Dr. Adel Samara: Al-Quds newspaper's circulation reaching 20,000 is an achievement in light of the fierce competition between print and electronic media.

Muhammad Al-Lahham: The newspaper's management was able to find the sustainability tools that enabled it to continue despite the fierce competition.

Muharram Al-Barghouti: The newspaper is well-established and carries an important title for the Palestinian people, which is “Al-Quds,” and this name has a special resonance with the people.

Dr. Ahmed Rafiq Awad: Al-Quds' use of color and presentation of journalistic material recalls its golden era in the 1960s and 1970s.

Montaser Hamdan: Despite attempts to restrict Palestinian media, Al-Quds managed to persevere until it reached 20,000 followers.

Seventy-four years ago, specifically in 1951, the first printed edition of Al-Quds newspaper saw the light of day, taking it upon itself to convey the truth as it is. Despite threats and obstacles, it conveyed the word and image without embellishment, exposing the crimes of the Israeli occupation and championing the cause of our Palestinian people.

Today, Al-Quds newspaper celebrates the 20,000th issue of its long history. 20,000 paper copies conveyed words and images from inside Palestine, through its ups and downs, its joys and sorrows, its pain and its relief. And because it is the salt of the earth, it endured, and continues to endure, Israeli harassment and persecution aimed at preventing its work, and it continued its message, its journey, and its influence.

For 74 years, Al-Quds has held its place in the print media, armed with its professionalism, neutrality, and objectivity. It has been a voice for all things Palestinian, regardless of its class or affiliation, and has dedicated its pages to all readers and opinions.

In light of the serious crisis that print journalism has been facing for years, and the fierce competition from online journalism, the 20,000th issue confirms that print journalism remains resilient, maintaining its radiance, splendor, enlightening message, and a broad readership.

With the tremendous and rapid development we are witnessing in all fields, Al-Quds newspaper has been keen to upgrade its media work system to keep pace with technological developments. It has employed these technologies in its print edition, launched its website, and established digital platforms on social media to accelerate its reach to the public.

Behind this 20,000th issue stands the distinguished staff of Al-Quds newspaper, including all its employees who have worked over the past 74 years to make Al-Quds a leader in its field in Palestine, and to deliver more print copies than any other local newspaper.

In this context, Al-Quds conducted interviews with writers and journalists who expressed their pride in Al-Quds's success in reaching this number, and its ability to persevere and remain steadfast despite the challenges facing all things Palestinian.

"Jerusalem" was able to survive and continue despite all the challenges.

Writer and academic Dr. Adel Samara considered Al-Quds newspaper's reaching a circulation of 20,000 to be an achievement amid the fierce competition between print and online media, and a testament to the newspaper's ability to endure and continue.

Samara said he isn't a regular contributor to Al-Quds, but it has proven itself to be a true professional newspaper, particularly in terms of its longevity and ability to sustain itself. He emphasized that this is a credit to Al-Quds.

Samara added, "There are many newspapers in Palestinian history that were unable to survive, such as Al-Fajr, Al-Shaab, and Al-Nahar. They operated for a period of time but were not destined to continue, especially newspapers that relied on political forces for their funding. If they were disrupted, the newspaper's operations would cease."

He added: "Al-Quds newspaper has been able to survive and continue despite all the challenges, and this is a credit to it, and it is the crux of the matter, journalistically."

Regarding the newspaper's breadth of coverage of all opinions and viewpoints, Samara said, "Al-Quds newspaper is more inclusive than others in attracting opinions and talents, especially recently, and it has the capacity to accommodate everyone." He recalled an article he wrote 20 years ago, when Washington issued a decision to designate Hamas as a terrorist organization. At that time, he wrote an article titled "The Terrorist Is America, Not Hamas," which was published in Al-Quds newspaper, while the article was not published in other newspapers.

He continued: "The newspaper's resilience is a credit to it, especially in light of the Israeli violations that the Palestinian press has been subjected to," recalling the "Israeli military censor" in the 1970s and his control over everything published in newspapers before they were printed at the time.

A great legacy and history in Palestinian journalism

For his part, journalist and member of the General Secretariat of the Journalists Syndicate, Mohammed Al-Lahham, considered the fact that Al-Quds newspaper had reached this number, despite the challenges facing print journalism that international newspapers have failed to withstand, to be extremely important. He said it provides an indication of the sustainability of print journalism in Palestine, provided the newspaper has the necessary conditions to continue.

Al-Lahham added that those in charge of Al-Quds newspaper were able to find the tools for sustainability that enabled the newspaper to continue despite the fierce competition from visual and electronic media.

Al-Lahham stressed that Al-Quds newspaper has a long history and legacy in Palestinian journalism and has accompanied the events that have befallen our people over the years.

"Jerusalem" under reliable national supervision

In turn, writer Muharram Barghouti said that Al-Quds newspaper enjoys respect and a distinct influence among the Palestinian people, as it is a historical newspaper that is open to writers of various backgrounds, and it is a credible newspaper.

He added, "Reaching this number of print copies, especially in light of technological advancements and digital media, is evidence of the newspaper's strength, the respect people have for it, and its closeness to readers."

Barghouti continued: "Reaching the 20,000th issue mark is a Palestinian source of pride. The more the newspaper embraces the people's issues and gets closer to them, the more its readership grows and the more trust is built between the journalist and his or her audience."

He stressed that "Al-Quds newspaper is under faithful national supervision, and therefore there is no fabricated or unreliable news in its pages."

He pointed out that "the continued popularity and spread of Al-Quds newspaper demonstrates its influence and the respect people hold for it. It is a well-established newspaper with a constellation of editors and correspondents who possess journalistic experience and are committed to their national responsibility."

Al-Barghouthi said that the arrival of this issue of Al-Quds is evidence of the reader's interaction with and trust in the newspaper, its credibility, and its ability to attract the public.

He concluded by saying, "Al-Quds newspaper is a well-established newspaper and carries an important title for the Palestinian people: Jerusalem. This name has a special resonance with the people."

The newspaper is witnessing a tangible development in form and content.

Writer and political analyst Dr. Ahmed Rafiq Awad said, "The new Al-Quds newspaper is witnessing a tangible development in the form of journalistic content, its presentation, photography, and placement in the newspaper, particularly with regard to the use of fonts, colors, and the selection of attractive headlines.

He continued: "The presentation of journalistic material in Al-Quds is done with intelligent editing capable of captivating the reader. The journalistic material is presented in a very good manner, and letters, images, and colors are used with special care."

Awad added, "There is a comprehensiveness in the published press material, covering all sectors of society, including politics, economics, sports, art, and literature, in addition to diligent monitoring of hot political issues through major and important interviews."

He added, "Al-Quds' use of color and comprehensive presentation of journalistic material recalls the newspaper's golden age of the 1960s and 1970s, with its broad headlines, interviews, and journalistic scoops."

Awad pointed out that Al-Quds newspaper has recently worked to revive new writers and faces who present their viewpoints in a broad space, without focusing on a specific color, class, or single writer.

He added, "Al-Quds is credited with this diversity, boldness, excellent presentation, and elegant editing, allowing a large segment of the population to participate, write, and express their opinions, regardless of their age or background."

He added, "Al-Quds newspaper has made progress and leaped forward once again in terms of form and content, despite the crises plaguing print journalism. It is capable of surviving and has proven itself to be an insurmountable fortress in print journalism."

Al-Quds newspaper is rooted in the homeland

Journalist and member of the General Secretariat of the Journalists Syndicate, Montaser Hamdan, said: "Al-Quds newspaper is deeply rooted in the homeland, and its name holds great significance for the Palestinian people." He emphasized that despite attempts to restrict Palestinian media, Al-Quds has been able to persevere and deliver its journalistic message.

He stressed that reaching the 20,000th issue is proof that print journalism is relevant as long as it addresses the public's needs and keeps pace with developments, affirming that Al-Quds has succeeded in doing so.

Hamdan added that Al-Quds newspaper has managed to strike a balance between maintaining its print edition and integrating into online journalism.

Hamdan concluded by saying, "Al-Quds newspaper deserves respect and appreciation, and a renewed circulation of its staff by providing the institution with media and journalistic cadres and competencies that have led the newspaper to safety." He called on Al-Quds to also move and integrate into the audio-visual field.