The 1995 Palestinian press law: A comparative study

The 1995 Palestinian press law was examined to determine the type of positive protections it grants Palestinians, and the type of restraints it imposes on them by comparing it to former Palestinian laws, the press laws of other countries and to international human rights conventions. The study concluded that, compared to previous laws, the 1995 Palestinian Press law is not particularly draconian. Although it requires licensing, concentrates too much power in the hands of the ministry of information, and contains vague articles regarding the function of the court and the application of the law, it is still an improvement on laws Palestinians had been forced to live under since 1908. The trouble with the law lies in the restrictive way it has been interpreted. The study identified the institutions now struggling for a free press and suggested that they may still succeed in introducing a measure of press freedom to the areas under Palestinian control.