NAN-F-49
Petition
Tel Aviv, Aug. 2, 2017 (dpa/NAN) The Foreign Press Association (FPA) on Wednesday filed a petition with the Israeli Supreme Court, accusing Israeli police of using violent tactics against journalists and improperly restricting media access to Jerusalem’s Old City.
“We are seeking an end to the violent tactics often used by police and guarantees that we can cover the news freely, safely and securely,’’ the FPA said in a statement.
The FPA said police verbally and physically harassed journalists and barred some media from entering Jerusalem’s Old City, while tourists were given access to the area.
“Many reporters were forcibly removed from the Old City, including television crews from the Rai and Al Jazeera television stations,’’ FPA Executive Director Glenys Sugarman said.
Reuter’s cameraman, Sinan Abu Maizer, was allegedly beaten by the police and suffered a concussion while filming clashes in Jerusalem.
Jerusalem Police District Commander Yoram Halevi told the press that the restrictions were to protect the journalists from the clashes.
Dozens of reporters descended upon Jerusalem in July as violent clashes between police and Palestinian protesters played out in the streets.
Israel placed metal detectors at Jerusalem holy site known as the Temple Mount to Jews and Al Aksa Mosque to Muslims in mid-July after a deadly attack killed two police officers near the site.
Israel’s actions at the site provoked anger from Muslim worshippers who refused to pass through the metal detectors, starting a two-week long protest until the security measures were removed.
A spokesman for the Israeli police did not return a request for comment on the FPA petition. (dpa/NAN)
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Edited by Celine-Damilola Oyewole/Ese E. Ekama