ABSTRACT
This chapter looks at the development of new media in Palestine, illustrating the use of the Internet as a significant tool in the Palestinian resistance against Israeli occupation. Although Palestinians today enjoy access to new media via the services of two main service providers, Jawwal and Watanyia Mobile Palestine, Palestinians face many challenges in terms of lack of access to the latest telecommunications technologies, illegal Israeli provider competition as well as Israeli government hindrances and censorship. All of this has caused the country’s new media technology to lag behind, compared to other countries in the region. From the customers’ side, there are also challenges that social media users are increasingly facing. With a new cybercrime law in place, the Palestinian Authority (PA) has increased its harassment and arrest of journalists and activists alike, while Israeli and Hamas authorities have also continued their crackdown on social media activists.
