Journalists Say Israel Should be Punished for 'Reckless War on Media'
Palestine-Israel, Politics, 4/10/2002

The events of the past ten days in which dozens of journalists have been targeted and attacked in the Israeli sweep across the West Bank and Gaza Strip should lead to international condemnation and action against the government of Ariel Sharon says the International Federation of Journalists.

"The Israeli army is waging an appalling campaign that has targeted media and journalists," said Aidan White, IFJ General Secretary. "Reporters continue to be detained, shot at and victimised. It is an unprecedented campaign against press freedom and a reckless war on media that should not go unpunished."

The IFJ says that Israeli forces have launched an indiscriminate series of attacks on Palestinian media houses, wrecking offices and destroying equipment. "The aim seems to be to wipe out the infrastructure of all Palestinian media," said White, "Even the media that have established a voice independent of the Palestinian Authority are being wrecked. It is a senseless assault on media freedom."

"This campaign is a vicious attempt to prevent journalists from reporting on a story that affects millions of people around the world and which hundreds of millions are following daily," said White, "It is a censorship by violence that should not be tolerated by the international community."

The IFJ says that the Israeli authorities should be held responsible for their actions. "The widespread abuse of journalists rights is a violation of international law and shows contempt for human rights," says the IFJ. "The government of Israel should be held accountable for the distress and damage they are causing."

The IFJ, together with other leading press freedom groups, has signed a statement by the Foreign Press Association in Israel calling again on Israel to accredit Palestinian journalists working for the foreign press out of the Palestinian territories, not in the least under the current circumstances, to be able to identify themselves, for their safety, to Israeli soldiers as journalists.

Courtsy: IFJ

Previous Stories:
  Geneva Conventions provisions violated in Palestine   (4/9/2002)
  Speakers in Security Council urge end to Israeli attacks in Palestinian cities   (4/9/2002)
  Israeli forces block UN relief convoy headed for Jenin refugee camp   (4/9/2002)
  Reporters Without Borders condemn Israel   (4/9/2002)

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