US Newseum withholds tribute to Palestinian journalists under pressure from the pro-Israel Lobby

The American Newseum has backed down from its decision to honour two Palestinian journalists, Mahmoud al-Kumi and Hussam Salama, by including their photos on the museum’s memorial wall honouring journalists killed in the line of duty.

According to “Yedioth Ahronoth”, the decision to back down was due to pressures put on the museum’s administration from two Jewish organisations, the Anti-Defamation League and the American Jewish Committee. Moreover, the Foundation for Defence of Democracies, which usually holds its annual policy summits in the museum, has threatened to move to another venue. The museum justified its decision by saying that serious questions have been raised concerning the nature of their work.

Last week, the museum announced its intention to include the photos of the two Palestinian journalists, Mahmoud al-Kumi and Hussam Salama, who died in the IDF attack on the Gaza Strip last year in the military operation called “Operation Pillar of Defence” by the Israeli army. The two journalists were cameramen for Al-Aqsa Television and were killed when a missile launched by an Israeli plane hit their vehicle that was clearly marked “TV”.