Introduction:

 In certain aspects, the year 1998 witnessed a decrease in the human rights violations committed by the Palestinian National Authority (PNA). In other aspects, violations have decreased compared to those committed in 1997.

The PNA is finally beginning to realize the importance of avoiding committing violations that provoke local and international public opinion. Only two deaths in Palestinian prisons were reported during 1998, compared to seven deaths during 1997.

Local Palestinian Television and radio stations were closed down by the PNA during the British American aggression against Iraq on 16 December 1998, claiming that these stations broadcast material such as demonstrations, in support of Iraq. However, this closure barely lasted one day, compared to that which took place during the crisis with Iraq in February 1998, where TV and radio stations were closed for three months. It seems that the PNA is beginning to acknowledge the widespread depression among the Palestinian people, and realize that the PNA's own human rights abuses contributes to the people's despair. The PNA understands that such violations damage its credibility, and places a question mark on the genuineness of its intentions to building a free civil society based on law and the safeguarding of human rights. The PNA also realizes that its violations of human rights are apparent, and easy to ascertain through the work conducted by the PHRMG which monitors these violations constantly, especially the violations committed by the security forces against detainees in prisons and detention centers, who number about 151 in the areas controlled by the PNA.

Today, due to the great advancements in telecommunications, the world seems to be a very small place. This makes the PNA sense that it is subject to heavy international monitoring, as well as international pressure. The PNA duly recognizes the power of public opinion and its influence through the material published in the media.

The decrease in the number of deaths in Palestinian custody is only a small compensation. Palestinian prisons remain crowded with prisoners, some of whom have spent two or more years without being tried or charged. The practice of torturing prisoners is increasingly widespread. During the first six months of 1998, the PHRMG managed to obtain 70 testimonies from directly from victims of torture or from heir families. This number is astonishing. Moreover, the numbers are probably even greater as dozens of victims and their families have not found the courage to file complaints and give their testimonies, either to the PHRMG, or to other human rights organizations.

The PHRMG released a report on torture for the first six months of 1998 entitled: Torture: A State’s Tyranny. Some of those who tortured Palestinian detainees were themselves victims of torture under Israeli interrogation. This situation is very unfortunate because it shatters the dreams of those who longed for a just peace and a democratic Palestinian State.

Freedom of the press is still violated. Israel violated this freedom during the thirty years of occupation, and today, the PNA joined Israel in this in the areas under its control (less than 6%). Israeli violations are increasing, especially in Hebron. Eight Palestinian journalists were under heavy Israeli gunfire attack last March (13/3/1998). Most of them were wounded by rubber bullets because they were filming the settler’s attack on the residents of Abu Sneineh neighborhood in Hebron.

When the PNA said that a free press exists in Palestine, it forced self-censorship on the Palestinian media, whether in Jerusalem, in the West Bank, or in Gaza. Palestinian security forces closed down most TV and radio stations during the United Nations Gulf in February 1998. Palestinian journalists were forbidden from filming demonstrations against the American aggression on Iraq. They were especially forbidden from filming demonstrators while they burnt the American and Israeli flags. The Palestinian Ministry of Information released orders to the local media not to release any comments related to the Iraqi crisis.

During demonstrations in support of the Iraqi people, many Palestinian journalists were arrested and severely beaten. In addition to their cameras being destroyed.

On 23 October 1998, during the Wye Plantation signing ceremony, the Palestinian police arrested 11 journalists, among them one American, leaving the home of Sheikh Ahmad Yassin who was under house arrest. The journalists were forbidden from making any interviews with Sheikh Yassin, whose phone lines were disconnected. The PNA ordered that anyone wishing to visit Yassin, obtain an order from the security forces.

On 19 November 1998, in correlation with the Wye Plantation Agreement, President Yasser Arafat released an order warning against any provoking activities contrary to the agreement causing legislators and judges to question its legality. The President, according to constitutional regulations, has the right to release such orders in the absence of the committee of representatives, but he does not have the right to release them when a legislative authority in the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) is present. Only the Legislative Authority has the right to release laws concerning the public.

Moreover, the presidential order also included unclear statements. While using the terms ‘provocation’ or ‘racial discrimination’, the order did not define either. In the absence of a stable judicial system, which might be able to interpret such orders, this situation causes unnecessary misunderstanding regarding of the content of the order.