In 1911, the national #Palestinian newspaper "La Palestine" was founded by Issa El-Issa (9 years before the British mandate)
One of the most influential dailies in Palestine & the fiercest & most consistent critic of the Zionist movement
Albert Einstein published a letter in it
One of the most influential dailies in Palestine & the fiercest & most consistent critic of the Zionist movement
Albert Einstein published a letter in it
2\ The oldest newspaper published in #Palestine was "Al-Quds Al-Sharif" in 1867 headed by the Palestinian poet Ali Al-Rimawi.
But "La Palestine" or "Falastin" was the first nationalist & anti-Zionist outlet, which is why it was censored & suspended by the Ottomans & British.
But "La Palestine" or "Falastin" was the first nationalist & anti-Zionist outlet, which is why it was censored & suspended by the Ottomans & British.
3\ In 1914, Falastin newspaper was suspended for "sowing discord between the elements of the [Ottoman] Empire."
El-Issa said in court "when we said 'Zionists' we referred to the political organisation with its headquarters in Europe which aims for the colonisation of Palestine."
El-Issa said in court "when we said 'Zionists' we referred to the political organisation with its headquarters in Europe which aims for the colonisation of Palestine."
4\ The Ottoman court rules in the newspaper's favor, but Zionists kept trying to get it suspended.
In 1921, El-Issa wrote to Palestine Commissioner Herbert Samuel: "It is now beyond doubt that the Zionists are working to silence the voice of my paper, & to effect my deportation"
In 1921, El-Issa wrote to Palestine Commissioner Herbert Samuel: "It is now beyond doubt that the Zionists are working to silence the voice of my paper, & to effect my deportation"
5\ In 1930, Albert Einstein published a letter in the Falastin newspaper, arguing for co-existence & co-operation.
"The devotion of the Jewish people to Palestine will benefit all the inhabitants of the country, not only materially, but also culturally & nationally."
"The devotion of the Jewish people to Palestine will benefit all the inhabitants of the country, not only materially, but also culturally & nationally."
6\ Einstein later wrote scathing criticism of Zionist violence in a 1948 letter to Shepard Rifkin.
He also co-wrote with Hannah Arendt & others a letter in the NYTimes decrying the Zionist Herut Party (the Likud's predecessor) as "closely akin... to Nazi and Fascist partiesβ
He also co-wrote with Hannah Arendt & others a letter in the NYTimes decrying the Zionist Herut Party (the Likud's predecessor) as "closely akin... to Nazi and Fascist partiesβ
7\ British authorities suspended the Falastin newspaper for covering the 1936 Great Palestinian Revolt, until 1939.
In 1948, as Israel was being created, the Falastin team was forced to flee from Jaffa to East Jerusalem under Jordan.
The last headline decried British betrayal.
In 1948, as Israel was being created, the Falastin team was forced to flee from Jaffa to East Jerusalem under Jordan.
The last headline decried British betrayal.
8\ When Israel occupied Jerusalem in 1967, the Falastin newspaper had to relocate again to Jordan & merged with the Jordanian Ad-Dustuor newspaper in Amman that is still published to this day.
The editorial's team picture in 1913, with Issa El-Issa in the front:
The editorial's team picture in 1913, with Issa El-Issa in the front:
9\ What's really ironic is that #Israel's National Library provides public access to the archives of the Falastin Newspaper along with other historical documents that show evidence of an affluent, highly educated Palestinian population with deep roots to this land!
10\ The Falastin newspaper would've been founded much earlier than 1911, was it not for the Ottoman press censorship against nationalisms in the region, which was eased by the 1908 Young Turk Revolution.
But between 1867-1914, there were about 40 Arabic publications in Palestine
But between 1867-1914, there were about 40 Arabic publications in Palestine
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