RAMALLAH, West Bank — In public, Palestinian officials seem to agree that freedom of the press is essential. Yet journalists continue to be harassed, imprisoned and subjected to violence by Palestinian security services.

On Aug. 2, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas was the first Arab leader to sign the Declaration on Media Freedom in the Arab World. He declared Aug. 1 of each year Freedom of Opinion and Expression Day in Palestine.

The declaration, presented by the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate (PJS), had already been signed by representatives of more than 500 news agencies, human rights organizations, political leaders and civil society organizations. The declaration includes a clear commitment to the principles of the freedom of the press, the right to freedom of access to information and the safety of journalists, as well as a commitment to reform regulations.

In addition, the Independent Commission for Human Rights (ICHR) and PJS are preparing an official memorandum urging Abbas to approve legislative changes designed to protect journalists' acting in their professional capacities. “The memorandum, which will be submitted to the president in the coming weeks, includes demands that [Abbas] issue a quick legislative amendment stipulating that journalists should not be arrested by security services for their journalistic activity, but rather be referred to the judiciary if a complaint is filed against them,” Ammar Dweik, ICHR director general, told Al-Monitor.