The Arab Ministers of Media Council, in a statement issued at the conclusion of its 56th session today Wednesday, affirmed that the Palestinian issue will remain the central Arab issue, reiterating its support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, foremost among which is their right to self-determination and the establishment of their independent state on the lines of June 4, 1967, with Jerusalem as its capital.
In the same context, the Council called for enhancing the presence of the Palestinian issue in Arab and international media discourse, and intensifying efforts aimed at protecting Palestinian journalists and holding accountable those responsible for violations committed against them, commending the efforts of the Palestinian leadership, represented by the Palestine Liberation Organization, in continuing political and diplomatic mobilization at the Arab and international levels.
Condemnation of targeting Palestinian journalists
The Council pointed to the violations and crimes suffered by Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including Jerusalem, noting Israeli measures aimed at changing the demographic, historical, and legal character of Jerusalem and Judaizing its landmarks, and expressed concern over the targeting of Palestinian journalists by killing, injuring, arresting, and mistreatment by Israeli occupation forces.
The statement clarified that more than 260 journalists and media workers have been killed since the start of the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip on October 7, 2023, emphasizing the necessity of providing protection for Palestinian journalists and ensuring their safety, and providing the necessary support to them and to Palestinian media institutions to ensure their continued ability to perform their professional mission.
Arab media coordination
The Council stressed the importance of continuing Arab media coverage of field, humanitarian, and political developments in the occupied Palestinian territories, and enhancing the presence of the Palestinian narrative in Arab and international media discourse, and countering disinformation campaigns and distortion of facts, and called for developing a professional and coordinated Arab media discourse that reflects the reality of the situation.
It also called for coordinating Arab initiatives to provide support to journalists and Palestinian media institutions in cooperation with the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States, and Syrian Media Minister Khaled Zaarour affirmed at the opening of the Council's sessions that Syria is undergoing an foundational stage aimed at restructuring its media system, and Syria took over the presidency of the 55th ordinary session of the Council last year.
The statement added that the Arab Ministers of Media Council voted unanimously to choose Damascus as the Arab Media Capital for 2028, a step reflecting the Syrian role in coordinating Arab media during its presidency of the previous session.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
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