Brussels

The International Federation of Journalists today called the shooting of a Palestinian journalist in Ramallah during street protests over Israeli actions in the town a “new and tragic act of media persecution that compounds Israeli violations of Palestinian rights.”

The Israeli army report on the circumstances of the killing of an Italian photographer earlier this year in the West Bank town of Ramallah was rejected as ‘lacking all balance and credibility’ by the International Federation of Journalists today.

The International Federation of Journalists, the world’s largest journalists’ group, today issued a strong statement condemning attacks on journalists and media staff in Palestine.

The International Federation of Journalists today blamed a persistent “failure of discipline and disregard of international law” by the Israeli authorities for the killing of an Italian journalist and the wounding of a French colleague in the Palestinian territories today.

The International Federation of Journalists today called for Israel to lift its ban on reporters covering the military intervention in the West Bank town of Ramallah, warning that censorship in the conflict will not bring peace “but only lead to more ignorance, rumour and fear.”

According to information received by the IFJ from the West Bank, 16 Palestinian journalists were arrested in the press centre in Bethlehem Municipality by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and transported yesterday morning to the military Headquarters at Kefar Etzion near Bethlehem.

The International Federation of Journalists today launched a new appeal for Israel to stop targeting journalists and media after Israeli soldiers opened fire on a crowd of television and press staff trying to cover the meeting between United States envoy Anthony Zinni and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.