Israeli army allows some journalists to enter West Bank Palestinian towns

The Israeli army on 28 June 2002 lifted the ban on journalists going to six West Bank Palestinian towns. But this does not apply to Israeli and Palestinian journalists. Also, Hebron, where a large military operation is going on, remains out of bounds to the media. _____________________________________________________________ 06.27.2002 - Six Palestinian towns declared "closed military zones" and six Palestinian journalists still in prison Journalists have once more been banned from six autonomous West Bank Palestinian towns (Bethlehem, Nablus, Ramallah (photo), Jenin, Tulkarem and Qalqiliya) that have again been declared "closed military zones" by the Israeli army since the latest Palestinian suicide bombings in Israel. "We cannot help thinking that, rather than protecting journalists, this measure is aimed at conducting military operations hidden from public scrutiny," said Reporters Without Borders secretary-general Robert Ménard. "Especially since journalists based in these towns are also prevented from working by the curfew. Once again, these measures risk generating all kinds of rumours and disinformation." Reporters Without Borders also called on the Israeli authorities to immediately release six Palestinian journalists who have been held for the past two months. "These arrests were completely arbitrary," Ménard said. "If they have done anything wrong, then the authorities should say what it is. No evidence has been presented to show they had any link to a terrorist organisation. We remain extremely concerned about their fate because they are being held in very bad conditions." The six journalists – Khalid Ali Zwawi and Maher el-Dessuki, of the Ramallah-based Al-Quds Educational TV, Kamal Ali Jbeil, of the daily Al-Quds,   Hussam Abu Alan (photo), a photographer for Agence France-Presse (AFP), Yusri el-Jamal, a Reuters sound man, and Ayman el-Kawasmi, head of a local radio station, El Horriya – were arrested between 15 and 30 April and placed in preventive detention for three months. Dessuki, Jbeil, Alan and Jamal are being held at the Ofer detention camp near Ramallah in harsh conditions, sleeping on the ground in tents with several hundred other prisoners. Alan needs special treatment for a head wound he received several years ago but has not been able to get it. On 19 June , the Israeli Military Court rejected applications for the immediate release of Jamal and Alan. Apart from the ban on journalists going to the six towns, press freedom violations are continuing. Reuters photographer Nasser al-Shiokhy was beaten with a rifle butt by an Israeli soldier in Hebron on 10 June as he was taking pictures of troops arresting Palestinians. The soldier hit him on the head and in the stomach and threatened him and confiscated some of his equipment. Also on 10 June, Israeli soldiers occupied the Reuters office in Ramallah and barred five of the news agency's journalists from entering. After the agency protested, one of them was allowed in to get some equipment. The soldiers left the next day. Reuters cameraman Hussan el-Titi and freelance Ala Badarneh came under Israeli army gunfire in Nablus on 4 June as they were on their way to the Askar refugee camp. Bullets hit a window of their armoured vehicle, which was carrying a "press" sign, and also punctured a tyre. After the agency complained, an army spokesman said an enquiry would be made. Mashur Abu Eid, a reporter for the official Jordanian news agency Petra, was arrested on 31 May and deported four days later for allegedly entering a closed military zone and resisting arrest.