RAMALLAH, September 1, 2026 (WAFA) – The Minister of Information and General Supervisor of Official Media, Ahmed Assaf, received on Tuesday a delegation from the European Union at his office in Ramallah.
He briefed the delegation on the role of official media in the electoral process and the ongoing preparations for the upcoming legislative elections.
Assaf highlighted the importance of professional and objective media coverage in providing citizens with accurate information, raising awareness of their electoral rights and responsibilities, and encouraging participation while upholding their right to freely choose.
He emphasized that the primary goal of official media is to contribute to the success of the electoral process, raise public awareness of the importance of participation, and solidify citizens' right and freedom of choice, thus guaranteeing the exercise of this right.
Assaf pointed out that the official media's experience in election coverage is rich and extensive, based on a long history of covering various electoral events. The most recent example was the local council elections, whose coverage received widespread praise from the Palestinian people and oversight bodies, most notably the Central Elections Commission, for its professionalism, impartiality, objectivity, and equal access to all parties.
He also reviewed the amendments made by the President to the election law, which aim to enhance political participation and broaden the base of representation, particularly regarding the threshold for representation, women's representation, and the age of candidacy, thus allowing for wider participation and representation of various segments of Palestinian society.
Assaf addressed the ongoing partnership between official media outlets and the Central Elections Commission, emphasizing the importance of joint coordination throughout the various stages of the electoral process. He referred to the signed agreement that guarantees impartiality, transparency, and equal media coverage for all electoral lists.
He also briefed the delegation on the most significant obstacles and violations faced by Palestinian journalists at the hands of the occupying power, and the restrictions it imposes on the freedom of the press and the ability of journalists to perform their duties and report the truth.
The delegation attended a workshop organized by the Commission in cooperation with the Central Elections Commission at the Commission's headquarters, which discussed mechanisms for media cooperation and coordination in preparation for the upcoming elections.
Following that, the delegation toured the Authority’s headquarters to learn about the development of official media and its plans for development and modernization, especially the Palestine News Channel project, which the Authority is preparing to launch soon, which will enhance the presence of Palestinian media and its ability to keep pace with developments and events at the local and international levels.
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