A delegation of International Press Institute (IPI) representatives has recently returned from a three-day visit to Israel where it met with government officials and members of the foreign press to address press-freedom concerns.

IPI conducted the mission to help resolve a dispute that has been brewing between Israeli government agencies and the foreign press during the last two years. There are two main problems underlying the dispute, IPI says – the frequent denial of permits to foreign journalists seeking to report in the Palestinian territories and the denial of press cards to Palestinians working for foreign media in the territories.

Delegation representatives expressed their concern that the denial of permits and press cards impaired the ability of foreign television networks to cover events in the territories, adding that the erection of these barriers was unprecedented in Israel's history.

IPI plans to publish a report later this year outlining the delegation's conclusions and findings.

For more details, see www.freemedia.at">http://www.freemedia.at/Protests%202003/pr_Israelmission01.04.03.htm">www.freemedia.at

Visit these links:

- International Federation of Journalists Report "Dangers and Deadlines: Journalists' Rights on the Palestine Peace Agenda": www.ifj.org">http://www.ifj.org/publications/mission/palestinejune02.pdf">www.ifj.org

- Committee to Protect Journalists Annual Report: www.cpj.org