions
  published or disseminated by the occupation’s media. It is important
  to address them and edit them in order to avoid the influence of
  propaganda and bias in favour of the occupation. This must be
  carried out in accordance with professional standards, including, but
  not limited to, the explanation or definition of terms in parentheses
  within the quoted sentences.
• Coverage should be provided for global campaigns boycotting the
  occupation state, with clarifications on the nature of these campaigns.
  People should know how to participate in the boycott, and the results
  achieved by it.

Media Policies for the Global Discourse of the Palestinian Cause (1)

Taking into account all of the above, improving the reach, impact and
presence of the Palestinian cause in global and regional media requires
attention to a number of media policies and standards, as follows:

• Development and circulation of material suitable for various
  communities across the world, in various productions, art forms and
  formats, including photographs, drawings, caricatures, music, as well as
  Palestinian songs and media productions in numerous languages. This
  should be part of a bid to win hearts and minds, and touch base with
  common human denominators, while tailored to resonate with the
  culture, religion, ethnicity, environment and history of each region. It is
  also important to address the media’s political, social and intellectual
  elites in foreign communities due to their ability to influence their
  communities.
• Participate in international media festivals with competitive creative
  products that focus on the Palestinian cause and its aspects as part
  of their content. Focus on demonstrating Palestinian capabilities and
  competencies in various fields, in addition to highlighting the aesthetics
  of Palestinian art and artists. This should also be accompanied by
  developing joint initiatives, projects and programmes in this regard,
  while ensuring the integrity of content and freedom of expression of
  the just cause.
• Benefit from prevailing global humanitarian values and pay attention
  to their discourse and expressions in a manner that considers the
  priorities of current media engagement throughout the world. Strive
  to integrate interest in the Palestinian cause by means of engaging
  with major events, such as international sports leagues and large art
  festivals, for example.
• Expand and reinforce the relations of Palestinian journalists and media
  organisations on the ground through international media outlets,
  while enhancing media and press communication, cooperation and
  camaraderie in order to convey the Palestinian narrative to mainstream
  international public opinion.
• Make sure to address the Palestinian issue, its major issues, details
  and facts from specific angles on regular periodic occasions, whether
  related to the Palestinian cause, such as the Nakba, Prisoners’ Day,
  Land Day, etc. as well as international occasions, or those specifically
  pertaining to certain regions of the world, such as those related to
  mothers, women, children, freedom of expression, honouring innocent
  victims, the environment, etc. This can be done through highlighting
  relevant aspects of the Palestinian cause.
• Provide necessary clarification, detail and concepts for the general
  public outside of Palestine and its regional surroundings to understand
  developments and circumstances. Do not assume a general or
  working knowledge about details and roots of the Palestinian cause.
  It is important to link events and developments with their historical
  background to better provide context.
• Contest and refute the occupation’s misleading propaganda at the
  international level, dismantling its pretexts. This should also include
  giving special attention to this effort during heated developments and
  escalations, while combating distortion and confronting incitement
  campaigns launched by the occupation’s propaganda outlets,
  spokespersons or those biased in its favour.

Media Policies for the Global Discourse of the Palestinian Cause (2)

• In order to effectively scale discourse on the Palestinian cause from
  the local to global level, we must give vital attention and energy to the
  discourse’s content and how it engages with international audiences,
  while bearing in mind the following aspects and points:
• The unity of the Palestinian domestic national position, in terms
  of the unity of Muslims and Christians, and some Palestinian Jews
  in their rejection of the occupation and their commitment to their
  national rights.
• Any political settlement process for the Palestinian cause must be
  based on justice, which cannot be achieved without the end of the
  occupation and the restoration of all of the Palestinians’national
  rights.
• Focus on the racist nature of the occupation state, which is considered
  an escalated model of apartheid. This includes:

Construction of the racist separation wall in the West Bank
Confiscation of West Bank and Jerusalem territories by means of illegal                 settlement
Expulsion of Palestinians from their cities and villages using fabricated                  excuses and pretexts
Allowing settlers to move in to Palestinian areas and land
Passing discriminating laws
Exercising institutional discrimination against Palestinian citizens

• The battle of the Palestinian people is directed solely at the Israeli
  occupation and does not stem from a hostile religious position or
  ethnic hatred. In addition to this, the concept of hating Jews, known as
  anti-Semitism, does not represent the Palestinian cause. It is actually
  foreign to the reality and history of Arabs and Muslims. Rather, history
  has witnessed co-existence with Jews and respect for their religion
  and places of worship.
• Making sure to showcase the diverse social groups within Palestinian
  peoples, such as women, the elderly, children, and those with
  disabilities, as well as the various specialised and professional circles.
  Care should be taken to highlight the living patterns of Palestinians
  across Palestine, as well as their sacrifices and suffering under the
  occupation and its policies. This strengthens the chances for empathy
  and solidarity with the nation, as well as chances of reviving solidarity
  efforts across the world.
• Exposing the occupation’s many human rights violations against the
  Palestinian people. Such violations require prosecution in international
  courts in order to achieve justice. It is also critical to focus on relevant
  information, details, reports and media materials.

Media Policies to Support Palestine through Digital Content

The policy and media content of the Palestinian issue in general, whether
in traditional media or digital media content, is consistent with what is
stated in this handbook. However, the inevitability march of technological
development and the ongoing digital revolution requires taking into
account the most appropriate means of addressing the public. When
covering the Palestinian issue digitally, it is important to bear in mind the
following:

• Ensure that media productions related to the Palestinian cause are
  suitable for publishing on websites and social networking sites.
  Suitable pages, platforms, and mediums should be established for this
  with a mind towards ease of access and broad distribution.
• Support for the Palestinian cause on digital and social media platforms
  requires an understanding of the features and nature of these
  platforms, as what is suitable for one platform may not be suitable for
  another. Moreover, each has its own audience and demographic that
  needs to be addressed in a certain manner and method.
• It is necessary to understand the community guidelines for digital
  and social platforms and formulate and create digital materials and
  content in a manner that prevents it from being removed or from
  accounts being shut down under the pretext of violating the policies
  of these platforms. Account censorship imposed on these platforms
  must also be taken into account, especially towards the Palestinian
  cause, when creating content.
• Paid promotions and advertising targeting can be highly effective
  methods of reaching specific audiences, developing and retaining
  existing audiences or increasing reach. This necessitates a deep and
  thorough understanding of the possible sympathizing demographic’s
  psyche, spending habits, interests, as well as those of dedicated
  supporters of the Palestinian cause. Moreover, the use of advanced
  analytics and data in the study of engagement towards the Palestinian
  cause is a necessary and effective means of charting public disposition
  globally towards the issue, while identifying geographies of support,
  or their lack thereof.

Media Policies for Media Content and Format

• The following policies are suggested for consideration by media
  and press organisations, related to media format and content when
  covering Palestinian affairs:
• Present and highlight the suffering of Palestinians in news and media content as acts of resistance and self-defence.
• Focus on presenting images of the Israeli occupation’s violations of
  civilians’ rights, especially during wars and armed clashes, in a manner
  that shows the occupation’s brutality on one hand and respects the
  dignity of the people on the other, without negatively affecting the
  psychological state of the audience.
• It is important for coverage to include the political, social, intellectual,
  cultural and humanitarian aspects of the Palestinian scene based on
  the area and identity of each institution.
• Reinforce the method of investigating and examining sensitive cases,
  especially in a manner that contributes to exposing the occupation’s
  crimes.
• It is necessary to diversify media productions and formats to include
  news and humanitarian stories, reports, newsletters, documentaries,
  short films, op-eds, opinion pieces and news.
• Remain open to all Palestinian, Arab and international trends,
  institutions, bodies, associations and parties, and address their media
  positions to serve the Palestinian cause in accordance with national
  principles and rights.
• Respect all Palestinian parties and factions and their different views
  on the basis of unity in the face of Israeli occupation. Avoid pointing
  fingers or accusing bodies, parties, or individuals of treason.
• Revive the idea that the Palestinian people are a cohesive and
  integrated unit, and ensure sure that coverage of Palestinian affairs
  remains balanced between the inside and outside of Palestine
  (Palestine, areas of refuge, and Diaspora).
• Continuous reporting and publishing of developments of events,
  pictures and live video footage from the ground in Palestine, which
  holds a strong and influential media value, as with popular protests,
  arrests and other crimes committed by the occupation that do not
  require detailed explanations to engage with.

Media Policies on Global Media Discourse during Wars and Uprisings

The following media policies are suggested to contribute to
defining a coordinated global media discourse and content that
reflects the reality of Palestinians living under the occupation’s
aggression and wars, which are as follows:

• Focus on moving humanitarian issues and stories resulting from
  attacks on the Palestinians, and utilize language that speaks to one’s
  emotions. Instead of only mentioning the number of martyrs, injured,
  and prisoners, include their names and produce stories about them,
  their families, and children.
• Use visual effects, such as design, illustrations, and infographics that
  illustrate the rapid development of events in order to make it easy to
  understand and spread the details of the events.
• Rely on live specialised and trusted Palestinian sources and adopt the
  Palestinian narrative from official and trusted sources. Do not quote
  military and security sources from occupation authorities or media
  except in specific cases following careful examination and editing.
  Allocate important space in various media outlets and platforms to
  the Palestinian cause and its developments (such as the front pages of
  newspapers, website homepages, and tweets on social media sites).
• Focus on the magnitude of all forms of loss and damage left behind
  by the war and uprisings on Palestinians, examine and investigate
  their consequences, and portray the reality of Palestinians’ weak sides.
  Additionally, report how the basic necessities of life are threatened
  due to Israel’s attacks and violence.
• Present the Palestinian resistance as an issue of self-defence and
  protection of Palestinians, who are faced with extermination and
  genocide at the hands of the Israeli occupation army. Ensure promoting
  the narrative that the resistance does not support war, but rather calls
  for ending it immediately.
• Exhibit Israel’s military strength and capabilities in the form of its
  resources, missiles, aircrafts, and bombs, as well as its destructive
  impact on the ground. Support this with pictures and suitable media
  materials. On the other hand, do not overstate the capabilities of the
  resistance and its potential, focusing instead on the heroic stories of
  self-defence.
• Link Israeli military force with the support and armament of American
  and Western aircraft, and modern weapons of the occupation state,
  especially during times of war.
• Adopt uniform terminology and continue to reiterate it, such as
  describing Israeli bombings or field killings of Palestinians as terrorist
  or inhumane acts.
• Media productions should be tailored to social media and its policies
  and tools, and international and uniform hashtags related to Israeli
  aggression should be promoted and used.