Over the past few weeks, Palestinian journalists and activists have threatened or harassed a number of Israeli reporters covering Palestinian affairs.
The most recent incident occurred this week when Channel 1 correspondent Yoram Cohen was forced to leave a press conference in Ramallah after Palestinian journalists protested against his presence.
One of the journalists, Naela Khalil, later boasted that she had managed to expel an Israeli reporter from the press conference.
The PA minister for prisoners’ affairs was holding the press conference following Maissara Abu Hamdiyeh’s death from cancer in an Israeli prison.
Cohen’s attempt to explain that he had received permission from the PA deputy minister of information to cover the press conference did not persuade the journalists, who demanded that he leave immediately. The PA official has since denied granting Cohen permission.
...
“It has become dangerous for Israeli reporters to enter Palestinian cities, mainly because of the incitement by some Palestinian journalists,” a veteran Israeli correspondent told The Jerusalem Post.
“We are trying to solve the issue by talking to senior Palestinian Authority officials, and we hope we will find a solution.”
But on Thursday, more than 200 Palestinian journalists signed a petition calling on the PA leadership to issue an order banning Israeli reporters from entering and working freely in Palestinian cities.
The petition claimed that the PA leadership was discriminating against Palestinian journalists because top PA officials preferred to deal with Israeli reporters.
The journalists also demanded that the PA refrain from providing any security for Israeli correspondents.
“This measure would be the least that can be done in response to ongoing assaults on Palestinian journalists,” the petition said. It specifically protested Israeli restrictions preventing Palestinian reporters from entering Jerusalem.
The journalists said their demand was aimed at “isolating the Israeli media which is contributing to misleading and relaying a false and harmful image of the Palestinian reality.”Read the whole thing.
The biggest problem the 'Palestinians' have with Israeli reporters is that many of them actually speak Arabic and therefore don't need a 'Palestinian' fixer to take them around.
The story was written under the byline of Khaled Abu Toameh, who reports for the JPost, but who formerly wrote (much less freely) for 'Palestinian' publications. I wonder if he can go to the 'Palestinian' cities and get out alive. I suspect not.
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