The Arab journalists union to create a permanent platform against Israeli media disinformation

BAGHDAD, October 22 — The Arab Journalists Union has decided to establish a permanent platform to counter Israeli media disinformation and to allocate all the necessary resources, both human and material, to ensure the success of this platform. This decision was made during an emergency conference held in Cairo.

The Secretary-General of the Arab Journalists Union, Mouayad Al-Lami, presided over the meeting, attended by members of the General Secretariat and the heads of the Palestinian and Egyptian journalist syndicates, Nasser Abu Baker and Khaled El-Balshi, respectively.

The General Secretariat reiterated the union’s strong rejection of all forms of liquidation of the Palestinian cause through policies of ethnic cleansing, forced displacement of Palestinians to Egypt and Jordan, as well as the killing and starvation of Palestinians. The deliberate and systematic destruction of all aspects of a dignified life in Gaza and the West Bank is also strongly condemned.

The General Secretariat refuses to reduce the Palestinian issue to its humanitarian aspects and overlook its deep historical roots. It affirms that the Palestinian issue is one of occupation and the usurpation of Palestinian land, requiring the right of Palestinians to self-determination, the establishment of their independent state, and the recognition of Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with international law.

The General Secretariat condemns the heinous crimes committed by the Israeli occupation forces since October 7, and calls on the United Nations and the international community to intervene to stop the aggressive Israeli attacks, provide legal, effective, and political protection for the Palestinian people.

It calls for the pursuit of Israeli authorities responsible for war crimes committed against Palestinians and considers Israel as a terrorist entity.

The Arab Journalists Union commends the steadfastness of the Palestinian people, which aligns with the popular will of the Arab street, as well as the Arab and international efforts to stop the war, implement international legitimacy resolutions, reject forced displacement, and ensure the delivery of relief aid to Gaza. The union appreciates the Egyptian efforts led by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to open the border crossings and sustain the necessary aid delivery to Gaza.

The General Secretariat also strongly condemns the targeted assassination of journalists through house bombings and the targeting of media institutions.

It condemns and rejects the attempts by the Israeli occupation to close media institutions, as part of a policy of suppression and violation of journalistic freedoms.

The Arab Journalists Union calls on the International Federation of Journalists to urgently address the issue of targeting journalists, hold criminals accountable, and provide assistance to the families of journalism martyrs through joint efforts between the Arab Journalists Union and the International Federation of Journalists and relevant regional and professional structures.

In the face of the wave of media misinformation, especially by most Israeli and Western media outlets, the General Secretariat of the Arab Journalists Union has decided to establish a permanent platform to expose the truth, starting with what is happening in Gaza and the West Bank. The union considers this platform the heart of defending the ethics of the journalism profession.

The Arab media institutions are urged to stop hosting war criminals, especially those inciting the killing of Palestinians and justifying Zionist crimes.

The General Secretariat opposes targeting journalists on charges of bias towards the Palestinian people, considering it a continuation of the Israeli occupation’s targeting of journalists and the ethics of the profession.

The General Secretariat decided to remain in a constant state of convening to monitor the situation and engage with Arab and international organizations to coordinate positions and actions in support of the Palestinian right.