THE SILENCE OF THE PRESS – AT 10:29 P.M. ET:  The Jerusalem Post reports the beatings of journalists in Gaza.  The story is written by courageous Arab journalist Khaled Abu Toameh, who also writes for the Hudson Institute website. 

A number of Palestinian women journalists complained on Sunday that they had been beaten and tortured by Hamas security forces in the Gaza Strip.

They said the assaults occurred in recent days when they and their colleagues tried to cover pro-unity rallies in different parts of the Gaza Strip.

Hamas policemen used force to disperse the protesters, who were calling for an end to the dispute between the Islamist movement and Fatah. The rallies were part of a Facebook campaign organized by Palestinian youth on March 15.

At least eight journalists were beaten by the Hamas police officers during the rallies.

Some had their cameras and laptops confiscated, while others were taken into custody and made to sign a document pledging to refrain from covering such events in the future.

Later, Hamas security personnel raided the offices of a number of media organizations and confiscated equipment and documents. Among the offices targeted were Reuters, CNN and a Japanese TV network.

COMMENT:  Have you seen anything about this in the mainstream press?  Have you seen anything on CNN?

There is an ugly history of CNN, and other outlets, making deals with Arab dictatorships to play down their cruelty in exchange for access.   CNN made a deal like that with Saddam Hussein.  When it was exposed, a CNN executive, a sacrificial lamb, had to step down. 

It's a sickening picture.  On balance, I think the press has done a decent job of reporting the recent upheavals in the Mideast.  But when it comes to the "Palestinians," a vague term at best, there too often has been a free pass.  A few days ago Dan Rather complained that some members of his crew were subjected to humiliating security checks in Israel, and I think his complaints may have some merit.  But on Hamas beatings of journalists, only a curious silence.

March 27, 2011