Hala Mustafa, journalist who spoke with Israeli Ambassador
Egypt’s Journalists’ Union is investigating whether to expel a prominent member for meeting with the Israeli ambassador, a case that highlights the broad opposition to normal relations with Israel that persists despite a 30-year-old peace deal between the two countries.
Egyptian media often act as the standard bearers for anti-Israeli sentiment in the country, a practice that was in full display last month when reporters of all stripes echoed the cultural minister’s claim that a Jewish conspiracy undermined his bid to lead the UN cultural agency.
But Ms Mustafa has shocked the Journalists Union saying she doesn’t believe a boycott of Israel helps the Palestinians - and she does not think unions should impose Israel boycotts.
Unfortunately Journalist Unions throughout the Arab world are often among the most belligerent anti-Israel voices in local union movements.
This year there have been a number of controversies involving journalist unions in the region - and their contact/co-operation with Israeli counterparts.
Media freedom key to progress, antidote to prejudice and sectarianism
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) says Arab journalist unions are demanding freedom of the press and want to move away from autocratic media controls.
Earlier this month the head of the IFJ general secretary, Aiden White, said the Jordan conference of regional journalist unions wants to see ” a break with the tradition of command and control of media.”
“Our (Arab) unions want democratic reform. They want to sweep away laws that penalise journalists,” Aiden White is quoted on the IFJ website as saying.
” They know media freedom is a key to progress, because it eliminates ignorance and is an antidote to prejudice and sectarianism, but it cannot exist if journalists are not allowed to work freely,” Aiden White says.
Journalist union inquisition on member’s Israel contact triggers media controversy
But it seems the Egyptian Journalist Union still wants to use old-style command and control techniques against members who dare to stand up for press freedom - by simply interviewing an Ambassador representing a country who has signed a peace treaty with Egypt.
Ms Mustafa, a prominent Egyptian journalist and political scientist has told the Financial Times she doesn’t think the union can order members to boycott Israel. This challenge to the union’s views could end her media career.
If the union expels her for not toeing the line Ms Mustafa’s ability to work in the Egyptian media is severely restricted. The union card says you are OK, and known , and allowed access to courts and other key institutions.
This report is based on the Daily News Egypt website which notes that some reporters said Farouk Hosni’s failed UNESCO bid likely fueled the decision by the Egyptian Journalists’ Syndicate to investigate Hala Mustafa, editor-in-chief of the state-run monthly magazine “Democratiya” (Democrary Review).
Despite 25 year ban on Israel contact this is 1st union member investigated
It is the first investigation of its kind even though the group has banned contact with Israelis for nearly 25 years.
Other factors also likely played a part, including lingering anger that the Egyptian government did not do more to stop the Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip earlier this year that killed some 1,400 Palestinians, said Salah Eissa, a prominent writer and editor of the cultural weekly Al-Qahira.
Politics of upcoming union election may have also triggered investigation
“The incursion in Gaza, the loss of UNESCO … and the politics of an upcoming union election — it all added up,” said Eissa.
Mustafa, who met with Israeli Ambassador Shalom Cohen in her office on Sept. 14, criticized the union, saying the ban against traveling to Israel or meeting with Israelis for work or personal reasons was “obsolete.” The union will decide her fate on Tuesday.
Ridiculous for journalists to be banned from contact with Israelis
“It’s ridiculous not to have any contact with Israelis as a journalist,” said Mustafa. “Many have done it before me.”
She said Cohen visited her office to discuss a symposium they were organizing that would include Egyptian, American and Israeli participants.
Boycotts of Israel should be on an individual basis,journalist says
“There is a reality on the ground that we have to deal with: we have a peace with Israel,” said Mustafa. “If people want to boycott Israel, they should do so on an individual basis, but according to our law we have normal relations.”
The meeting came less than a week before Hosni, a painter who has been Egypt’s cultural minister for two decades, lost his bid to head UNESCO. He was initially seen as the front-runner for the UNESCO job, which would have made him the first Arab to hold the position.
Media amplified the Jewish conspiracy theory behind failed UNESCO bid
But his campaign faltered over controversy about a comment he made in parliament in 2008 promising to burn any Israeli books in Egyptian libraries. Hosni made the comment in an attempt to defend himself against charges by Egyptian lawmakers of being soft on Israel.
Hosni and his supporters claimed he was the victim of a Jewish conspiracy aiming to undermine Egypt — a message that was embraced and amplified by the Egyptian media.
Surprise at union decision to conduct an investigation
Despite the heated environment that followed Hosni’s loss, Eissa said he was surprised the union decided to conduct a formal investigation of Mustafa.
“There has been a lot of anger over Mustafa’s action, but the anger should have been expressed through the media and through articles,” said Eissa. “This isn’t a case that needs to be disciplined.”
Eissa said the 1985 decision to ban journalists from having normal ties with Israelis was a “weapon” put in place by the union.
Egyptian media controlled by Arab nationalists and Islamists
“The union said: this is the card to play when negotiating with Israel,” he said. “No peace or normal relations with the people of Egypt until land goes back to Palestinians.”
Mustafa said the Egyptian media was controlled by Arab nationalists and Islamists who view the 1979 peace agreement with Israel signed by former President Anwar Sadat as a shameful moment in Egypt’s history.
Union may want to make an example of female journalist
“You still have some journalists blaming Sadat, saying that he signed the peace agreement on his own behalf, and not on the country’s behalf,” she said.
Mustafa said she knows the union is making an example of her but wants Egyptians to realize that peace with Israel is a fact of life that can’t be denied.
“We are living in a world of dialogue and peace building,” said Mustafa. “How can you have a dialogue with every faction and not engage a major side of the debate?”
Others reporting this controversy