After over five years and 164 court sessions, the Israeli judiciary is expected to issue a verdict in the coming months as to the innocence or guilt of a Palestinian humanitarian official. Mohammad El Halabi the former director of the World Vision humanitarian program in Gaza was arrested back in June 2016. At the time Israeli media said he was responsible for transferring millions of humanitarian dollar funds from the government of Australia to what they said “terrorist” organizations. World Vision and the Australian government have since carried out intensive thorough audits and found absolutely no truth to the accusation.

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Restrictions, imprisonments, Attacks, and killings of journalists the world over have continued for years for a simple reason. Impunity. Political leaders, government officials, drug lords, and corrupt powerful families have made sure that attacks on courageous journalists produce the desired results. Their goal is to intimidate journalists and more importantly, others send a message to others to avoid continuing in the efforts to expose wrongdoing.

The issue of impunity has been so important in international press freedom efforts that the United Nations has agreed to set aside a day in the annual calendar for impunity to journalists. When November 2…

Palestinian Christians have launched a strong attack against an Israeli-based group that claims to represent Christian supporters of Israel worldwide. Leading Baptists in Palestine and Jordan had scathing words regarding Christian Zionists.

The Israel Allies foundation published on its website a list of 50 Christian leaders the first among them is Paula White the Advisor to the White House on Faith & Opportunity Initiatives. She is also the chair of the evangelical advisory board in President Donald Trump’s administration. The Christian Zionist foundation calls the 50 leaders the top supporters of Israel worldwide.

Issa Kassisieh the Palestinian ambassador to the…

By Daoud Kuttab

Something strange happened in the Arab region this week. People followed closely the final legal decision-making process of the electoral college and were mesmerized by the strength of American democracy. The widely followed BBC Arabic program Nuqtat Hewar (on radio, tv, and social media) engaged with audiences throughout the Arab region with many expressing their amazement at the way the American people and the U.S. institutions withstood an authoritarian takeover attempt. Some, however, have noted the lack of resolve by both democrats and republicans when it came to supporting democratic aspirations around the world.

Having been badly…

Dear President-elect

Congratulations on your successful election as the 46th president of the United States of America.

My best wishes to you and your team as we all join together in praying that your presidency will witness the end of the wave of hatred and lack of tolerance not only in America but throughout the world including our holy land.

I am writing to you as a father to a father. I know that you lost your dear so Beau and therefore I am certain you will understand my feelings towards my son who has been in an Israeli prison…

By Daoud Kuttab

After nearly three years of boycotting the U.S. administration, the Palestinian leadership is looking forward to renewing talks with Washington and the new president-elect with an initial focus on the need to stop illegal settlement building. Yet in his last days in office US Secretary of State plans to visit an illegal West Bank settlement.

Throughout outgoing President Trump’s four disastrous years, Palestinians were not only unhappy with the biased actions of his administration, but they felt it gave the right-wing Israeli prime minister a green light to put further pressure on them. Israel’s decision of holding back tax revenues…

By Daoud Kuttab

I have always been captivated by Ajplus. A genuine professional media outlet that has chosen to speak to young people and individuals on the run in their own language and using a style that is attractive to them. Short to the point videos with large yellow superimposed text that you can read without having the audio on if you were on a crowded train or in the doctor’s waiting room.

I found out about Ajplus from my son who was using it as a role model for the way he wanted to direct young media practitioners in…

Open letter to Jordanian Catholic leaders:

For some time, we have been hearing unconfirmed rumors about the financial troubles facing the Latin patriarchate in Jerusalem which supervises Catholics in Jordan, Palestine, and Israel.

Before that, we have heard that the reason for this financial difficulty was the mistaken fiscal policies carried out during the phase of establishing the American University in Madaba which is owned by the church. Some said the problems were management-related others said it was financial or administrative corruption and that some took advantage of the church and blackmailed it for personal gain.

At the time the rumors circulating said that the debt…