Live News - A Survival Guide - International Federation of Journalists

Live News — A Survival Guide for Journalistsand Othman Ibrahim Qatanani, 24, a journalist for the daily AlQuds, were killed with six other people as they interviewed Hamaspolitical leaders in central Nablus on July 13. An Israeli helicoptergunship fired two missiles through the apartment windows.On August 13, Israeli soldiers attacked Egypt’s MENA newsagency cameraman Abdel-Nasser Abdoun and reporter TarekAbdel-Gaber reporting Palestinian protests at the Qalandia checkpoint.The Israeli army said journalists ‘provoked’ the soldiers.After a formal protest, one Israeli soldier was placed under arrest.Mohamad Al Razem, a photographer for Al-Amal TV in Hebron,was detained on August 29. Israeli soldiers stopped his car, whichhad a ‘Press’ sign, broke his camera and confiscated his film.Although a security check was negative, soldiers followed himhome and ordered all male residents of seven apartments outside.They searched Al Razem’s flat and locked his family into one room.He was interrogated until 2pm the following day. Razem has beenstopped repeatedly since, but no charges have ever been laid.Following the attacks in New York and Washington onSeptember 11 2001, Palestinian authorities tried to prevent mediaimages of Palestinians ‘celebrating’. PNA cabinet secretary AhmedAbdel Rahman said that the PNA “[could] not guarantee the life” ofan AP cameraman if his film was broadcast. Palestinian police alsodetained five journalists covering a demonstration at Nusseiratrefugee camp in memory of a suicide bomber. Police instructed themedia not to broadcast calls for a general strike, nationalistactivities, demonstrations or security news without explicitpermission from security services. For the tenth time, Palestinianpolice ordered Al-Roa TV in Bethlehem to cease broadcasting.Israel has repeatedly attacked the Voice of Palestine Radio andTelevision. In December 2001 Israeli missiles hit the main transmitterin Ramallah and bulldozers flattened the building. In 2002, UNSecretary-General Kofi Annan condemned a second such attack.In December 2001, IFJ and LAW condemned Israel’s decision toreplace press cards for Palestinians working for foreign networkswith an orange card designating them as escorts to foreign journalists.In effect, 450 Palestinian media workers were prevented fromcovering news in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, as this is the onlycard security forces recognise.In February 2002, Sagui Bashan, a journalist for Israel’s ChannelTwo, challenged an Israeli military decision to declare Karni crossing“closed military territory”. When Israeli soldiers could not pro-39