WHAT'S NEW
January 2006 - The Israeli Media Coverage of the Arab Society
Symposium: “Media Rights as Collective Political & Cultural Rights: The Arabic Channel – A Case Study.”
As part of the “Responsible and Professional Media” project a symposium was held looking at the potentials for media, focusing on, and serving minority groups, in Mary's Well Hotel, Nazareth on 2 nd December. See newsletter for further detail [1]
Heavy restrictions placed on Palestinian journalists by the General Security Services (GSS or Shabak)
After months of growing concern by Palestinian journalists over interrogations on professional relationships with Arab counterparts outside of Israel , Mr Anton Shalhat, journalist and writer was prohibited to leave the country by the office of Ariel Sharon and the Ministry of Interior. See report or the newsletter for further detail [2]
Expert's guide
150 names of experts, such as civil society actors and academics from the Palestinian community in Israel , have been compiled into a handy guide, available in Arabic, Hebrew and soon, in English. See newsletter for further detail [3]
Journalists tour to the Refugee camps Dheisha and Aida
“The Story of Being Refugees in their Own Land ,” tour took twelve Palestinian journalists to the Dheisha and Aida refugee camps in Bethlehem , on 11 December, to gain first-hand knowledge of the reality facing refugees living in these camps. See newsletter for further detail [4]
Intensive Training for Palestinian Journalists in the Negev
I'lam began implementation of a second intensive training program aimed at journalists from the Negev region on 22 December 2005 , to improve their journalistic capacities in this region, where many important news events go underreported or unreported. See newsletter for further detail [5]
Documentary Film about the Negev
I'lam has produced a 52-minute documentary exploring the struggle of Palestinians in the Negev , particularly those living in ‘unrecognized villages', for the recognition of their indigenous land rights. See newsletter for further detail [6]
Conference in Ramallah for Palestinian Journalists from both sides of the Green Line.
Exploring strategies for Palestinian media practitioners in addressing Israeli, European, and US-American media, I'lam's delegation of Palestinian journalists from Israel contributed a unique perspective. Around 100 participants, on 25-26 September, discussed how to effectively communicate the Palestinian position, and accompanying implementation strategies. See newsletter for further detail [7]
Human Rights Outreach Activities for Journalists
A roundtable entitled “Journalists Under Fire,” was organized on 23 September by I'lam and Acri, with the aim of discussing with journalists issues of reporting in conflict and war zones. Thirty-five participants (mainly journalists from the Arabic and Hebrew media) actively took part in the roundtable. Three of the main local Arabic newspapers (Kol al-Arab, Hadith al-Nas and al-Ittihad) gave media coverage to this activity.
12 – 17 August 2005 – Special Report (Arabic, English & Hebrew) on Israeli TV Coverage of the Terror Attack in Shafa'amr in which Four Arab Citizens Were Killed
On 4 August 2005 , a soldier murdered four Arab citizens on a bus in Shafa'amr. How did Israeli TV cover this incident? Does the media in Israel seriously investigate and report all incidents of racism critically? What is the impact on values of democracy and justice?>> read report
25 July 2005 – Tour for Journalists from the local Arabic & Hebrew media to Lyd, Ramla, and Jaffa
About 30 journalists took part in a tour entitled, "Cities on Geopolitical Fracture Lines: Planning, Building, Education & Waqf Properties in Mixed-Towns."
15 - 30 July – I'lam's staff partakes in training course on teaching cinema studies in Ramallah
Yathreb Zoubi (Media Monitoring Staff) and Wael Awad (Production Department Coordinator) attended a training program with some 30 other teachers from schools throughout the West Bank and Jerusalem on how to teach cinema studies to children and youth. Topics covered included the history and development of world cinema, terminology and tools in discussing and apprehending cinema, cinematic styles, production and editing techniques, and Palestinian cinema, directors, and genres.
28 June 2005 – Documentary Workshop for Women Working at NGOs
Filmmaker and actor Salim Daw showed his documentary film “Mafateeh” (“Keys”) in Haifa to fifteen women from Arab NGOs (mainly Al-Tufula, Pedagogical and Multipurpose Women's Center, Nazareth Nurseries Institute). After the screening, Mr. Daw talked about his experience in working in the field of cinema, and answered questions from the participants.
16 – 20 June - Open Air Community Cinema
Three free open air cinema screenings of Charlie Chaplin's “Modern Times,” were organized in the city of Nazareth . These screenings took place in Khalet El-Deir on 16 June 2005 , in the Old City on 18 June 2005 , and in the Eastern Quarter on 20 June 2005 . Free community-based cultural activities such as this allow I'lam to reach out and give back to the community we aim to serve. Each screening was attended by a minimum of 180 persons swelling to a maximum of some 300 persons. Women and children formed the majority of those attendance, and participant feedback was overwhelmingly positive.
29 May 2005 - Al-Ittihad: 60 Years of Covering the News
I'lam hosted an event for the newspaper al-Ittihad, to commemorate its 60-year anniversary. Over 65 people attended the event at al-Ein Hotel in Nazareth , to pay tribute to al-Ittihad - the only Arabic-language newspaper serving the Arab society in Israel today that both pre-dated and survived al-Nakba (“the catastrophe” of 1948).
17 May 2005 – Presentation of First Public Opinion Poll amongst Arab Media Consumers in Israel
Some 180 Arab and Jewish journalists, representatives of foreign embassies and NGOs, media students, and members of the general public attended I'lam's presentation on “Patterns of Media Consumption and Perceptions of Media Reliability in Arab Society in Israel,” held at the Cinemathèque in Nazareth. >> read preliminary report in English / Arabic / Hebrew
27 April 2005 - Consciousness Raising with the Next Generation of Leaders
Fifty students from a Kfar Kara' school attended a 2 ½-hour session at I'lam, as part of course studies on the effects of violence. Kholod Masalha facilitated interactive presentations on the role of I'lam in monitoring incitement against Arab citizens of Israel in the media. Leila Kanj introduced students to film productions made at I'lam: Lama Zafouck (“When they Clap”), on the subject of the popular demonstrations and police violence responsible for the killing of 13 Arabs in October 2000, and a series of short reports produced by Arab Palestinian adolescents on subjects like the confiscation of school lands in Sakhnin by the Municipality of Misgav.
18 April 2005 - Meeting Between Arab Journalists and Representatives of International Federation of Journalists (IFJ)
IFJ representative Hans Verploeg met with Arab Palestinian journalists working in Israel to discuss the role of the IFJ in promoting journalists' rights, and to garner feedback on the generalities and specificities of the economic and political context in which these journalists work. The meeting took place at the Howard Johnson Hotel. It was unanimously agreed upon that follow-up sessions structured around some of the issues that emerged would be fruitful, and negotiations are underway to organize a more comprehensive multi-day workshop, in the near future.
13 April 2005 - Keshet & Reshet Take Tender for Channel Two
The 15-member Council for the Second Broadcasting Authority announced that Keshet and Reshet won the bid for a 10-year broadcasting contract for Channel Two. I'lam continues to monitor developments in the programming at Channel Two and to lobby Keshet and Reshet to have the concerns and needs of the Arab citizens of Israel addressed.
8 April 2005 - Public Lecture on Image, Caricature and Palestinian Identity
As part of the Co-financing Project, Nihad Bika'i and and Dr. Isma'il Nashef gave presentations at the I'lam center on changes in the role of caricature and photography as it relates to the expression of Palestinian identity and the struggle for self-determination.
26 March 2005 - Land Day Tour for Journalists
A tour for journalists was conducted as part of Yom el Ard (Land Day 30 March) activities. About 40 primarily Arab journalists attended the tour that visited many villages in the Upper Galilee , populated by internally displaced refugees of the 1948 war.
17 to 20 March 2005 - Training Workshop in Cairo
As part of ongoing capacity building efforts amongst I'lam staff, Maysaa Abu Elhaija attended a training course conducted by IFEX (International Freedom of Expression eXchange), and held in Cairo . The 3-day workshop focused on how to mount a rapid response across global networks when faced with violations of journalists' rights.
4 March 2005 - Demonstration for Tayseer Allouni
A demonstration, attended by some 30 Arab journalists, was held outside the Spanish Embassy in Tel Aviv, to petition for the release of al-Jazeera journalist Tayseer Allouni. Tayseer was imprisoned by the Spanish authorities in September 2003 and accused of belonging to al-Qaeda, after working diligently as a journalist in Afghanistan to document civilian casualties in American-led “war on terror.”
I'lam's Annual Report 2004 is now available for reading and review.
I'lam is happy to welcome Ola Jabali as Financial Manager, Wael Awad as Coordinator at the Production Center , and Leila Kanj responsible for Empowerment Program Development.
Newsletter & Communiqué Foreign Media
Giluy Naoot (No. 58, August 2, 2005 ): Weekly collection of stories relating to the social, cultural, political and economic matters of Arab Palestinian citizens of Israel .
Akhbar (January & April 2005 – Special double edition): Gives further details about I'lam current and future projects in English. Akhbar is published every three months.
News Updates for the foreign media in English ( 17 August 2005 ).
