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Hiding behind the sanctity of the "PRESS"
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by erikasnyder | June 11, 2007 at 10:42 pm
767 views | 14 Recommendations | 3 comments
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Though terrorists in the Middle East have not hesitated to use ambulances or vehicles marked as international observers, a new tactic emerged this weekend when gunmen infiltrated Israel in a vehicle bearing red markings reading "TV" and "Press."
Journalists here decried the the new tactic saying "it would make their jobs significantly more dangerous" according to an AP report.
In Saturday's attack, four gunmen drove a white jeep with press markings in English and Arabic to a fence on the Gaza-Israel border, then broke through on foot and attacked a guard tower in a failed attempt to capture a soldier. Israeli troops killed one gunman, while the others escaped.
The attackers, from Islamic Jihad and an offshoot of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah movement, abandoned the jeep. Associated Press photos show a white armored vehicle of a type used by reporters, its windshield pocked by bullet holes, bearing red markings reading ``TV'' and ``Press.''
Reporters covering the conflict mark their cars in order to avoid being targeted.
In the past two years, journalists have begun to spurn Gaza en-mass as foreign reporters became targeted for kidnappings. Alan Johnston, a British television correspondent, has been held for three months.
Palestinians Blasted for Media Disguise
In Gaza, the Palestinian Journalists' Association released a statement Sunday condemning the militants' new tactic, which it said ``puts the life of journalists in danger ... limits their ability to undertake their professional and national duties, and harms their journalistic work, which is protected by international law.''
In Tel Aviv, the Foreign Press Association, which represents international news organizations in Israel and the Palestinian territories, said the gunmen's ``abuse of this recognized protection for the working journalist is a grave development and we condemn those that carried it out.''
According to Palestinian security officials, militants have used cars bearing press markings to transport weapons into Gaza twice in the past year.
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Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (3)
at 07:09 on June 12th, 2007
erikasnyder, thanks for getting this up. The context which you provide and the concerned voice of a journalist add a lot of weight to the issue.
at 08:30 on June 12th, 2007
This is chilling for reporters worldwide. No doubt terrorists will continue to adopt this method, putting more journalists at risk.
erikasnyder, Good stuff.
at 09:52 on June 13th, 2007
I'm not sure how I missed this yesterday...Good stuff. As everyone mentions, this is a chilling thought for journalists who are already being targeted.