Reporters Without Borders' recent freedom index generated negative reactions throughout the Arab world, reports Asharq-Alawsat.
Reporters Without Borders, a nongovernmental association advocating freedom of the press, released its 2009 freedom index in late October. The index measures both internal and external press freedom in countries throughout the world. According to Muhammad Diyab at Asharq-Alawsat, most Arab countries were placed in the lower rankings of the index.
Time Magazine's analysis points out that Israel no longer has the freest press in the Middle East. According to the article, Israel's position slipped in the rankings due to journalists' arrests, the death of three reporters in the Gaza Strip, and "military censorship" applied to the media.
Kuwait, Lebanon, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) lead the list of Middle Eastern countries, ranking at positions 60, 61, and 86 respectively.
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