13 March 2001
IPI DOCUMENTS CHILLING PATTERN OF VIOLATIONS
A "chilling pattern" of press freedom violations is evident in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian areas since the Palestinian uprising began on 28 September 2000, says the International Press Institute (IPI). In an update of a report released last December, IPI documents all known cases of violations against journalists and other media professionals up to 28 February 2001. IPI says "both the Israeli and Palestinian authorities appear to be trying to prevent negative media coverage of the clashes."
The report documents 84 incidents, including two killings. At least 30 journalists have been shot and 24 have been physically assaulted in other ways. Four broadcasting stations have been effectively censored, one foreign journalist's accreditation revoked, eight journalists harassed, and at least two seriously threatened. IPI adds that Israel's denial of press cards has severely obstructed Palestinian journalists' ability to practice their profession. 64 press freedom violations have been carried out by Israeli authorities, says IPI, although at least five of these have been contested. Seven violations have been committed by Israeli settlers, at least one of which has been contested. Another six violations were carried out by Palestinian authorities, one by Palestinian paramilitaries, and five by Palestinian civilians, at least one of which has also been contested, reports IPI.
IPI recommends that Israeli security forces review their guidelines concerning protection of journalists and emphasises that "neither journalists nor the facilities in which they work should ever be military targets." As for the Palestinian authorities, IPI says they should end their arbitrary arrest and intimidation of journalists and refrain from closing or censoring media outlets. The report is available at http://www.freemedia.at/isrpalre.htm [Updates IFEX "Communique" #9-48].
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