23 mar 2014
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By Monjed Jado.
Aida refugee camp, located in the north of Bethlehem in the West Bank, turned into a battlefield after being raided by Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF), who declared the camp a closed military zone. This third day of clashes, the IOF intensified their attacks on Aida camp, storming it with large forces in the morning and carrying out violent attacks against the residents of the camp and their property. Clashes began today as soon as the soldiers entered into the camp and started shooting tear gas at the youth who had gathered next to the hole in the wall. |
Local sources told Palestine News Network that the Israeli army used live ammunition, rubber bullets, sound bombs and tear gas during their attacks. They targeted houses and cars, which led to the suffocation of dozens of residents of the camp, including some children and elderly people. The people in the camp responded to these attacks throwing rocks and bricks to the soldiers.
One of the activist from the camp, Mohammad Lutfi (known as Habshi), fractured his ankle today while trying to evacuate some children from one of the houses in the camp. The building had been targeted by the Israeli soldiers and was full of tear gas
Three young men were shot by the occupation forces during the clashes. One of them was injured with live bullets in his leg, whereas the two others were hit by rubber bullets.
The occupation forces also stormed Mustafa Abu Aker’s family home, located near the UNRWA school and the military tower. It is next to this home, on the wall, where the young activists dug the hole during the past two days and the army decided to invade it for its strategic location.
Besides attacking the youth and the other residents of the camp, the soldiers also targeted a press car and they burnt down two more cars by firing tear gas directly at them. During the confrontations Israeli soldiers fired bullets at the car of an Associated Press photographer, while he was trying to cover the clashes in the camp. The photographer, Eyed Hamad, told PNN that the Israeli soldier opened fire on his car at a very short distance, not more than three or four meters, despite there was a clear sign in the car telling it is a ‘Foreign Press Car’.
This attack on the Associated Press photographer comes a day after the Israeli army detained three journalists in Aida camp. Moses Al-Shaeer, from France-Presse Agency, Abdul Rahman Yunes, photographer of the Al-quds newspaper and an American freelance photographer. In addition, an Italian photographer was injured in the face two days ago during clashes in Aida.
Israeli sources said this evening that a soldier was injured, hit by a stone thrown by the youth in Aida refugee camp.
One of the activist from the camp, Mohammad Lutfi (known as Habshi), fractured his ankle today while trying to evacuate some children from one of the houses in the camp. The building had been targeted by the Israeli soldiers and was full of tear gas
Three young men were shot by the occupation forces during the clashes. One of them was injured with live bullets in his leg, whereas the two others were hit by rubber bullets.
The occupation forces also stormed Mustafa Abu Aker’s family home, located near the UNRWA school and the military tower. It is next to this home, on the wall, where the young activists dug the hole during the past two days and the army decided to invade it for its strategic location.
Besides attacking the youth and the other residents of the camp, the soldiers also targeted a press car and they burnt down two more cars by firing tear gas directly at them. During the confrontations Israeli soldiers fired bullets at the car of an Associated Press photographer, while he was trying to cover the clashes in the camp. The photographer, Eyed Hamad, told PNN that the Israeli soldier opened fire on his car at a very short distance, not more than three or four meters, despite there was a clear sign in the car telling it is a ‘Foreign Press Car’.
This attack on the Associated Press photographer comes a day after the Israeli army detained three journalists in Aida camp. Moses Al-Shaeer, from France-Presse Agency, Abdul Rahman Yunes, photographer of the Al-quds newspaper and an American freelance photographer. In addition, an Italian photographer was injured in the face two days ago during clashes in Aida.
Israeli sources said this evening that a soldier was injured, hit by a stone thrown by the youth in Aida refugee camp.
22 mar 2014
Tear gas over Aida camp during the clashes.
A journalist said that Israeli soldiers tried to use him and two colleagues as "human shields" while they were covering clashes in Aida refugee camp north of Bethlehem on Saturday afternoon.
Journalist Musa al-Shaer said that soldiers detained him and his colleague Abd al-Rahman Yunus, as well as an American journalist, while they were covering clashes in the camp between local youths and Israeli forces.
A journalist said that Israeli soldiers tried to use him and two colleagues as "human shields" while they were covering clashes in Aida refugee camp north of Bethlehem on Saturday afternoon.
Journalist Musa al-Shaer said that soldiers detained him and his colleague Abd al-Rahman Yunus, as well as an American journalist, while they were covering clashes in the camp between local youths and Israeli forces.
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Additionally, al-Shaer told Ma'an that Israeli soldiers had prevented them from doing their work and tried to use them as "human shields" against local youths who were throwing rocks.
Al-Shaer said that the soldiers released them and returned their press cards, but refused to give any reason for their detention. During the clashes, Israeli forces fired stun grenades and tear gas grenades into the camp, injuring several residents by excessive tear gas inhalation. An Israeli army spokesman said that "100 Palestinians were hurling rocks at security forces," but was not aware of any incident involving the journalists. |
The clashes come after Israeli forces killed three Palestinians during a raid in the northern West Bank city of Jenin.
Aida camp is a frequent site of clashes because it is located beside Rachel's Tomb, which is surrounded on three sides by the Israeli separation wall despite being in the middle of the Palestinian city of Bethlehem.
Israeli forces shot more than 20 youths with rubber-coated steel bullets and live bullets during clashes that occurred almost daily in December and January, and clashes continue to break out occasionally in the area.
There are 19 refugee camps in the occupied West Bank, within which live about a quarter of the 771,000 registered refugees in the territory.
More than 760,000 Palestinians -- estimated today to number 4.8 million with their descendants -- were pushed into exile or driven out of their homes in the conflict surrounding Israel's creation in 1948.
Aida camp is a frequent site of clashes because it is located beside Rachel's Tomb, which is surrounded on three sides by the Israeli separation wall despite being in the middle of the Palestinian city of Bethlehem.
Israeli forces shot more than 20 youths with rubber-coated steel bullets and live bullets during clashes that occurred almost daily in December and January, and clashes continue to break out occasionally in the area.
There are 19 refugee camps in the occupied West Bank, within which live about a quarter of the 771,000 registered refugees in the territory.
More than 760,000 Palestinians -- estimated today to number 4.8 million with their descendants -- were pushed into exile or driven out of their homes in the conflict surrounding Israel's creation in 1948.
Bethlehem/PNN/Monjed Jadou report-Photo by Jad Jadou -
Israeli occupation forces stormed Aida refugee camp in Bethlehem, on Friday night, and fired tear gas on the houses of the camp, six people including a week-old baby were suffocated, Italian photographer was injured by a metal bullet in her eye & a house burned.
Witnesses and residents in the camp told Palestine News Network PNN that Israeli occupation army stormed the camp on Friday evening shot metal bullets and tear gas at the camp, which led to the burning of Ayed Abu Aker home and wounding six members of his family and wounding Italian photographer "Ivana Befale" working freelance photographer.
Ivan transferred to Beit Jalla hospital, where it was decided to hold her surgery tomorrow morning according to a medical source
Muhammad Lutfi, a resident of the camp said, large number of Israeli military jeeps stormed the camp through the main entrance and stationed near UNRWA schools and the soldiers fired tear gas deliberately on people's houses, wounding Bisan Murad Malash baby girl her age seven days posing a threat to her life.
Lutfi added Israeli army want to revenge because numbers of children in the camp dig a hole in the apartheid wall last night.
Moses Al shaer member of journalists' Syndicate denounced the shooting on the Italian photographer.
He told Palestine News Network PNN that targeting the Italian photographer and hit her specifically in the eye by Israeli army is part of Israeli policy of intimidation journalists and tries to prevent them from filming what is happening in Palestine.
He also stressed the need for the International Federation of Journalists to put pressure on Israel to stop its attacks on photographers and reporters.
On Thursday night Palestinian activists created a hole in the Israeli segregation wall near the Aida refugee camp in the city of Bethlehem.
Few months ago, activists also created a hole in the wall and set fire to the Israeli watchtower near the camp. Israeli forces stormed the camp and arrested a number of Palestinians.
Israeli occupation forces stormed Aida refugee camp in Bethlehem, on Friday night, and fired tear gas on the houses of the camp, six people including a week-old baby were suffocated, Italian photographer was injured by a metal bullet in her eye & a house burned.
Witnesses and residents in the camp told Palestine News Network PNN that Israeli occupation army stormed the camp on Friday evening shot metal bullets and tear gas at the camp, which led to the burning of Ayed Abu Aker home and wounding six members of his family and wounding Italian photographer "Ivana Befale" working freelance photographer.
Ivan transferred to Beit Jalla hospital, where it was decided to hold her surgery tomorrow morning according to a medical source
Muhammad Lutfi, a resident of the camp said, large number of Israeli military jeeps stormed the camp through the main entrance and stationed near UNRWA schools and the soldiers fired tear gas deliberately on people's houses, wounding Bisan Murad Malash baby girl her age seven days posing a threat to her life.
Lutfi added Israeli army want to revenge because numbers of children in the camp dig a hole in the apartheid wall last night.
Moses Al shaer member of journalists' Syndicate denounced the shooting on the Italian photographer.
He told Palestine News Network PNN that targeting the Italian photographer and hit her specifically in the eye by Israeli army is part of Israeli policy of intimidation journalists and tries to prevent them from filming what is happening in Palestine.
He also stressed the need for the International Federation of Journalists to put pressure on Israel to stop its attacks on photographers and reporters.
On Thursday night Palestinian activists created a hole in the Israeli segregation wall near the Aida refugee camp in the city of Bethlehem.
Few months ago, activists also created a hole in the wall and set fire to the Israeli watchtower near the camp. Israeli forces stormed the camp and arrested a number of Palestinians.
17 mar 2014
Israeli occupation forces (IOF) detained reporter of the ‘Palestine Today’ TV in Al-Khalil for a few hours on Sunday night. The soldiers detained the reporter Fida Nasr after she finished a reportage on the Jewish settlers’ celebration of Purim feast in Tal Al-Rumaida in downtown Al-Khalil.
Khitam Al-Hih, lawyer of the reporter, said in a press statement that Fida was detained after the settlers assaulted and poured wine on her while at work.
Khitam Al-Hih, lawyer of the reporter, said in a press statement that Fida was detained after the settlers assaulted and poured wine on her while at work.
16 mar 2014
Israeli forces Sunday arrested a reporter in the city of Hebron, according to local sources and witnesses. They said army arrested Fedaa Nasser, a reporter for Felastine Al-Yawm TV, while she was covering the events of the Jewish Purim holiday.
They said that one of the protesting settlers attempted to attack Nasser when forces intervened and arrested her. She was led to a police station in Hebron.
They said that one of the protesting settlers attempted to attack Nasser when forces intervened and arrested her. She was led to a police station in Hebron.
14 mar 2014
Nearly 40 protesters were injured after Israeli forces opened fire on demonstrations across the central West Bank on Friday afternoon, activists said.
The injured included 35 Palestinians in the Abu Dis and Eizariya neighborhoods of East Jerusalem as well as two Palestinians in Beitin.
Additionally, a Norwegian activists was struck in the back by a tear gas canister fired by Israeli forces in Bilin.
The demonstrations come after a week of intense violence in the region, as airstrikes and rocket fire was exchanged in the last two days across the Gaza border after seven Palestinians were reported killed by Israeli forces in separate incidents in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip earlier in the week.
East Jerusalem
Dozens of Palestinian were injured in clashes with Israeli forces in the Abu Dis and Eizariya villages in East Jerusalem on Friday.
Spokesman for the local popular resistance committee Hani Halabiya told Ma'an that 35 young men were struck by rubber-coated steel bullets, while dozens of others suffered from excessive tear gas inhalation.
Palestinians threw rocks at Israeli forces and closed the roads with trash bins during the clashes.
Israeli forces fired tear gas randomly at houses and at the Eizariya cemetery, Halabiya said.
Israeli forces also fired at al-Quds news photographer Rami Alariya.
"Israeli forces shot four tear gas canisters, a metal bullet, and three stun grenades at me in different locations while I was covering the clashes," Alariya said.
"An officer threatened to shoot me and then gave orders to soldiers to shoot me near al-Jabal junction in Abu Dis," he added, "in addition to the curses and insults I received."
Beitin
Two Palestinians were injured in clashes that broke out in Beitin village east of Ramallah on Friday.
One protester was struck by a live bullet in the leg and another was hit by a rubber-coated steel bullet after Israeli forces opened fire at protesters, who were throwing rocks at them.
Protestors said they marched to condemn the killing of Saji Darwish, 18, last week, a student at Birzeit University from Beitin who was shot dead by Israeli soldiers while he was throwing rocks at the vehicles of Israeli settlers.
An Israeli military spokeswoman said that "30 Palestinians" were "rioting" and Israeli forces responded with "riot dispersal means."
One hit was confirmed, she added.
Bilin
A Norwegian activist was injured and dozens of others suffered from excessive tear gas inhalation in clashes in Bilin in the central West Bank.
Israeli forces fired tear gas, stun grenades, and rubber-coated steel bullets at protesters as they neared their lands close to the wall, injuring a 36-year-old woman from Norway named "Katia" who was struck by a tear gas canister in the back.
Organizers said the protest was held "in loyalty to the martyrs," and protesters raised Palestinian flags and posters of Saji Darwish. They marched through the village and chanted songs for unity and resistance.
Since 2005, Bilin villagers have protested on a weekly basis against the Israeli separation wall that runs through their village on land confiscated from local farmers.
Previous protests by Bilin activists have forced the Israeli authorities to re-route the wall, but large chunks of the village lands remain inaccessible to residents because of the route.
Israel began building the separation wall in 2002, and the route has been the target of regular demonstrations by border towns whose land is cut off by its path.
An Israeli army spokeswoman did not have information regarding the incident.
Nabi Saleh
Dozens of activists suffered from excessive tear gas inhalation as Israeli forces dispersed a protest in Nabi Saleh northwest of Ramallah.
Protesters marched towards their confiscated lands which have been taken over by the nearby illegal Jewish settlement of Hallamish after the noon prayers and condemned recent "Israeli crimes" against Palestinians, the ongoing siege on Gaza and continued settlement activity in the West Bank.
Israeli forces dispersed protesters using rubber-coated steel bullets, stun grenades, and tear gas.
Activists in Nabi Saleh have been protesting weekly against the occupation for four years, demanding that their lands confiscated by Israeli forces to build the separation wall be returned.
In 2004, the International Court of Justice called on Israel to stop construction of the separation wall within the occupied West Bank.
When completed, 85 percent of the wall will run inside the West Bank.
The internationally recognized Palestinian territories of which the West Bank and East Jerusalem form a part have been occupied by the Israeli military since 1967.
The injured included 35 Palestinians in the Abu Dis and Eizariya neighborhoods of East Jerusalem as well as two Palestinians in Beitin.
Additionally, a Norwegian activists was struck in the back by a tear gas canister fired by Israeli forces in Bilin.
The demonstrations come after a week of intense violence in the region, as airstrikes and rocket fire was exchanged in the last two days across the Gaza border after seven Palestinians were reported killed by Israeli forces in separate incidents in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip earlier in the week.
East Jerusalem
Dozens of Palestinian were injured in clashes with Israeli forces in the Abu Dis and Eizariya villages in East Jerusalem on Friday.
Spokesman for the local popular resistance committee Hani Halabiya told Ma'an that 35 young men were struck by rubber-coated steel bullets, while dozens of others suffered from excessive tear gas inhalation.
Palestinians threw rocks at Israeli forces and closed the roads with trash bins during the clashes.
Israeli forces fired tear gas randomly at houses and at the Eizariya cemetery, Halabiya said.
Israeli forces also fired at al-Quds news photographer Rami Alariya.
"Israeli forces shot four tear gas canisters, a metal bullet, and three stun grenades at me in different locations while I was covering the clashes," Alariya said.
"An officer threatened to shoot me and then gave orders to soldiers to shoot me near al-Jabal junction in Abu Dis," he added, "in addition to the curses and insults I received."
Beitin
Two Palestinians were injured in clashes that broke out in Beitin village east of Ramallah on Friday.
One protester was struck by a live bullet in the leg and another was hit by a rubber-coated steel bullet after Israeli forces opened fire at protesters, who were throwing rocks at them.
Protestors said they marched to condemn the killing of Saji Darwish, 18, last week, a student at Birzeit University from Beitin who was shot dead by Israeli soldiers while he was throwing rocks at the vehicles of Israeli settlers.
An Israeli military spokeswoman said that "30 Palestinians" were "rioting" and Israeli forces responded with "riot dispersal means."
One hit was confirmed, she added.
Bilin
A Norwegian activist was injured and dozens of others suffered from excessive tear gas inhalation in clashes in Bilin in the central West Bank.
Israeli forces fired tear gas, stun grenades, and rubber-coated steel bullets at protesters as they neared their lands close to the wall, injuring a 36-year-old woman from Norway named "Katia" who was struck by a tear gas canister in the back.
Organizers said the protest was held "in loyalty to the martyrs," and protesters raised Palestinian flags and posters of Saji Darwish. They marched through the village and chanted songs for unity and resistance.
Since 2005, Bilin villagers have protested on a weekly basis against the Israeli separation wall that runs through their village on land confiscated from local farmers.
Previous protests by Bilin activists have forced the Israeli authorities to re-route the wall, but large chunks of the village lands remain inaccessible to residents because of the route.
Israel began building the separation wall in 2002, and the route has been the target of regular demonstrations by border towns whose land is cut off by its path.
An Israeli army spokeswoman did not have information regarding the incident.
Nabi Saleh
Dozens of activists suffered from excessive tear gas inhalation as Israeli forces dispersed a protest in Nabi Saleh northwest of Ramallah.
Protesters marched towards their confiscated lands which have been taken over by the nearby illegal Jewish settlement of Hallamish after the noon prayers and condemned recent "Israeli crimes" against Palestinians, the ongoing siege on Gaza and continued settlement activity in the West Bank.
Israeli forces dispersed protesters using rubber-coated steel bullets, stun grenades, and tear gas.
Activists in Nabi Saleh have been protesting weekly against the occupation for four years, demanding that their lands confiscated by Israeli forces to build the separation wall be returned.
In 2004, the International Court of Justice called on Israel to stop construction of the separation wall within the occupied West Bank.
When completed, 85 percent of the wall will run inside the West Bank.
The internationally recognized Palestinian territories of which the West Bank and East Jerusalem form a part have been occupied by the Israeli military since 1967.
Jaffar Sadaqa
The Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA) is concerned for the status of freedom of expression in Palestine, after a complaint was submitted by the Minister of Finance Mr. Shukri Bshara against Jaffar Sadaqa, a journalist who wrote a report about the ministry, especially that his report tackled the accountability of the ministry.
The complaint included charges of defaming the government and the Ministry of Finance and sabotaged its relations with donors as reported by Sadaqa. The complaint is considered a pressure to restrain the media's ability and freedom to follow and report on public institutions, and an attempt to suppress freedom of expression, which is guaranteed by the Palestinian Basic Law and The Press and Publications Law.
Article (26) The Palestinian Press and Publication law states: "if a Press Publication publishes an incorrect news item or article that includes incorrect information related to the public interest, the responsible chief editor shall publish a written reply or correction which he receives from the concerned authority, free of charge, in the issue following the date on which the reply or correction is received and in the same place and font in which the same news item or article was published in the press publication".
MADA is asking the Minister of Finance, who is a public figure and may be subject to criticism and accountability, to withdraw the complaint submitted against Sadaqa, and we ask the media outlet "that Sadaqa works for" to refrain from conducting any investigation, because he did not commit any administrative violations and regarding the content and accuracy of the information contained in his report, the Press and Publications Law existed to rule in such issues.
Knowing that the responsibility for publishing according to the law does not fall on the journalist alone, but on the chief editor and the owner, in accordance to Article 42, which states: "A public right action in respect of crimes relating to Periodical Publications provided for in this law shall be brought against the responsible chief editor of the publication and the writer of the article as principle actors. The owner of the Press Publication, the chief editor and the writer shall be jointly liable for personal rights arising from such crimes and for litigation expenses. The owner shall not be subjected to any criminal liability, unless his complicity or actual interference in the crime is proven".
The Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA) is concerned for the status of freedom of expression in Palestine, after a complaint was submitted by the Minister of Finance Mr. Shukri Bshara against Jaffar Sadaqa, a journalist who wrote a report about the ministry, especially that his report tackled the accountability of the ministry.
The complaint included charges of defaming the government and the Ministry of Finance and sabotaged its relations with donors as reported by Sadaqa. The complaint is considered a pressure to restrain the media's ability and freedom to follow and report on public institutions, and an attempt to suppress freedom of expression, which is guaranteed by the Palestinian Basic Law and The Press and Publications Law.
Article (26) The Palestinian Press and Publication law states: "if a Press Publication publishes an incorrect news item or article that includes incorrect information related to the public interest, the responsible chief editor shall publish a written reply or correction which he receives from the concerned authority, free of charge, in the issue following the date on which the reply or correction is received and in the same place and font in which the same news item or article was published in the press publication".
MADA is asking the Minister of Finance, who is a public figure and may be subject to criticism and accountability, to withdraw the complaint submitted against Sadaqa, and we ask the media outlet "that Sadaqa works for" to refrain from conducting any investigation, because he did not commit any administrative violations and regarding the content and accuracy of the information contained in his report, the Press and Publications Law existed to rule in such issues.
Knowing that the responsibility for publishing according to the law does not fall on the journalist alone, but on the chief editor and the owner, in accordance to Article 42, which states: "A public right action in respect of crimes relating to Periodical Publications provided for in this law shall be brought against the responsible chief editor of the publication and the writer of the article as principle actors. The owner of the Press Publication, the chief editor and the writer shall be jointly liable for personal rights arising from such crimes and for litigation expenses. The owner shall not be subjected to any criminal liability, unless his complicity or actual interference in the crime is proven".
12 mar 2014
Violent clashes broke out on Tuesday at Bab al-Amoud in occupied Jerusalem between Israeli policemen and Jerusalemite youths who were protesting the killing of 6 Palestinians in 48 hours and condemning the ban on youths' access to al-Aqsa Mosque yards. Eyewitnesses told PIC reporter that Israeli forces suppressed the march and fired stun grenades and rubber bullets at the protesters.
Five Jerusalemites were arrested during the demonstration, in addition to the injury of a photojournalist who was covering the event, the sources added.
Meanwhile, three Palestinians were arrested in occupied West Bank, including a wounded young man from Nablus.
The Israeli patrols arrested Mohammed Haitham Abu Atwan during clashes that erupted in Dura village south of al-Khalil, amid raid and search operations into homes in the adjacent areas.
Israeli occupation forces also detained Ahmed Qawasmeh as sporadic clashes broke out in Aroub camp north of al-Khalil. Tear gas canisters and metal bullets were fired during the clashes.
Meanwhile, clashes broke out in Askar refugee camp in Nablus when eight Israeli jeeps stormed at early hours of Tuesday morning the camp. Israeli soldiers fired live bullets, which led to the injury of Dawoud Abu Haya who was then arrested despite his leg injury, local sources said.
The sources added that the Israeli forces' withdrawal from the camp caused a state of panic among the students who were heading to their schools.
Five Jerusalemites were arrested during the demonstration, in addition to the injury of a photojournalist who was covering the event, the sources added.
Meanwhile, three Palestinians were arrested in occupied West Bank, including a wounded young man from Nablus.
The Israeli patrols arrested Mohammed Haitham Abu Atwan during clashes that erupted in Dura village south of al-Khalil, amid raid and search operations into homes in the adjacent areas.
Israeli occupation forces also detained Ahmed Qawasmeh as sporadic clashes broke out in Aroub camp north of al-Khalil. Tear gas canisters and metal bullets were fired during the clashes.
Meanwhile, clashes broke out in Askar refugee camp in Nablus when eight Israeli jeeps stormed at early hours of Tuesday morning the camp. Israeli soldiers fired live bullets, which led to the injury of Dawoud Abu Haya who was then arrested despite his leg injury, local sources said.
The sources added that the Israeli forces' withdrawal from the camp caused a state of panic among the students who were heading to their schools.
10 mar 2014
French government Monday condemned an attack carried out by Israeli settlers on March 7 which targeted a photographer of the Agence France Presse while he was covering an event in the West Bank. In a statement published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday, the French government said it “recalls its attachment and commitment in international fora for the defense of the freedom of expression and information.”
“Everywhere in the world, journalists must be able to practice their profession freely,” added the statement.
“We call on the Israeli authorities to shed full light on this incident and to prosecute its perpetrators.”
“Everywhere in the world, journalists must be able to practice their profession freely,” added the statement.
“We call on the Israeli authorities to shed full light on this incident and to prosecute its perpetrators.”
9 mar 2014
Women Journalists are exposed to right's violations in Palestine, and there are several attempts aimed to silence them and limit their ability to express, the Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA) said in press release on the occasion of the International Women Day (8th March).
MADA has monitored disturbing patterns of violations against women journalists, committed by the Israeli occupation forces and various Palestinian sides in the West Bank and Gaza.
Palestinian women journalists have suffered over the past years of Israeli occupation violations when they were covering different events. For example, Diala Jwehan- Al-Quds Net correspondent was exposed to many injuries and violations, the most recent was last week when she was covering clashes in the city of Jerusalem.
Jwehan says: "The occupation always targets anyone in the media field, but they see me as a weak woman, and they believe they can intimidate me by their repeated physically attacks on me. In fact, these violations gave me the motivation and determination to continue with quality and more comprehensive work in the media".
Among the Israeli violations, MADA also recalls the attack on Huda Alhodali – Associated Press photographer last year, while she was covering the evection of the "Al Nawater village" near Jerusalem, where she was pushed and treated harshly by Israeli occupation soldiers, and she fell on her back on a big stone.
Another incident, Linda Shalash Al-Quds TV correspondent was sprayed with wastewater by occupation soldiers during her coverage of the second batch of Palestinian prisoners release "Shalit Deal", after midnight on 30th October 2013. Shalash reported to MADA
"I fell on the ground from the power of water pressure, and I was fully soaked, despite of it I continued my work and I went to the presidential residence in the province to cover the entire activities of the Prisoners, where they held a welcoming reception for them".
Palestinian Violation against Women Journalists
On 6th March 2014, 48 hours prior to the International Women's Day, Faten Alwan- Alhura channel correspondent was pushed and threatened by a member of security forces while she was covering a women's protest in front of the Palestinian Authority Headquarters "Almoqata'a" in Ramallah, demanding amendments on the Penal code and the personal status for women law, especially in regard to the so-called "honor killings".
Alwan Reported to MADA:"A security personnel in his civil cloth started pushing us and all the journalists who were present on site, including my colleague, Yahya Habayeb- Alhura TV cameraman, and when I asked him why are you doing this? He commanded me to stay away or he will confiscate the camera, and when I asked him what his name was, he told me: "you journalists need discipline", and then he said: Thank your Lord that you are not a man". Alwan said she insisted on knowing his name so she can file a complaint against him, but he told her: "I'm a ghost no one can punish me".
Things did not stop there; the Ministry of Palestinian Women's Affairs withheld the honoring of Nahed Abu Taima "a journalist and Informative" because of her criticism of the government, parties and institutions for not protecting women in Palestine on her Facebook page. The Incident raised the ire of other women journalists like Amal Joma'a, Ruba Alnajjar, and Christine Alrinawe, which led to their refusal to be honored by the ministry at its honorary ceremony that is supposed to be held to mark the International Women's Day.
Abu Taima reported to MADA: "There is a heavy burden on Palestinian women, and for 20 years we have begged the successive governments to protect women by amending the legal penalties and personal status, but without a avail, and since all Palestinian laws guarantee citizens the right to freedom of expression, it is our right as journalists to express our opinions about the government's different policies especially those relating to women. The attempts to intimidate women journalists, offending and abusing them in any form, and imposing censorship on their writing are unacceptable and contrary to the spirit of the lows".
In Gaza, women journalists face numerous threats due to their profession. Samia Alzebidi "journalist" reported to MADA that she had received several threats and in different ways from an unidentified person for expressing her opinion, and that sometimes the threat is padded and alludes to the possibility of fabrication of a moral case against the journalist if she continues her criticism of the government.
Nofuth Albakri – Alhaya Aljadeda newspaper correspondent reported to MADA - who monitored numerous attacks on her in the past years – That there are many obstacles that limit the ability of journalists to practice journalism in Gaza, and she noted that the security forces and officials exercise hiden and evident violations on the right of journalists. One example of this is the difficulty of access to information by journalists, where officials could deal with journalists in the smoothest and fastest manners, and women journalists are harassed and forced sometimes to wear a veil before entering for some events.
Albakri added: "we also face the problems of access to some places; In general the police or security can stop a taxi and inquire about the reason for our presence in the car with the driver without a man, which hinders our work and our access to many of the events. In addition, when we go to cover in the field, they push young men to harass us by entering our personal space and stand very near to us".
On the International Women's Day, MADA express its pride of Palestinian women journalists for being role models in exercising their profession, their insistence on disseminating the suffering of their people under the Israeli occupation and siege captured in words and images, and their great efforts to showcase the reality of Palestinian women and other issues of concern to the Palestinian community despite of all the difficulties, obstacles, and repression they face.
MADA congratulates the women of Palestine and the world, especially women journalists, and it condemns all attacks on their rights, and demands all parties concerned and responsible to protect women journalists and empower them to do their work in complete freedom, and to hold accountable all those responsible for all the attacks of their rights, and we demand an end to discrimination against women journalists, and to enable them to reach leadership positions at media outlets.
MADA has monitored disturbing patterns of violations against women journalists, committed by the Israeli occupation forces and various Palestinian sides in the West Bank and Gaza.
Palestinian women journalists have suffered over the past years of Israeli occupation violations when they were covering different events. For example, Diala Jwehan- Al-Quds Net correspondent was exposed to many injuries and violations, the most recent was last week when she was covering clashes in the city of Jerusalem.
Jwehan says: "The occupation always targets anyone in the media field, but they see me as a weak woman, and they believe they can intimidate me by their repeated physically attacks on me. In fact, these violations gave me the motivation and determination to continue with quality and more comprehensive work in the media".
Among the Israeli violations, MADA also recalls the attack on Huda Alhodali – Associated Press photographer last year, while she was covering the evection of the "Al Nawater village" near Jerusalem, where she was pushed and treated harshly by Israeli occupation soldiers, and she fell on her back on a big stone.
Another incident, Linda Shalash Al-Quds TV correspondent was sprayed with wastewater by occupation soldiers during her coverage of the second batch of Palestinian prisoners release "Shalit Deal", after midnight on 30th October 2013. Shalash reported to MADA
"I fell on the ground from the power of water pressure, and I was fully soaked, despite of it I continued my work and I went to the presidential residence in the province to cover the entire activities of the Prisoners, where they held a welcoming reception for them".
Palestinian Violation against Women Journalists
On 6th March 2014, 48 hours prior to the International Women's Day, Faten Alwan- Alhura channel correspondent was pushed and threatened by a member of security forces while she was covering a women's protest in front of the Palestinian Authority Headquarters "Almoqata'a" in Ramallah, demanding amendments on the Penal code and the personal status for women law, especially in regard to the so-called "honor killings".
Alwan Reported to MADA:"A security personnel in his civil cloth started pushing us and all the journalists who were present on site, including my colleague, Yahya Habayeb- Alhura TV cameraman, and when I asked him why are you doing this? He commanded me to stay away or he will confiscate the camera, and when I asked him what his name was, he told me: "you journalists need discipline", and then he said: Thank your Lord that you are not a man". Alwan said she insisted on knowing his name so she can file a complaint against him, but he told her: "I'm a ghost no one can punish me".
Things did not stop there; the Ministry of Palestinian Women's Affairs withheld the honoring of Nahed Abu Taima "a journalist and Informative" because of her criticism of the government, parties and institutions for not protecting women in Palestine on her Facebook page. The Incident raised the ire of other women journalists like Amal Joma'a, Ruba Alnajjar, and Christine Alrinawe, which led to their refusal to be honored by the ministry at its honorary ceremony that is supposed to be held to mark the International Women's Day.
Abu Taima reported to MADA: "There is a heavy burden on Palestinian women, and for 20 years we have begged the successive governments to protect women by amending the legal penalties and personal status, but without a avail, and since all Palestinian laws guarantee citizens the right to freedom of expression, it is our right as journalists to express our opinions about the government's different policies especially those relating to women. The attempts to intimidate women journalists, offending and abusing them in any form, and imposing censorship on their writing are unacceptable and contrary to the spirit of the lows".
In Gaza, women journalists face numerous threats due to their profession. Samia Alzebidi "journalist" reported to MADA that she had received several threats and in different ways from an unidentified person for expressing her opinion, and that sometimes the threat is padded and alludes to the possibility of fabrication of a moral case against the journalist if she continues her criticism of the government.
Nofuth Albakri – Alhaya Aljadeda newspaper correspondent reported to MADA - who monitored numerous attacks on her in the past years – That there are many obstacles that limit the ability of journalists to practice journalism in Gaza, and she noted that the security forces and officials exercise hiden and evident violations on the right of journalists. One example of this is the difficulty of access to information by journalists, where officials could deal with journalists in the smoothest and fastest manners, and women journalists are harassed and forced sometimes to wear a veil before entering for some events.
Albakri added: "we also face the problems of access to some places; In general the police or security can stop a taxi and inquire about the reason for our presence in the car with the driver without a man, which hinders our work and our access to many of the events. In addition, when we go to cover in the field, they push young men to harass us by entering our personal space and stand very near to us".
On the International Women's Day, MADA express its pride of Palestinian women journalists for being role models in exercising their profession, their insistence on disseminating the suffering of their people under the Israeli occupation and siege captured in words and images, and their great efforts to showcase the reality of Palestinian women and other issues of concern to the Palestinian community despite of all the difficulties, obstacles, and repression they face.
MADA congratulates the women of Palestine and the world, especially women journalists, and it condemns all attacks on their rights, and demands all parties concerned and responsible to protect women journalists and empower them to do their work in complete freedom, and to hold accountable all those responsible for all the attacks of their rights, and we demand an end to discrimination against women journalists, and to enable them to reach leadership positions at media outlets.