The Jerusalem Journalists Association has issued a statement protesting what it perceives as attempts to silence the media with regard to reports and opinion pieces related to the upcoming Knesset elections on Match 17, Israeli newspaper Jerusalem Post reported on Monday.
JJA Chairman Ahia Ginossar declared that there is no argument about the need for journalists to stay within the limits of the law, but there is a feeling that beyond that, there is a growing desire to silence any form of criticism against politicians and to instill the kind of fear amongst the media, that will prompt journalists to place gag orders on themselves.
Ginossar called for journalists in Israel to be able to fulfill their roles during the election campaign period without feeling threatened. Journalists have a special mission to keep the public informed, even when such information may be detrimental to one political party or another, he said.
Ginossar offered the assistance of the JJA to any of its members whose work is being hampered by political bully boys.