Palestinian channel dismisses journalist over political views

Mohammed Abu Hamdiya The "Palestine Today" channel dismissed journalist Mohammed Abu Hamdiya after an interview with the head of the Palestinian Legislative Council Aziz Dweik, who accused Abu Hamdiya    of "trying to split Hamas."
Abu Hamdiya said in a press statement that "Palestine Today", has sent a formal letter on Tuesday to inform him of his dismissal after an oral suspension from work for several days ago.
"The letter was written in a legal form of an end his training period, since February," adding that the channel had told him several weeks ago of its intention to increase his salary.
Abu Hamdiya stated that he had an interview with Dr Aziz Dweik, director of shows on the channel and had previous notice of this interview but he was surprised to find Dweik asking him not to broadcast the interview when Abu Hamdiya relating to a meeting between Meshaal and Haniyeh and Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi.
Abu Hamdiya threatened to sue Dweik while Dweik expressed his refusal to deal with Abu Hamdiya .
Abu Hamdiya explained that he went to the Palestinian journalists syndicate  to file a complaint against Dr Aziz Dweik because it is the body that is capable of defending his press rights.
“Palestine today” demanded, through the director of its office in Ramallah Farouk Aliat, that Abu gave up his union rights and withdrew the complaint against Dweik. When Abu Hamdiya refused to comply with the request of the channel, it dismissed him.
Abu Hamdiya pointed out the channel had two options, either to sacrifice broadcasting the interview of the Hamas leadership and close its office in Gaza Strip that is controlled by Hamas, or to sacrifice the Palestinian journalist and dismiss him from his job. It chose the second option at the expense of freedom of the press and the right of journalists and their dignity.
He affirmed that he and the Press Syndicate will not remain silent on this "arbitrary" measure. He asserted that there will be protest resolutions during the coming days, calling on Palestinian journalists to protect their rights and freedom of the press.
For his part, Dr Nasser al-Najjar, head of the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate, denounced the dismissal of journalist Mohammed Abu Hamdiya, affirming the intention of the Syndicate to take a legal action in order to stop this nonsense.
Al-Najjar referred that the channel sided with the President of the Legislative Council at the expense of the journalist who works for it and his dismissal based on his political views.