Historical background:

The Palestinian News Agency was established in April 1972 in implementation of the decision issued by the Palestinian National Council in its extraordinary session held in Cairo, then the decision of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization was issued to establish the Palestinian News Agency “Wafa” on 5/6/1972, and on 20 3/3/2008, President Mahmoud Abbas issued a presidential decree merging the State Information Service with the Palestinian News Agency, to become later (the Palestinian News and Information Agency “WAFA”), and known as an independent body linked structurally, politically and administratively under the chairmanship of the Executive Committee of the organization, to undertake the task of mobilizing This decision is the legal framework that governs the agency’s work until today.

The idea of ​​establishing it did not come out of nowhere, as the National Agency is like the national anthem, hence the importance of “Wafa” as a national agency defending the Palestinian right, and as a symbol of Palestinian sovereignty.

Etymology:

After the abbreviation (WAF) used to symbolize another international news agency, the abbreviation “Wafa” was adopted because the name is consistent with the national and pioneering role that the agency plays, in service of the Palestinian national project.

By establishing the agency, the PLO aimed to publish news, statements, and official decisions issued by the Palestinian leadership, in a manner that serves its national orientations.

Wafa Agency’s work, since its inception, focused on transmitting Palestinian news, and at first it was a platform for transmitting military communications issued by the General Command of the Palestinian Revolutionary Forces. After the establishment of the Palestinian National Authority in 1994, the agency’s line takes into account developments on the ground.

Since its inception, the agency has been able to achieve a prominent position among its Arab and international counterparts, and at certain times has achieved precedence and a distinguished presence, especially during the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 1982, the Tripoli war in northern Lebanon in 1983 and the war of camps in Beirut 1985, and before that during the civil war in Lebanon.

the message:

Building an advanced national information system, disseminating the Palestinian event, and providing media services with a creative professionalism that influences local and international public opinion.

Vision:

Excellence and professionalism in presenting information and the Palestinian media event at the local and international levels.

Returning home:

Since its return to the homeland on July 1, 1994, the Agency has sought to train its cadres at home and abroad to be qualified, in a manner commensurate with the existing challenges and the nature of the current circumstances, the construction phase and the establishment of the building blocks of the Palestinian state.

The Agency renders a great service to the Palestinian people and their cause; Because it provides Arab and international agencies, with which it has reciprocal agreements, information on current events and in a manner that expresses the will to build and struggle to embody independence on the ground.

Since its return to Palestine, the Agency’s leadership has been keen to publish correspondents in various Palestinian territories, in addition to the 1948 territories, and has been keen to publish correspondents in important Arab and foreign countries, most notably: Egypt, Jordan, Tunisia, Bahrain, Lebanon, Syria, and France. Morocco, Brussels, and the United States, in addition to accrediting a correspondent at the headquarters of the League of Arab States since 2003.

The launch of the agency’s website:

The Wafa Agency website was launched on the Internet on July 1, 1998, and in its early stages relied on publishing in the form of an image. 2001 The news of the agency became all text, and the image gradually entered the site, especially in the official news, and related to the activities of the president.

Wafa is known to be one of the first Palestinian press institutions that relied on e-mail to publish news, and the beginning was in 1996 AD, and this was represented by sending news electronically to daily newspapers, and to Palestine TV and Radio.

The Wafa Agency website is open and available to everyone without subscription, as it provides news, reports, photos and press stories to the public and newspapers free of charge.

The agency is always keen to keep pace with the rapid technological and communication developments, and the needs of the public, hence its keenness to provide its services to the public through short messages (SMS), smart phone applications such as (Whatsapp), and social networking sites such as “Facebook” and “Twitter”. photo websites, and more.

Agency work components:

The news sector includes the Arabic, English and French bulletin, activating the Hebrew newsletter, and establishing a multimedia and photography section.
The information sector includes the Palestinian National Information Center.
Support Services Sector.
Agency Objectives:

Presenting a bright image to the world and documenting the Palestinian event.
Exchanging news and information with local, Arab and international news agencies in a professional framework, and within agreements for partnership and information exchange.
Contribute to the realization of the general policies of the Palestine Liberation Organization in line with the supreme national interests, and the desired goal of embodying independence, and the establishment of an independent state with full sovereignty with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Expanding the preparation of reports that integrate various media through the development of the general administration of multimedia (Multimedia) and ensuring that it is provided with a working cadre that understands the philosophy of the comprehensive journalist, and the development of any media services that are necessary due to the requirements of the stage.
Building a modern national information system in order to place decision-makers in the appropriate information environment for decision-making.
Agency work stations:

The Agency was forced to rebuild itself again during the stages of national work, in work stations that stopped starting in Beirut in 1972, then to Tunisia in 1982, after returning to the homeland in 1994, and finally in Ramallah after the coup in 2007.
Agency’s future plans:

Work on developing laws and legislations that are appropriate for the agency’s professional work.
Working on the opening of several external offices of the Agency.
Work to create a comprehensive national archive.
Work to develop the agency’s professional work to compete with other global agencies.
Agency address:

Palestinian News and Information Agency “Wafa” Tel: 00972-2413628 E-mail [email protected]: Address: Palestine – Ramallah – Al-Irsal Street/ Headquarters of the Palestinian News and Information Agency “Wafa” – opposite the Palestine Liberation Organization building.