France 24 suspends four journalists supporting the Palestinian cause

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
14 Mar 2023 16:29
2 Shares

Four pro-Palestine journalists were suspended by France 24 under the pretext of "anti-semitism".

The headquarters of French media group, France Medias Monde (FMM), which includes Radio France Internationale (RFI) and news channel France 24 at Issy-les-Moulineaux, near Paris (AFP).

Former France 24 Arab-speaking correspondents Laila Odeh, Joëlle Maroun, Dina Abi-Saab, and Sharif Bibi were suspended, in many ways silenced, from the French state-owned television, for supporting the Palestinian cause and standing up to daily Israeli violations.

Laila Odeh was accused of "anti-semitism" for using the term 'martyr' when referencing the killing of Palestinians by Israeli Occupation Forces bullets and for using the term '1948 lands' when addressing the region of occupied Palestine, which was mandated by the British government to the Zionist movement in 1948.

It is worth noting that Odeh, and other journalists in the occupied Palestinian territories have often been heckled by Israeli settlers for merely being Arab and even more for speaking the truth.

Colonial Israeli settlers attack France 24 correspondent Layla Odeh in occupied Jerusalem. pic.twitter.com/7San2oGRLD
— PALESTINE ONLINE 🇵🇸 (@OnlinePalEng) May 29, 2022

Recently, former director of Human Rights Watch (HRW), Kenneth Roth, was also dubbed "anti-Semitic" by supporters of "Israel". In an Al Mayadeen interview, in January 2023, the former director stated that "his greatest concern is the paralleling that Israeli government supporters are committed to in labeling any criticism of "Israel" as anti-Semetic."

Moreover, also in January an article titled “Jenna Ortega vs. Kanye: Whose anti-Semitic hate is worse?” shared by "The Times of Israel" triggered an online backlash on Twitter.

An article titled “Jenna Ortega vs. Kanye: Whose anti-Semitic hate is worse?” shared by "The Times of Israel" has triggered an online backlash on #Twitter. pic.twitter.com/W270U4Ij9K
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) January 8, 2023

Outspoken opponent of Christian Zionism banned

In February, and in a move viewed by many as a submission to the Pro-"Israel" lobby, the Church of England (CoE) banned a pro-Palestine priest over claims of "anti-Semitic activity" and for criticizing "Israel".

Following the Church tribunal's decision, the 69-year-old Reverend Dr. Stephen Sizer was effectively prohibited from performing any priestly duties, such as conducting marriage rituals or giving Communion, for a period of 12 years.

Back in December, the Bishop's Disciplinary Tribunal for the Diocese of Winchester found Dr. Sizer guilty of having "engaged in anti-Semitic activity," "provoked and offended the Jewish community," and other actions that were "unbecoming to the office and work of a clerk in Holy Orders."

Sizer was an outspoken opponent of Christian Zionism during his more than two decades as a priest and professor in southern England. He wrote several books and finished a Ph.D. thesis on the subject.