Posted on 12/19/2001 3:16:25 AM PST by kattracks
JERUSALEM, Dec 18 (Reuters) - The Israeli army said on Tuesday it had largely concluded a review of complaints by journalists wounded while covering Israeli-Palestinian violence and decided against any further action against soldiers. The Foreign Press Association (FPA), representing foreign journalists in Israel and the Palestinian territories, described the findings as incomplete and said they contributed to an atmosphere in which soldiers were not held accountable for shooting reporters in the field. The army said in a statement its review "indicates that all the cases in which journalists were injured took place during violent confrontations". It noted reporters covering a 15-month-old Palestinian uprising put themselves at "certain risk", adding "there is nothing in the complaints to suggest a pattern, or to suggest premeditated or wilful intent on the part of IDF (Israel Defence Forces) troops to harm the journalists". The army cited six examples of journalists who were shot -- including a Reuters photographer and cameraman -- saying that in each case violent demonstrations or exchanges of fire were taking place between troops and Palestinians at the time. In some instances, the army said, it did not have conclusive evidence the wounds were caused by Israeli fire. The FPA said the release of the army's findings more than a year after the complaints were made, and the overall lack of punitive measures, did not suggest the probes were thorough. "The message this delivers to soldiers, whether the army intends this or not, is that preventing the shooting of journalists and punishing those who shoot them are not of utmost importance," the FPA said in a statement. It demanded that the army "treat any such future incidents with greater seriousness than it has applied to date".
40 JOURNALISTS SHOT Press freedom groups have cited some 40 cases of journalists wounded by shooting while working for foreign news organisations in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip. The army mentioned two cases in which soldiers were reprimanded and removed from serving in an area in which reporters were wounded by Israeli fire. It said one incident involving an Abu Dhabi television reporter was still under review. The army said it had taken steps such as educational programmes for soldiers and closer coordination with representatives of the press to prevent future incidents. "The IDF has an unequivocal commitment to the professional freedom of journalists and to their safety in all that regards their contact with the IDF," the army statement said, adding it viewed journalists "as innocent civilians". © Reuters Limited |
God gave the land of Canaan to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and their descendants forever.
No, I've never shot at the IDF.
How nice for them.
Trying to film terrorists in action could qualify as willful ignorance, ...
I reckon it's the IDF that objects to being filmed, don't you? Bad for morale and all.
I would think it easy to mistake them for terrorists.
Any stick -- or schtick -- is good enough to beat a dog.
You are so full of baloney. You are always citing sources that nobody else sees or has heard of. Laughable!
In his case, he was beaten to a pulp by a gang of Muslims. But don't shed any tears for him. He enjoyed it. 'Rough trade'.
LOL.
As opposed to the rules of engagement practiced by the Islamic terrorists you are here to support
I reckon it's the IDF that objects to being filmed, don't you? Bad for morale and all.
Sticks and stones, bullets, mortar fire and suicide bombers can really spoil an otherwise good day.
Any stick -- or schtick -- is good enough to beat a dog.
Both Israel and the United States have a big stick to beat this particular dog.
Why can't you honestly answer the questions I posed about your contacts with those who perpetrate violence against Israel ?
There's that schtick again.
(Attempted intimidation via false accusation is a form of terrorism, BTW.)
Why on earth would you want to do that ?
While you, OTOH, don't really understand how angry most Americans are at Islamic terrorists and their supporters because they murdered thousands, and want to murder millions of our citizens. Instead you populate FR with hundreds, nay thousands, of comments that consisting take the side of Islamic terrorists (AKA Palestinians). Now why is that ? Is it liberalism ?
Did you consider yourself a journalist when you were consorting with our enemies ?
Journalists are terrorists? In what way does gathering news equate with terrorism?
Oh...maybe you mean only Islamic journalists are terrorists. Beg your pardon; I see what you mean. So their real offense is not newsgathering, but being Islamic. Why didn't you say so?
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