Said Arikat

Said Arikat
سعيد عريقات
Arikat in 2022
Born1947 or 1948 (age 75–76)
Jericho, Mandatory Palestine
OccupationJournalist
EmployerAl-Quds

Said Arikat (Arabic: سعيد عريقات,[1] born 1947 or 1948[2]) is a Palestinian journalist and the Washington bureau chief for Jerusalem based newspaper Al-Quds.[3] Arikat also teaches as an adjunct professor at American University.[4] From 2005 to 2010, Arikat served as the spokesperson for the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq.[3][5]

A long time attendee of press briefings at the U.S. State Department,[3] Arikat has been noted for his sometimes contentious exchanges with State Department Spokespersons, including John Kirby,[6][7] Heather Nauert,[8] and Ned Price.[9][10] Some have criticized Arikat for pushing a Palestinian point of view, with Charles Bybelezer of the Jewish News Syndicate saying that Arikat "routinely bashes Israel ... at U.S. State Department briefings",[10] a point of view that Philip Weiss of Mondoweiss described as "smear[ing] by the Zionist press".[2] Yisrael Medad opined in The Jerusalem Post that Arikat asks questions laden with misstatements.[9]

On 3 December 2022, Arikat's Twitter account was suspended for violations, but he maintained he did not know what the violations were.[3] On 29 December 2022, the suspension was lifted.[11] Speaking to Al Jazeera, Arikat stated he believed the suspension is related to him being outspoken about Palestine, saying that he "can't think of any other reason".[12]

Arikat has appeared on Al Jazeera,[13] C-SPAN,[14] NBC News,[15] and PBS.[16][17] Arikat has also written for Dubai based newspaper Gulf News.[18][19]

  1. ^ Arikat, Said (6 January 2023). "واشنطن تعارض تطبيع العلاقات بين سوريا وتركيا" [Washington opposes the normalization of relations between Syria and Turkey]. Al-Quds (in Arabic). Retrieved 6 January 2023.
  2. ^ a b Weiss, Philip (22 December 2022). "Twitter suspends Palestinian journalist Arikat, and media response — silence". Mondoweiss. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d Gjevori, Elis (28 December 2022). "Under-fire Palestinian journalist Said Arikat banned from Twitter without explanation". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
  4. ^ "Palestine's Nakba: 72 Years of Displacement, Exile, and Oppression with Dr. Osamah Khalil and Said Arikat". The Jerusalem Fund. 18 May 2020. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
  5. ^ Semple, Kirk (22 March 2007). "Bomb Explodes Near U.N. Chief in Baghdad". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
  6. ^ Ronen, Gil (4 February 2016). "State Dept. spox loses patience with Arab reporter". Israel National News. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
  7. ^ Lowenthal Marcus, Lori (4 February 2016). "State Dept. Slams Palestinian Arabs: 'the Way NOT to Move Forward is by Attacking Israelis'". The Jewish Press. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
  8. ^ Israel, David (17 August 2017). "Arab Reporter Questioning Aliyah of Ambassador Friedman's Daughter". The Jewish Press. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
  9. ^ a b Medad, Yisrael (13 November 2022). "A failure of American Jewish media -opinion". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
  10. ^ a b Bybelezer, Charles (20 December 2022). "How a Palestinian journalist slanders Israel at the US State Department". Jewish News Syndicate. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
  11. ^ "US-based Palestinian journalist allowed back on Twitter". The Times of Israel. 29 December 2022. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
  12. ^ Hatuqa, Dalia (28 February 2023). "Twitter under fire for censoring Palestinian public figures". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  13. ^ Will West Bank annexation trigger turmoil? | Inside Story. Al Jazeera English. 1 July 2020 – via YouTube.
  14. ^ "Said Arikat". C-SPAN. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
  15. ^ "'The Abrams Report' for May 20". NBC News. 20 May 2004. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
  16. ^ "Perspectives on Saddam's Trial". PBS. 2 July 2004. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
  17. ^ "Said Arikat". Charlie Rose. 11 November 2004. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
  18. ^ Arikat, Said (26 July 2004). "Said Arikat: What is the Neocons' hidden agenda?". Gulf News. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
  19. ^ Arikat, Said (28 April 2005). "Oil keeps US-Saudi ties as smooth as ever". Gulf News. Retrieved 6 January 2023.