The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ)
today welcomed the decision of the Israeli Government to reconsider the warning
to slap a ten year ban on foreign reporters who plan to board the new aid
flotilla bound for Gaza ,in defiance of the blockaded imposed by Israel. The
decision also threatened to seize journalists' equipment.
The government announced on Monday that Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu had ordered a review of the measure after widespread criticism in
media circles and representation from the Journalists' Association in Jerusalem
(JAJ), a branch of the IFJ affiliate in the country, the National Federation of
Israeli Journalists (NFIJ).
"We welcome the review of the measure and urge the
government to restrain from any action against media covering the event," said
Jim Boumelha, IFJ President. "We should not have the repeat of last year's
heavy handed intervention of Israeli navy who failed to distinguish between
journalists and activists. Our members in Israel are to be commended for their
staunch defence of the rights and safety of journalists now just as they acted
with speed to assist colleagues caught in violent clashes aboard the first Gaza
aid flotilla."
According to media reports, the Israeli Deputy Prime
Minister Moshe Yaalon said that senior government officials were unaware of the
warning which was issued on Sunday by the head of the Government's press
office, Oren Helman, to media organisations. The Deputy Prime Minister
reportedly told media that the government is anxious to avoid clashes with
media.
The warning provoked an outcry among journalists' organisations
led by the Foreign Press Association in Israel which described it as "a chilling
message that raised questions about Israel's commitment to freedom of the
press."
In a statement, the Journalists' Association in
Jerusalem called on the Government
of Israel to cancel the decision to punish journalists who will be on board the
second Gaza flotilla. The JAJ also requested Prime Minister Netanyahu to order
the Israel Defence Forces to enable free coverage of the event.
Last year, the IFJ condemned the brutal attacks on
civilians, including journalists, by Israeli forces in the assault on a
flotilla that tried to breach the military blockade of the Gaza coastline in
Palestine. One media staff was among the nine people killed by Israeli soldiers
during the raid and many journalists were detained and had their equipment
confiscated by Israeli authorities. The JAJ coordinated the IFJ efforts to
recover the equipment .
For more information, please contact IFJ on + 32 2 235
22 07
The IFJ represents more than 600.000
journalists in 131 countries