Israel bans foreign journalists in Gaza

Israel bars foreign journalists from entering the Gaza Strip, after being forced to resume fuel delivery to the region under international pressure.  The move, aimed at exerting pressure on the Palestinians in Gaza, is largely viewed as a serious violation of press freedom.   Israel says the restriction, expected to last for a week, is imposed following the firing of rockets by the Palestinians residing in Gaza.  Journalists worldwide have dismissed the explanation as implausible, saying that current hostilities did not justify the ban on access, AP reported.  They said Israel limited journalists from entering the Gaza Strip because it wants to keep the situation in the impoverished territory from the public eye.  "This is Israel's policy to not show what's going on in Gaza,'' said Conny Mus, a reporter for the Dutch television station RTL. Mus spoke from the Israeli side of the Erez crossing, and was among 14 journalists who had unsuccessfully sought entry to Gaza on Wednesday morning. A statement from the Foreign Press Association said, "It is absolutely essential that international journalists be allowed to enter the territory and deliver their news reports to Israel and the rest of the world.''  In April, Israeli forces killed Reuters Cameraman Fadel Shana in Gaza.  Despite an Egyptian-mediated cease fire between Israel and the Gaza fighters, last week Israeli troops attacked the Palestinians, killing and wounding dozens. In response to the Israeli raids on the territory, Palestinian fighters fired home made rockets into the occupied Palestine. MSH/MMN Original source at PressTV