The Foreign Press Association has filed a complaint over the interference in reporting caused by unclear censorship rules and arbitrary restrictions imposed by Israeli police on foreign journalists.

Throughout the recent war with Iran, some members of law enforcement, encouraged by confusing policy guidelines issued by the government, shut down or restricted members’ broadcasts, confiscated equipment and denied access to civilian areas hit by Iranian missiles. In one case, overzealous and untrained security guards interrogated reporters without any authorization. 

Our members were complying with censorship rules at the time of these incidents. And despite repeated outreach to the GPO and military censor, the police harassment continued until the final moments of the war, even as Israeli media worked unimpeded.

The Foreign Press Association condemns these aggressive and arbitrary actions, which resulted in needless chaos and confusion and hindered coverage of this important story for the outside world. 

We also express deep concern that, according to official documents, the ministers of national security and communications have ordered police to apply different and far more restrictive rules for journalists working for foreign media than those for Israeli media.

This not only infringes on the freedom to report and freedom of expression. It also makes no sense in an age when Israeli media is readily available worldwide on the internet.

We call on the GPO, military censor and police to decide who is in charge in these situations and to come up with a clear set of guidelines to prevent this unprofessional and confusing situation from arising again.

The Board of the Foreign Press Association in Israel and the Palestinian Territories