Said Arikat
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Said Arikat | |
|---|---|
سعيد عريقات | |
 Arikat in 2022 | |
| Born | 1947 or 1948 (age 76–77) |
| Occupation | Journalist |
| Employer | Al-Quds |
Said Arikat (Arabic: سعيد عريقات, romanized: Saʿīd ʿUrayqāt,[1] Palestinian Arabic: ʿRēqāt; born 1947 or 1948[2]) is a Palestinian journalist and the Washington bureau chief for Jerusalem-based newspaper Al-Quds.[3] He also teaches as an adjunct professor at the 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 said was a "smear 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. He said he had not been told what the violations were.[3] On 29 December, 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]
