06 January 2009
IFJ Slams Israel Over Targeting and "Cynical Violations" of Media Rights
The
International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today accused Israel
of targeting Palestinian media while continuing its ban on foreign journalists from entering Gaza to cover the conflict.
"Each day that passes we see cynical
violations of press freedom and the rights of journalists trying desperately to
cover the tragic events unfolding in Gaza,"
said Aidan White, IFJ General
Secretary. "We have reports that media inside Gaza are being targeted by Israeli soldiers
while those outside are being kept at bay."
Yesterday, a compromise reached between
the authorities and the Jerusalem-based Foreign Press Association to allow a
selected group of foreign journalists into Gaza was withdrawn, over-ruling an Israeli
court order in favour of opening the blockade of the area to give media access.
The IFJ says that any arrangement to allow access should not be controlled by
the Israeli military.
At the same time the IFJ says that
Israeli forces have attacked vehicles inside Gaza with ‘Press" or "TV" markings and one
cameraman has been injured. The IFJ has already protested at the destruction of
the offices of Al
Aqsa Television on December 28 by Israeli fighter planes in what it
claims was a flagrant breach of international law.
The Palestine Journalists Syndicate (PJS) has also expressed
concern over reports of the arrest and detention by Israeli military forces of
Khezr Shahin, a reporter for Al-Alam television.
"The continued ban on journalists
travelling into Gaza to cover the conflict is
outrageous, particularly given that the courts in Israel have said they should be
allowed in," said White. "But reports of targeting those who are on the spot add
to our concern that there is a policy in place to deny access to the full story
and to intimidate reporters that are already there."
Reports from the PJS in Gaza say that on Sunday a
utility vehicle bearing "TV" and "Press" markings"
from Al Aqsa TV was clearly targeted.
For more
information contact the IFJ at
+32 2 235 2207
The IFJ represents over 600,000 journalists in 123 countries worldwide
Comments :
komornik
10 January 2009 at 04:46
JOURNALISTS ASSOCIATION JERUSALEM Committee for international relations Jan. 8 2009 Mr. Aidan White, IFJ General Secretary Dear Aidan First let us make clear that the JAJ supports the right of every journalist to be everywhere that news happens in order to report the situation on the ground as it is. We made public our position in supporting The Foreign Press Association (FPA), which appealed to the Israeli supreme court on 31 December for 12 journalists to be allowed into the Gaza Strip when the borders crossings were opened to let humanitarian aid. We know that by doing that – going after the news where they happen - he-she or the organization for which they work – is taking full responsibility for putting journalists in the line of fire. It is part of the many risks of being a journalist in a combat zone. Second – let us say that we do not accept the quick way in which the IFJ is adopting as proven and tested facts any accusation that comes from the PJS against Israel and its actions. Nor do we see the Israeli army as one that hunts journalists as a target. In a combat zone in which fire is exchanged from both sides around the clock – even the clearly marked "press" cars can be hit in confusion. In fact- many of the causalities in the Israeli side in this operation came from Israeli fire and by mistake. When demanding that the press will be able to move anywhere – one must also realize that this may be a very risky move – and not because the journalist as such is a target – but because of the conditions of the battle around. Needles to say that we too are saddened by the news that Bassel Faraj, a Palestinian cameraman who worked for Algerian television station TV Algérie, died from the injuries he received while covering Israeli air strikes in the Gaza Strip on 27 December. Third- We protest against the spite in which the IFJ is using in its messages against the state of Israel. It may not be the perfect democracy in the Middle East. But it is much more of a democracy than Hamas or the Hezbollah organizations which target our civilian population. No- with all due respect- we are not going to take a course about freedom of the press in combat zones or in every day life from them – or from the PJS. We did not see them marching in the streets of the West Bank when pro Hamas journalists were arrested by the PA. Best Haim Shibi Shaike Komornick JAJ
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