Photographers wounded by IDF
By JPOST.COM STAFF
LAST UPDATED: 07/17/2010 17:55
Journalists were among Palestinians in a W. Bank riot.
A police officer closes off the area where three o Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS
Two
photographers from foreign news agencies said they were attacked by Israeli
soldiers Saturday during a Palestinian demonstration near Hebron.
One
photographer claimed an Israeli soldier hit him with a baton, and a
second said he lost his hearing after a stun grenade exploded near his
head.
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2 Palestinians hurt in Hebron clashes
The
incident occurred during a demonstration in the West
Bank. Palestinians
rioted and threw stones at Israeli forces, who responded with tear gas
and other riot-suppression measures.
The photographers were said
to be among the protesters, making it
difficult to pick them out. An IDF spokesperson didn't comment directly
on the photographers, but said "anyone who chooses
to be present in close proximity to conflict areas or violent incidents
does so at his or her own risk."
The Foreign Press Association,
which AFP said represents most international media outlets in the
Palestinian territories, said there has been a recent policy change
toward reporters by the Israeli military and police.
"Over
the
past months journalists covering these events have been harassed,
arrested and attacked by the various on site forces before these forces
turn their attention to the activists or demonstrators," said the
Foreign Press Association.
"Open, unhindered coverage of news
events is a widely acknowledged part of the essence of democracy.
"Generally speaking this would not include smashing the face of a
clearly
marked photographer working for a known and accredited news
organization with a stick, or for that matter aiming a stun grenade at
the head of a clearly marked news photographer or summarily arresting
cameramen, photographers and/or journalists."