(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a 25 October 2000 CPJ press release: CPJ Special Report On Palestinian Journalists Posted On Web “Bloodied and Beleaguered” now in multimedia format at www.cpj.org New York, October 25, 2000 – A multimedia version of Bloodied and Beleaguered, CPJ’s special report on Palestinian journalism in the occupied territories, has now […]
(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a 25 October 2000 CPJ press release:
CPJ Special Report On Palestinian Journalists Posted On Web
“Bloodied and Beleaguered” now in multimedia format at www.cpj.org
New York, October 25, 2000 – A multimedia version of Bloodied and Beleaguered, CPJ’s special report on Palestinian journalism in the occupied territories, has now been posted on CPJ’s Web site, www.cpj.org.
The Internet version of Bloodied and Beleaguered, which documents serious press-freedom abuses by Israeli forces and Palestinian authorities, includes graphic video footage and photographs of attacks on Palestinian journalists, many of whom work for Western media organizations.
More than 100 people have been killed in Israel and the Palestinian territories since the latest round of violence broke out in late September, but the two sides are also fighting a media battle in which words and images are weapons of war. For this reason, both sides have abused journalists in order to influence public perceptions of the conflict.
The report demonstrates how recent abuses fit into a pattern of press-freedom violations by both Palestinian and Israeli forces over the past several years. It documents many cases in which Palestinian journalists have been shot or physically assaulted by Israeli soldiers, police or settlers while covering violent clashes in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
Meanwhile, Palestinian authorities have consistently harassed journalists and suppressed coverage that is critical of Yasser Arafat’s government. In the nearly seven years since the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) assumed control over parts of the West Bank and Gaza, Chairman Arafat and his multi-layered security apparatus have muzzled local press critics via arbitrary arrests, threats, physical abuse, and the closure of media outlets.
The report is based on extensive research conducted in July and August by CPJ Middle East program coordinator Joel Campagna, who interviewed numerous Palestinian journalists in the West Bank and Gaza, along with Israeli authorities and local human-rights advocates.
CPJ is a New York-based, independent, nonprofit organization that works to safeguard press freedom around the world.