PA journalists support author of Western Wall report

The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate expresses solidarity with Taha, who recently published a “study” denying Jews’ rights to the Kotel.

By KHALED ABU TOAMEH
Haredim at Kotel 311 (photo credit: AP)
Haredim at Kotel 311
(photo credit: AP)
The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate in the West Bank on Monday expressed its solidarity with Al-Mutawakel Taha, the senior Palestinian Authority Ministry of Information official who recently published a “study” denying Jews’ rights to the Western Wall.
The five-page document, which first appeared on the official website of the ministry, has been strongly condemned by Israel and the US.
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Taha’s “study” was subsequently removed from the ministry’s website. However, last weekend it resurfaced, this time on the official website of the PA’s news agency Wafa.
Taha, who is also a famous Palestinian poet, said he was surprised to learn that his document had been removed from the ministry’s website.
The journalists’ syndicate, which is controlled by Fatah, rejected US and Israeli protests over the “scientific study.”
The syndicate said that the “extremist right-wing government in Israel allows and supports hostile settler actions, but can’t accept a scientific study written by a Palestinian poet.”
The syndicate added that Israel’s position toward the document “exposed its false claim to be democratic.”
The journalists called on the US and Europe to condemn Israel for restricting Palestinian freedom of expression and “opposing all that’s outside the narrative of occupation and aggression.”
The controversial document concludes that the Western Wall is a Muslim-owned structure and an integral part of the Aksa Mosque.