The Foreign Press Association is relieved that the Israeli government has returned AP’s confiscated broadcasting equipment, following widespread media coverage and expressions of concern from the White House, the Union of Journalists in Israel and press freedom groups.

We continue to be concerned that Israel’s new foreign media law, which banned Al Jazeera’s operations this month, leaves the door open for further abusive action.

We urge the government to abolish this law and to find a better way to balance security concerns with the democratic ideals of a free press.

The Board of the Foreign Press Association