gelatik
08.04.02, 10:55
Israel Fights Media Coverage of Aggressions on Palestinians
Israeli aggressions have violated all international codes and treaties,
including the restriction of the movement of ambulances, U.N. trucks carrying
essential foodstuff to the victims of the city of Ramallah. However, foreign
correspondents are also suffering, with threats to their lives as a maximum
danger and the cutting of electricity as the minimum.
European and American media have been attacked severely by the Israeli
occupation army to force them to leave the areas of aggression and so that they
do not cover the massacres and Israeli atrocities which pose a constant danger
on the residents of the occupied cities.
Ramallah, the first city that came under attack is the economic, cultural,
political and media capital of the Palestinian Authority and has a number of
television production companies that play a vital role in providing technical
services and satellite transmission equipment.
In the first day, four Israeli tanks entered a media building and evacuated all
those inside so that it could search the building “looking for terrorists”. One
of the companies searched was Link Production company which is used by ABC
network, Reuters, Abu Dhabi TV, Yemen TV and other media organizations.
Thirty journalists were taken out of the building, putting them in danger, as
they were in the open in a dangerous zone where cross firing usually takes
place.
The journalists appealed to the Israeli army to allow them to reenter the
building. Their request was refused, and only after three hours were they
allowed to enter the building’s foyer.
Suddenly, the Israeli snipers entered the buildings and told the journalists to
leave it permanently and hence occupied the building. The journalists were now
in a crisis, since there were no other Palestinian companies that could fulfill
the needs that were fulfilled by Link. Some went to other companies and others
decided to leave Ramallah.
The aim of the entire operation is to hinder the reporters’ work. Some foreign
media networks own armored vehicles which give the journalists a sense of
security. That’s why the Israeli response to reporters in Ramallah is to
threaten their lives.
Dan Louis, the correspondent for American NBC network was in his armored car
with his crew and was driving back after dark to go back to his office when he
was attacked.
Suddenly an Israeli soldier started to fire at him. “The streets were dark and
empty and suddenly I found an Israel soldier in front of me firing at our car
so I stopped. Moments later, I lit the inner light in the car and we all raised
our hands. But the soldier continued firing at us. I thought I was going to die
but I didn’t.” The armored car was damaged and could not be used again which
meant that NBC could not go out and work anymore.
Two other reporters, one French, and the other American, were injured after
they were fired at. Carlo Joseph, the cameraman from the Egyptian Nile TV news
station was also hurt when the Israeli soldiers fired at him as he was driving
the car. Both the NBC and Nile News cars had TV badges on them, so the Israeli
soldiers knew they were press cars.
Like the rest of Ramallah’s residents, the reporters do not have water and are
also lacking essential food supplies, as well as equipment, film and cables.
The pressure on the journalists in increasing and no one knows how much longer
they can continue working under these conditions. Some networks might withdraw
their teams if there are security concerns. CNN for example, has sent a
security expert to advise the crew in cases of pending danger.
The Israeli occupation forces have declared Ramallah a closed military area,
and banned reporters from entering. Therefore, reporters who are in Ramallah
are already breaching the “laws” set by the army. The CBS network left Ramallah
after being asked to leave by the Israeli army and was escorted outside the
town.
Qatari-based Al Jazeera Satellite channel crew were also expelled from the
city. Reporters in the streets of Ramallah maybe kicked out any moment, and
news coverage is being hindered.
Despite these difficulties, the journalists in the city are determined to
continue their work and to cooperate to make that possible, even among
competing stations. It is this cooperation that helps create a brotherly
atmosphere underneath the gunfire. “I’m tired and sad because of what’s
happening here, but I will continue working no matter what,” said Fouad Jabr, a
sound technician.
Hayan Yatoub, the manager of Smart Frame company said that “these conditions
enhances the performance of the Palestinian and foreign journalists. I’ve seen
with my own eyes that they collaborated and cooperated with one another,
regardless of their nationalities. Palestinian reporters also benefit from the
experience of their foreign peers.”
