Israeli violations still pose threat on lives of journalists

The Palestinian center for development and media freedoms "MADA" monitored a number of media freedom violations in Palestine during April 2013, and it was obvious that the Israeli continues abuses of Palestinian journalists still pose a threat on their lives, and prevents them from exercising their profession. The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) attacked a group of journalists with rubber bullets, beating, and detention, and the most dangerous attack was the injury of the Palestinian News Network PNN cameraman Mohammad Waleed Alaza, who was shot in the face with a rubber bullet from a distance not exceeding 15 meters. MADA center has monitored two violations in the west bank by Palestinian sides; they included detaining journalists then releasing them. In Gaza Strip this April MADA has monitored no violations by Palestinians. The Israeli Occupation Forces IOF Violations: The IOF attacked the Pal Media cameraman Abdul Ghani Al Natsheh twice last month, first during his coverage of clashes between Israeli Forces and Palestinian in Hebron on Tuesday 2nd April 2013, during which he was shot with a metal bullet in his hand causing it to bleed. Then on Wednesday 24th April 2013 he was detained for an hour and a half during his coverage of the Secretaries-General for Arab national Education and Culture committees' delegation visit to the Sanctuary of Ibrahimi Mosque in the West Bank city of Hebron. On Tuesday 2nd April 2013, the IOF attacked a group of journalists during their coverage of a peaceful protest in Jerusalem on the death of prisoner Maysara Abu Hameda, they are: Quds Net Correspondent Diala Jweihan, Wafa Agency Photographer Afef Omera, French Agency Photographer Jamil Qudmani, Al Quds Newspaper Photographer Mahmoud Alian, and Ranwa Agency Photographer Saeed Alqaq. On Monday 8th April 2013 an Israeli soldier deliberately shot a rubber bullet on the Palestinian News Network PNN cameraman Mohammad Waleed Alaza (23 years old), during his coverage of the clashes between Palestinian youth and Israeli Occupation Forces in Aida Refugee Camp in Bethlehem. Alaza was hit in the face beneath his eye. The editor in chief of the Hona Alquds Network for the local media at Alquds University Mazen Awad was beaten by three Israeli Occupation soldiers while trying to Pass Beit Eil Checkpoint On Wednesday 17th April 2013 and his journalism I.D was confiscated as well. The Salem Israeli Occupation Military court sentenced the Palestinian cartoonist Mohamed Fayeq Sabaana (34 years old) to five months in prison and a ten thousand Shekel fine (approximately 2800 USD), on Thursday 4th April 2013, charged with "Contacting a Hostile third-party". Palestinian Violations: Palestinian intelligence service arrested the editor in chief of Quds Network Tareq Khames at Medicare Hospital in Ramallah at around 10 am on Saturday 20th April 2013. The Preventive Security Service arrested Quds Press Agency correspondent Khaldoun Mathloum from his home near Ramallah on Friday 26th April 2013. Conclusions and Recommendations: Since the beginning of the New Year media freedoms in Palestine have been under continues occupation attacks, where Israeli occupation forces IOF targeted a large number of journalists and committed multiple forms of violations against them. The Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA) condemns all violations against journalists, and urges the international community to move fast and seriously to stop the attacks on journalists and ensure their safety from this systematic targeting, which is designed to hide the IOF practices and crimes against the Palestinian people. With regards to the Palestinian violations, while the Centre welcomes the decline in the number of violations compared to last year, MADA emphasizes on the need to respect freedom of opinion and expression, and to stop the prosecution and following of journalists. Details of violations: (2/4) The IOF attacked the Pal Media cameraman Abdul Ghani Al Natsheh during his coverage of clashes between Israeli Forces and Palestinians in Hebron on Tuesday 2nd April 2013. Al Natsheh reported to MADA that he went to cover the clashes, during which an Israeli soldier shot him with a metal bullet in his hand causing it to bleed. Al Natsheh added: "It was a deliberate targeting as the bullet was fired from a distance of only 50 meters, and the soldier who shot at me knew me well. I received treatment in the ambulance stationed in the area." (2/4) the IOF attacked a group of journalists during their coverage of a peaceful protest in Jerusalem on the death of prisoner Maysara Abu Hameda, on Tuesday 2nd April 2013. Those journalists are: Al Quds Net Correspondent Diala Jweihan, Wafa Agency Photographer Afef Omera, French Agency Photographer Jamil Qudmani, Al Quds Newspaper Photographer Mahmoud Alian, and Ranwa Agency Photographer Saeed Alqaq. Jweihan reported to MADA that they headed to cover the event where the Israeli occupation forces violently dispersed demonstrators. A soldier stepped on her foot strongly and deliberately, causing her severe pain, she went to the medical relief crew who treated her so she can be able to continue her work. Omera reported to MADA that the soldiers were so violent and they pushed and hit him and his colleagues Alian and Qudmani with sticks and their boots deliberately and with full knowledge that they were journalists. Alqaq added: "the soldiers beat us with sticks deliberately and tried to arrest me, one of the sticks hit my shoulder, I was pulled away by a colleague Sameer Naser el Dein, and I received treatment in the field at a present ambulance, I now suffer a crack in my shoulder". (4/4) The Salem Israeli Occupation Military court sentenced the Palestinian cartoonist Mohamed Fayeq Sabaana (34 years old) to five months in prison and a ten thousand Shekel fine (approximately 2800 USD), on Thursday 4th April 2013, Sabaana's wife reported to MADA that her husband was charged with "Contacting a Hostile third-party". And that the IOF did not allow her to visit her husband since his arrest on 25th February 2013, and that she only seen him during his court hearings. (8/4) the IOF deliberately attacked the Palestinian News Netwrok PNN cameraman Mohammad Waleed Alaza (23 years old), during his coverage of the clashes between Palestinian youth and Israeli Occupation Forces in Aida Refugee Camp in Bethlehem on 8th April 2013. Alaza reported to MADA that he was filming the clashes from the Refugee Institution balcony at the Aida Refugee camp, that's when he was approached by a soldier who ordered him to stop filming. Alaza added: "I stopped filming and headed inside the premises, yet a soldier fired a rubber bullet directly at me from a distance not exceeding 10 meters, which hit my face beneath my eye". (17/4) The IOF attacked the editor in chief of the Hona Alquds Network for the local media at Alquds University Mazen Awad while trying to Pass Beit Eil Checkpoint On Wednesday 17th April 2013. Awad reported to MADA that upon his arrival at the checkpoint a soldier requested his I.D, so Awad presented both personal I.D and his press card; he was then prevented from passing through and was asked to leave, the soldier only retuned the personal I.D and placed the Awad's press card in his pocket. Awad added: "that the soldier denied confiscating my press card; I came out of my car to speak with him but he closed the door on my foot, so I pushed the door with force and he almost shot me that moment. Then three soldiers gathered around me one was pointing his gun at me, another hit me with his riffle on my back, and a third beat me on my leg. I continued to request my press card back, but they forced me back into my car and directed verbal insults to me, more soldiers approached so I feared they will arrest me and charge me or seriously hurt me physically, so I called the Journalists'' Syndicate and spoke with Montaser Hamdan, Who told me that he would follow up my case with the International Federation of Journalists, and that they will get me a new press card, and asked me to withdraw from the checkpoint". (20/4) the Palestinian intelligence service arrested the editor in chief of Quds Network Tareq Khames at Medicare Hospital in Ramallah at around 10 am on Saturday 20th April 2013.Khames was at the hospital getting prepped for his surgery, but they arrested him right before and without a warrant for his arrest nor charged with any offense against him. Khames reported to MADA that he was interrogated about his work and reports he prepared on "Aljame camp" and Alnakab Media week. Khames added: "I was released around 5 pm, and was told to return on Tuesday, but I will refuse any summon by any security services". (24/4) The Isareli Occupation Forces detained Pal Media Cameraman Abdul Ghani Al Natsheh, during his coverage of the Secretaries-General for Arab national Education and Culture committees' delegation visit to the Sanctuary of Ibrahimi Mosque in the West Bank city of Hebron, on Wednesday 24th April 2013. Al Natsheh reported to MADA immediately after his release, that he went to cover the delegation's visit, during which a female Israeli soldier abusively insulted him verbally, so he asked her about the reason for the insults, and then they got into a verbal altercation. Al Natsheh added: "Then came an officer of the army of occupation and detained me under the sun for an hour and a half. He also tried to force me to sign a statement that was not exposed to such treatment, but I refused to do so." (26/4) The Preventive Security Service arrested Quds Press Agency correspondent Khaldoun Mathloum from his home at the Janabya village near Ramallah on Friday 26th April 2013. Mathloum's wife reported to MADA, that when they were on their way home after Friday's prayers they found their house surrounded by members of the security services, and when they entered their home the door was immediately knocked, and khaldoun answered. They told him they wanted to speak to him at the Preventive Security headquarters, but he refused to do so, but they insisted and told him they wanted him for ten minutes only. His wife added: ""After he was arrested we went to the headquarters of the Preventive Security and waited about an hour and a half, and then came out a security officer who told us that they will detain khaldoun and we must appoint a lawyer." The Preventive Security transferred Mathloum to the Attorney General on 28th April 2013, who decided to release him. Mathloum reported to MADA after his release that the investigation was only on the reports he writes for the agency and regarding his journalistic work".