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Israeli army says no action on wounded reporters
Reuters | 12/19/01

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



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To: The Documentary Lady
I suppose, but the French in my family married the Huron indians in my family, so technically, we go way back.

God gave the land of Canaan to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and their descendants forever.

41 posted on 12/19/2001 7:20:57 AM PST by a_witness
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To: The Documentary Lady
Have you ever shot at the IDF, or have you spoken with people that have shot at the IDF (bombs count too) ?***

No, I've never shot at the IDF.

    You did not answer the other part of my question.
  1. Have you spoken with people who have shot at the IDF ?
  2. or shot/bombed Israel (including the so-called Occupied Territories) ?

42 posted on 12/19/2001 7:23:57 AM PST by a_witness
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To: a_witness
The IDF, like the American military, has rules of engagement.

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.

43 posted on 12/19/2001 8:48:33 AM PST by Romulus
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To: The Documentary Lady
I'm in Detroit and saw it on the Canadian TV. I doubt they will show it here in the U.S. because it's too incriminating of the IDF.

You are so full of baloney. You are always citing sources that nobody else sees or has heard of. Laughable!

44 posted on 12/19/2001 8:52:26 AM PST by veronica
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To: The Documentary Lady, kattracks
'Course ONE reporter who we KNOW was abused - is Robert Fisk.

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.

45 posted on 12/19/2001 8:56:16 AM PST by veronica
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To: Romulus
How nice for them.

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.

46 posted on 12/19/2001 9:04:53 AM PST by a_witness
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Comment #47 Removed by Moderator

To: The Documentary Lady
No wiggle room for you here.

Why can't you honestly answer the questions I posed about your contacts with those who perpetrate violence against Israel ?

48 posted on 12/19/2001 9:14:21 AM PST by a_witness
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To: a_witness
...the Islamic terrorists you are here to support

There's that schtick again.

(Attempted intimidation via false accusation is a form of terrorism, BTW.)

49 posted on 12/19/2001 9:14:44 AM PST by Romulus
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To: Romulus
Okay, you are here to support the Islamic terrorist journalists
50 posted on 12/19/2001 9:24:04 AM PST by a_witness
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Comment #51 Removed by Moderator

Comment #52 Removed by Moderator

To: The Documentary Lady
But weren't you talking with Hizbollah while Israel was fighting a war against Islamic terrorists ?

Why on earth would you want to do that ?

53 posted on 12/19/2001 9:29:37 AM PST by a_witness
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Comment #54 Removed by Moderator

To: The Documentary Lady
I take neither you nor Veronica have any indication of how ridiculous you both sound.

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 ?

55 posted on 12/19/2001 9:34:56 AM PST by a_witness
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To: The Documentary Lady
We're discussing the IDF investigation, or should I say non-investigation. That's what I'm going to talk about. Not this other nonsense.

Did you consider yourself a journalist when you were consorting with our enemies ?

56 posted on 12/19/2001 9:36:12 AM PST by a_witness
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Comment #57 Removed by Moderator

To: The Documentary Lady
Did you ever yourself a journalist ?
58 posted on 12/19/2001 10:11:36 AM PST by a_witness
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To: a_witness
the Islamic terrorist journalists

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?

59 posted on 12/19/2001 10:22:12 AM PST by Romulus
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To: The Documentary Lady
I hope that you understand that "journalists" are one of the most despised professions in the world. People don't like them because of their dishonesty and their tendency to outright lie in order to advance their own agenda. I seriously doubt anyone will be believe any "proof" furnished by journalists.
60 posted on 12/19/2001 10:22:23 AM PST by McGavin999
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