Israeli violations of press freedom

Silencing the press: October 2002 - March 2003

19 July 2003

Journalists have been subjected to various kinds of attacks in what appear to be attempts by Israel to prevent media coverage of human rights violation perpetrated by the Israeli forces against Palestinian civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. PCHR published its 9th report in a series of reports “Silencing the Press,” which document attacks against local and international journalists and media institutions in the OPT during the current Intifada. 

Israeli violations of press freedom: Third update

International Press Institute 15 June 2003

IPI published its third update on violations of press freedom in Israel and the OPT since 2000. While the casualties toll continued to rise, the percentages stayed roughly the same. Israelis were responsible for 82.9 percent of the 310 press freedom violations recorded by IPI from 28 September 2000 to 20 May 2003, Palestinians for 12.5 per cent. Ten journalists have been killed in the uprising and there have been a further 116 incidents in which journalists were injured by gunfire or shelling. During the conflict, journalists have been subject to targeted shootings, beatings, harassment, censorship, threats and obstruction in carrying out their profession. In addition, media outlets have been targeted and destroyed and broadcasting equipment seized and confiscated. 

PBS documentary "In the Line of Fire" to re-air on June 5th

The Electronic Intifada 31 May 2003



While working as a journalist in Israel, Patricia Naylor, a Canadian TV producer, met a number of Palestinian video cameramen and still photographers who cover the frequent clashes in Hebron. These journalists work for Western media companies. Cameramen Mazen Dana and Nael Shyouki of the British news agency, Reuters, and their colleagues are accustomed to the risks of photographing street protests and riots. But displaying their wounds, they all told Naylor they had become targets of Israeli soldiers firing rubber bullets and even live ammunition. The excellent Frontline documentary is being rebroadcast on 5 June 2003 on PBS. 

IFJ calls for journalists' rights and security to be made a priority in Israeli-Palestinian dialogue

International Federation of Journalists 29 May 2003

The International Federation of Journalists today called for the rights and security of journalists to be made a priority in the forthcoming dialogue between Israeli and Palestinian leaders. “It is time to set journalists free and to build democracy through dialogue, tolerance and press freedom,” says the IFJ in a letter to both sides. 

Two Palestinian journalists beaten up by Israeli soldiers

Reporters Without Borders 21 May 2003

On 20 May 2003, RSF voiced its outrage over the violent beating which two clearly identified Palestinian journalists received from Israeli soldiers in Bethlehem. The incident took place during the night of 19 to 20 May. One of the journalists sustained an injury to his right hand that will prevent him from working for some time. 

Autopsy suggests British cameraman James Miller was shot by Israeli army gunfire

Reporters Without Borders 17 May 2003

On 8 May 2003, RSF called for the punishment of those responsible for the death of British freelance cameraman James Miller on 2 May. An autopsy revealed that the the only bullet to hit him entered his body from the front. The journalist was killed as he was filming troops in the Gaza Strip. 

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