(CPJ/IFEX) – CPJ is expressing its profound concern about Taher Shriteh, a veteran Gaza-based reporter for “The New York Times”, the British Broadcasting Corporation, and the Japanese daily “Yomiuri Simbun”, whose freedom of movement has been severely restricted by Israeli authorities. **Updates IFEX alerts of 4 August and 11 May 1998** CPJ believes that these […]
(CPJ/IFEX) – CPJ is expressing its profound concern about Taher Shriteh, a
veteran Gaza-based reporter for “The New York Times”, the British
Broadcasting Corporation, and the Japanese daily “Yomiuri Simbun”, whose
freedom of movement has been severely restricted by Israeli authorities.
**Updates IFEX alerts of 4 August and 11 May 1998**
CPJ believes that these measures have been taken in reprisal for Shriteh’s
years of reporting about the activities of the Islamic Resistance Movement
(Hamas) in Gaza.
For nearly five years, the Israeli government has denied Shriteh permission
to visit Jerusalem and the West Bank from Gaza. As a result he has been
severely hampered in his profession as a journalist.
On 20 October 1999, Shriteh learned that Israeli authorities had rejected
his application for a permit to travel via the safe-passage route between
Gaza and the West Bank. No reason was provided for the decision. The
safe-passage route, agreed upon in the Sharm al-Sheikh accord signed between
the Israelis and the Palestinians in early September, is slated to open next
Monday.
Shriteh is also forbidden to use the Israeli security-escorted shuttle bus
service that will operate between Gaza and the West Bank. These buses are
for people barred from entering Israel.
Shriteh has been unable to visit Jerusalem and the West Bank since March
1995. During these four and a half years he has effectively been prevented
from gathering news outside Gaza and from meeting with current and
prospective employers. Yet Shriteh has never been tried or convicted of any
crime, and Israeli authorities have never provided any explanation for the
harsh restrictions on his movements.
Last year, Shriteh petitioned Israel’s High Court to lift the restrictions
on his travel. In August 1998, the High Court ruled that he could leave Gaza
and travel internationally, but they did not lift the restrictions on his
movement through Israel and the West Bank.
Shriteh is one of the most accomplished and respected Palestinian
journalists in the West Bank and Gaza. For over a decade, his reporting for
major international newspapers and news agencies has earned him a reputation
for uncompromising professionalism. In March 1993, he received the
prestigious Freedom of the Press award from the U.S.-based National Press
Club.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to the prime minister:
freely
Shriteh are violations of his right to “seek, receive, and impart
information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers,”
guaranteed by Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Shriteh’s
freedom of movement are lifted immediately, so that he may carry out his
professional work in Jerusalem and the West Bank without further
interference from Israeli authorities
Appeals To
His Excellency Ehud Barak
Prime Minister of the State of Israel
Office of the Prime Minister
3 Kaplan Street
Kiryat Ben-Gurion
Jerusalem, Israel
Fax: +972 2 266 4838
E-mail: feedback@pmo.gov.il
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
