Israel Matzav

Journalists condemn use of 'press' vehicle for terror attack attempt

The 'Palestinian' Journalists' Association and the Foreign Press Association have condemned the use of a 'press' vehicle in yesterday's attempted abduction of IDF soldiers near the Kissufim crossing between the Negev and the Gaza Strip. The truck that was used is pictured at the top of this post and is clearly marked "TV."

Yesterday's terror attack was a cooperative effort of Islamic Jihad and 'moderate' 'Palestinian' President Mahmoud Abbas Abu Mazen's Fatah movement.

In Gaza, the Palestinian Journalists' Association released a statement Sunday condemning the attackers' use of press cover, which it said "puts the life of journalists in danger... limits their ability to undertake their professional and national duties, and harms their journalistic work, which is protected by international law."

No Gaza journalist would go on the record condemning the attack, however, with many saying they feared retribution from militants. [But I'm sure they write about those 'militants' in a completely open, honest and unbiased manner. /sarcasm CiJ]

In Tel Aviv, the Foreign Press Association, which represents international news organizations operating in Israel and the Palestinian territories, said the gunmen's "abuse of this recognized protection for the working journalist is a grave development and we condemn those that carried it out."

Army spokeswoman Maj. Avital Leibovitch said the militants' "cynical exploitation of the protection given to journalists endangers the lives of soldiers and civilians." Only vehicles registered with the Israeli government are given protection, she said, but the jeep used by the gunmen closely resembled several accredited vehicles.

YNet has more details on the 'Palestinian' journalists' statement.

"The use of vehicles that carry 'Press', 'TV' or other signs... expose journalists' lives to danger, gives the Israeli occupation a pretext to target and kill journalists and restricts their ability to perform their professional and national duties," the Palestinian Journalist Syndicate said.

"We stress our rejection of the use of media vehicles and the involvement of the press in any existing conflict, and we demand all parties stop using these methods," said the group, the sole journalists' union in the Gaza Strip and West Bank.

And the terrorists' reaction? I'll bet a lot of you could guess it on your own.

Abu Ahmed, spokesman for Islamic Jihad's armed wing, accused the Israeli military of fixing the TV sign to the armored car.

But give them a state reichlet and they will suddenly learn to abide by the Geneva Convention.

Update 6:22 PM

Here's (Cable) Channel 10's news report on this attack from last night with a (sorry, rather crude) English translation.

Hat Tip: NY Nana

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 5:58 PM