Escalating harassment, censorship of Arab-language, international media in Israel
According to The Arab Center for Media Freedom, Development and Research (I’LAM), several journalists from foreign media in Israel were denied re-entry to a rocket site in Rishon LeZion, central Israel, by police officers on 14 June.
Samir Abdel Hadi from Turkish Anadolu Agency was blocked despite showing his press credentials. Arej Hakrush and her cameraman Alaa Al-Hayeh from Al-Ghad TV were later subjected to racist verbal abuse by local residents, while the pair were broadcasting on a public street.
Hakrush had water poured on her and was pulled by her hair. Around 10 people attempted to assault Al-Hayeh using the camera tripod and police refused to intervene.
On 15 June in Bat Yam, a city in southern Tel Aviv, journalists Razi Tatour and Iyad Abu Shalbak from Al-Ghad TV were assaulted by border guards, who tried to confiscate their camera and accused them of being saboteurs. Shalbak was physically attacked, their broadcast was forcibly interrupted and the camera was seized.
Journalists Marwan Athamneh and Mohammed Al Sharif from Saudi-owned Al Arabiya were also targeted by a mob, after he was heard speaking Arabic.
Another incident involving a woman journalist is also still under investigation.
On the same day in Haifa, several journalists covering rocket impacts were filmed by civilians. The footage was later spread in Israeli social media groups, inciting the public to confront and punish them, and falsely accusing them of working for Al Jazeera and ‘helping the enemy’.
Journalists affected include Ward Qarara from Jordanian Roya News Channel, Ahmed Jaradat and Abdul Khader from Al Arabiya, as well as Karen Al-Bash, Saeed Khair Al-Din, Israa Al-Zeer and Samir Abdel Hadi from Anadolu Agency.
Once again, no police protection was provided, despite their being present at the scene.
On 16 June, Israeli police raided locations in Haifa where foreign TV crews, including Turkish TRT Arabi and Al-Ghad TV, were operating.
Authorities confiscated equipment and summoned journalists for interrogation, accusing them of airing footage of sensitive sites hit during Iranian missile strikes. The raids were ordered by Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who accused foreign broadcasters of endangering state security.
Journalists affected include Razi Tatour and Iyad Abu Shalbak from Al-Ghad TV, Fahmi Shtewi and Hamza Al-Naaji from TRT Arabic, as well as Murad Aseed, a freelance journalist.
On 19 June, the Israeli parliament and Ben-Gvir introduced a new draft of a law targeting journalists who report from bombing sites. The law will
- prohibit the filming of missile interceptions and impacts
- prohibit the posting of any related photos and videos on social media
- ban foreign media outlets, considered hostile to the state, from filming inside the country during wartime, and
- forbid the filming of sensitive or strategic locations
The draft law’s amendments replace fines with prison sentences, ranging from 20 to 30 months for violations.
According to senior Israeli journalist Amit Segal, a photographer filming for Al Jazeera was arrested on the night of 18 June. This indicates that enforcement of the new law has already begun, even before it has been officially adopted.
IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger said: ‘This wave of assaults and censorship against Palestinian Israeli and foreign journalists in Israel is deeply alarming.’
‘Journalists must be allowed to report freely and safely. We call again on Israeli authorities and the public to uphold press freedom as well as to protect all journalists, regardless of their background or affiliation.’
The IFJ also reminds journalists to take safety precautions and to wear press identification, especially in conflict areas. It also calls on the public and Israeli authorities to respect the role of journalists and to guarantee their safety at all times.
- This article was first published here
