AMENDMENT TO PROTEST STATEMENT BELOW:
Following yesterday’s FPA letter of complaint over IDF activity in Nablus, additional information provided by Reuters concerning the incident on 20th April has come to light.
Accordingly the FPA also wishes to amend its own complaint in recognition of the new information.
vidence supporting the accusation of the direct targeting of the journalist has been called into serious question. The FPA therefore wishes to rescind that part of its complaint.
The FPA continues to view the incident with grave concern and renews its long standing call for the IDF to respect the safety and wellbeing of journalists working in areas in which it is operating.
The Foreign Press Association
The FPA would like to protest, in the strongest possible terms, the reckless disregard recently displayed by IDF soldiers towards colleagues working in Nablus. .
On two separate and recent occasions, journalists working for the Reuters agency appear to have been specifically targeted by IDF soldiers operating in Nablus.
On April 17th at 11am in the morning a Reuters TV crew and stills photographer came under sustained IDF fire despite wearing clear PRESS markings on their clothing. During the same incident a vehicle belonging to The Associated Press was hit by IDF fire. Thankfully no injuries were sustained.
On April 22nd a Reuters journalist working in Nablus was struck by two rubber bullets fired by IDF troops operating in the city. As before the journalist was wearing PRESS markings which clearly identified him as a journalist. Luckily he sustained no serious injuries.
As with most of our members, the journalists in question are experienced professionals, not unused to covering the frequent IDF operations in urban environments. They know well how to protect and identify themselves as journalists. As such they have a responsibility to cover events, and of course, do nothing to pose a threat to others. It is reasonable therefore, to demand that the IDF takes the necessary precautions to protect their safety. The FPA fears that in these cases, no such precautions were taken.
The FPA urges the IDF to be aware of, and respect the legitimate needs of professional journalists working in the field.
The FPA is in wholehearted support of formal complaints already lodged by the Reuters News Agency, and looks forward to a prompt response from the IDF, once its promised investigation has been completed.