Ramallah- February,2016 witnessed an escalation in violations against media freedoms in Palestine, Whilst, in January violations mounted to 26 committed by both sides (Palestinians and Israelis), yet The Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms “MADA” monitored 35 violations during February from which (30 were committed by Israeli Occupation Forces and 5 violations were committed by different Palestinian Parties).

Israeli Violations:

Israeli Violations mostly ranged from preventing of covering to evacuating journalists from the events, some of those assaults were violent and brutal, as five journalists got injured by (rubber bullets, and tear gas, as well as physical harassment. rather than arresting and detaining three other journalists).

 

Throughout February, Israeli Occupation Forces(IOF) committed 30 violations, which is approximately the double of what was monitored in January 2016 (13 violations). 

Israeli Occupation intelligence in Jerusalem summoned the director and production manager of “Good Morning Jerusalem”- Program Palestine TV- Nader Mohammad Bebers and interrogated him about the program; moreover, on the same day they summoned the office manager of   “Pal-media” in Jerusalem Isshaq Alkasabeh.

 

On 03/02 Israeli police assaulted “Palestine TV” cameraman in Jerusalem Ali Sami Yassin, while covering events in the city, on the same day Israeli Police also, assaulted the correspondent of “Palestine Today Channel” Ahmad Nayef Jaradat in Jerusalem, and their cameraman Feras Handawi, and the journalist Lewa’a Abu Rmeileh, they prevented them from covering the events that took place in the city in the afternoon.

On 05/02 the “Turkish Anatolia News Agency”  photographer Hisham Abu shaqra got injured in Bethlehem with a “tutu” bullet while covering the events.

 

Israeli Occupation forces arrested Ayman Ameen Nubani  “Palestinian News and info Agency-WAFA” Photographer was physically harassed through beating, moreover, they arrested Mohammad Ahmad Turabi the Photographer of “24FM” website while covering a demonstration in Kufr Kadoum- Qalqilia on the 12/02, on the same day IOF prevented (at least five journalists) from covering the events in Bethlehem (the prevention included: Abdulrahman Yousef- correspondent and cameraman of Al-Quds.com ,Iyad Hamad Photographer of Al- Zaitona News Agency, Mohammad Abu Ghanieh Photographer of Reuters Agency, Mahmoud Elyyan photographer of AL Quds Newspaper and Mahmoud Abdallah a freelance photographer).

 On 14/02- IOF detained Wisam Al-Hashlamoun AP photographer, Moussa Alqawasmi Reuters Agency photographer, and Thaer Abu Elfillat  Dunia el Wattan  news website Photographer, preventing them from covering the incidents that took place in Hebron.

On 15/02 IOF also detained Palestine Live TV crew, the broadcasting and communications engineer and the driver Mohammad Bader Al-tirhi and banned them from covering an incursion into Ramallah city.

 

On 20/02 Ma’moun Wazwaz the photographer of Reuters Agency got injured with a “sound bomb”, fired on his knee, in Hebron, they also prevented the journalists “Yusri Al Jamal, Hazem Bader, Amer Abedi and Akram el Natsheh” from covering a demonstration organized in Hebron, the cameraman and director of Roya Jordanian TV Chanel Mohammad Radi Shousheh got some burns due to firing him with a “sound Bomb”, they also arrested Wattan News Agency cameraman Mohammad Jaradat during the coverage of a demonstration in Hebron on 26/02.

 

Palestinian Violations:

 

During February a significant decline of Palestinian violations against media freedoms, due to the fact that only 5 violations were monitored (all in the West Bank), compared to what was monitored in January (13 violations) were monitored.

Preventive Security Service summoned a student in media department– Hebron University, who is also a freelance correspondent at (Al-Quds Media Website and at Al-Quds Network) Mus’ab Khamees Abed Alkhaliq Kufeisheh, three times respectively , interrogated him and detained him for long hours on 03, 04, 13/02.

 

On 15/02 The Palestinian public prosecutor detained  journalist Ihab Al-Jariri following a complaint filed against him concerning his coverage of the contraction of Palestinian Public TV with a cosmetic specialist a couple of months ago, besides, on 19/02 Ala’a Badarneh photographer at EPA got fractures in his right thumb, with a stone while covering a demonstration erupted in Kufor Qadoum/ Qalqilia.

Violations of February 2016 in Details

 

03/02- the Palestinian preventive Security service in Hebron summoned a student in media department–Hebron University, who is also a freelance correspondent at (Al-Quds Media Website) and at Al-Quds Network, Mus’ab Khamees Abed Alkhaliq Kufeisheh (21 years) three times respectively, interrogated and detained him for long hours, as Kufeisheh reported to MADA “on 01/02 while I was at the University the preventive security service sent a warrant to my house, indicating that I should present myself at their office in Hebron on 03/02 at10:00am, upon their request on the mentioned day I headed to their office in Hebron, when I arrived I waited till 4:30pm, meanwhile they interrogated me for 10 minutes regarding my university activities, friends, colleagues at work, where and with who I cooperate and work, and to who I send the photos, they also asked why I informed the journalists syndicate that I was summoned”, he also added “I was released, under a condition to return back the other day on 04/02, accordingly I went  again at 11:00am, things repeated itself they interrogated me for quarter an hour all the same previous questions, I waited till 4:00pm, then I was released under a condition to come back again to their office on Saturday 13/02, but I did not comply”.

 

02/02- Israeli Occupation intelligence in Jerusalem summoned the director and production manager- of “good Morning Jerusalem” Program on Palestinian Public  TV- Nader Mohammad Bebers (42years) and interrogated him about the program and his work as a journalist, Bebers reported to MADA ”I was summoned to the Israeli occupation Intelligence headquarter in Jerusalem, after summoning Isshaq Alkasabeh Pal-media office manager, as they called me using his cellphone while detaining him (Alkasabeh) till I presented myself there, (they tried to call me another time and I did not respond)”.

 

Bebers also added” when I presented myself at their office they accused me of “incitement” against them, they also interrogated me about the mechanisms of my work in (Good Morning Jerusalem) program, they informed me that they are fully aware of everything about me and the program, they were deliberately provoking me through their questions, as the officer asked me how I manage to live in Jerusalem with a monthly salary of 4500Nis (about 920$), moreover, he intended to indirectly threaten  me of banning my program, they also asked about the guests of the program on how and who select them, and the topics raised, he also asked with disapprobation, why don’t you tackle other topics in your programs as, poverty, rape, prostitution, and murder problems?! However, the interrogation lasted for around three hours, afterwards; I was allowed to leave the place after being informed by the officer, that they are able of bringing me anytime.”

 

03/02- Israeli Occupations policemen attacked Sami Yaseen (23 years) Palestinian Public  TV cameraman, while covering incidents in Jerusalem as Yaseen reported to MADA ”on 03/02 afternoon I reached the Damascus Gate area after 15 minutes of an incident carried out by three Palestinians (they opened fire at Israeli Police guard injured two of them and the Israeli force killed them), and while taking pictures of the incident, I was attacked and beaten by three Israeli police personals using their hands and legs” .

    

03/02- Israeli Occupation Policemen attacked the correspondent of “Palestine Today” TV Ahmad Nayef Jaradat (25years) and his colleague the cameraman Firas Hindawi, and the journalist lewa’a Abu Rumeileh in Jerusalem, they were banned from covering the incidents that took place in Jerusalem as Jaradat reported to MADA” as my colleagues the cameraman Firas Hindawi and the journalist Lewa’a Abu Rumeileh and I, were in Jerusalem on 03/02 around 2:20pm near Damascus Gate in the old City (following an incident that took place in the area by that time), we were prevented from accessing the area for covering the incident, although they allowed Israeli channels and Al-Jazeera to access the Damascus gate square, despite the fact that I showed him (the Israeli Policeman) my personal identity, and press card”. 

 

He added”The police started pushing us and impeding our work, although we were covering from a distant zone, yet I was attacked and beaten, and pushed on one of the stores’ door, afterwards they entered me to the store and started kicking me with their legs, and one of the policemen closed the door too hard that it could have beak my leg if it hit me”.    

05/02- The Turkish Anatolia News Agency, photographer Hisham Abu Shaqra (28years) got injured in Bethlehem with a “tutu” bullet fired by IOF while covering the incidents in Bethlehem, as he reported to MADA “while I was covering the confrontations between Palestinian youths and IOF, that erupted in the northern entrance of Bethlehem city on 05/02, one of the IOF deliberately and directly targeted me with a “tutu” bullet that hit my left leg below the knee, and fractured my bone, I was transferred to AL-Hussein hospital in Bethlehem, and informed by the doctor that the bullet will remain in my leg, as it’s impossible to penetrate the bone to remove it, thus I stayed at the hospital for four days”.

 

 12/02- IOF arrested Ayman Ameen Nubani (30years) a The Palestinian News and info Agency “WAFA” Photographer, and physically harassed him through beating, they also arrested Mohammad Ahmad Turabi (28 years) the Photographer of “24FM”  website while covering a demonstration erupted in Kufr Kadoum- Qalqilia governorate, and took them to "Kedumim" settlement,  Nubani reported to MADA “while I was covering the –weekly confrontation of Kufr Kadoum on 12/02, I was arrested and taken with my colleague, Mohammad Turabi, to Kedumim settlement , while we were in the jeep they tightened our handcuffs, and detained us for around an hour, afterwards, they released us around 15:00pm, After the intervention of the (Palestinian) military liaison once we signed papers stating that we are detained, and they never assaulted or abused us”, Nubani also added “they hit me with the back of their riffles, and insulted us before releasing us”.

 

The photographer of “24FM” website Mohammad Ahmad Turabi (28 years) reported to MADA “they asked me to show my press ID to prove that I am working in 24FM, yet they detained me with my colleague Ayman but they didn’t hit me, till we were released on the same time”. 

 

12/02- IOF prevented a group of journalists (at least 5 journalists) from covering confrontations erupted in the entrance of Bethlehem City, as the correspondent and photographer of “Al-Quds.com” Abdulrahman Younes (28years) reported to MADA “while we were at the northern entrance of Bethlehem on 12/02, in order to cover the confrontations between Palestinian youths and IOF, we were prevented from covering by the IOF, they fired a tear gas in the direction of the demonstrators, when it bounced nearby us but didn’t cause any damages or injuries”.    

 

He pointed out that among the journalists there were ( Iyad Hamad Photographer of Al- Zaitona News Agency, Mohammad Abu Ghanieh Photographer of Reuters Agency, Mahmoud Elyyan photographer of AL Quds Newspaper and Mahmoud Abdallah a freelance photographer).

 

14/02- IOF detained three journalists and prevented them from covering the incident of shooting a Palestinian girl in Hebron, Wisam  Abdelhafeeth Al-Hashlamoun (21 years) Associated Press photographer, reported to MADA “after shooting a Palestinian girl (by IOF) near The Cave of the Patriarchs (Al-Ibrahimi Mosque) around 5:30pm on Wednesday, 14/02, Reuters Agency photographer Moussa Alqawasmi, and Dunia el Wattan cameraman Thaer Abu Elfillat and I, headed the place to cover the incident, and right before reaching the place, we were detained in Al-Slaymeh side-street near AL-Ibrahimi mosque for approximately 20 minutes, after the soldier took our Personal and Press IDs, afterwards they released us, and prevented us from covering the incident”. 

 

15/02- IOF detained “Palestine Live” TV crew, the broadcasting and communications engineer Ahmad Reyad Asa’d (27 years), Mohammad Bader Al-tirhi (30years)the engineering Technician and the driver and prevented them from covering an incursion operation into Ramallah city, Asa’ad reported to MADA” while we were on the way my colleague Mohammad Al Tirhi and I, while in the live broadcast car, at 10:00am intending to cover an incursion operation at Al Ama’ari Refugee Camp in Ramallah, and due to the fact that the way to Al Ama’ari was closed we had to go through Al-Quds street, we suddenly find them right in front of us, they were around 20-25 special forces, we were stopped and one of the soldiers started on beating the windshield as a Signal to turn off the car’s engine, he took the keys, and threw them away, and pointed his riffle toward my colleague Mohammad”, he also added, “they detained us in the car for around 45 minutes till the IOF withdrew, we found the keys and left the place”. 

 

15/02- The Palestinian public prosecutor detained The editorial director of “24 FM” Radio Ihab Jariri, after interrogating him, following a complaint filed against him concerning his coverage of the contraction of Palestinian Public TV with a cosmetic specialist couple of months ago the general prosecutor decided to detain him for 24 hours pending further investigations, afterwards he was released due to the intervention of many parties.

The ethics committee of the Palestinian Journalists’ Syndicate observed two months ago a complaint filed by a “cosmetic specialist”, whom Palestinian Public TV contracted, and in response the committee said: “Professionally, the subject that Ihab Aljariri addressed in his radio program over five episodes concentrated in the first place on the Palestinian Broadcasting Corporation (the TV part of it), which is considered a public organization. Furthermore, criticizing and addressing the policies of public organizations is not considered a breach to the profession’s standards, and does not affect the complainant personally, even if it discussed her own salary.

As in fact, the salary of an employee in a public organization and his contraction’s conditions is part of the public funds, and can never be considered as an inviolability of the private life. The sound principle is to share such agreements with the public, and to acknowledge the standards under which they are held. Accordingly, sharing the salary amount and criticizing its value is not considered of an influence on the complainant’s pride or dignity from the point of view of the ethics committee”.

 

“01/03-Aljariri reported to MADA” that he was presented in front of the court, to attend the complainant’s presentation, the court decided to hold another session regarding this case on 21/03”. 

 

 19/02- Ala’a Badarneh the photographer of EPA got injured, fractures in his right thumb, with a stone while covering a weekly demonstration against settlements in Kufor Qadoum - Qalqilia Governorate, Badarneh reported to MADA “I think that the injury was caused by a stone thrown by one of the demonstrators during the clashes between Palestinian citizens and the IOF”.

 

20/02- IOF attacked a group of journalists (at least five journalists) and prevented them from covering a demonstration erupted in Hebron, as the photographer of Reuters Agency Ma’moun Wazwaz reported to MADA”while I was covering a demonstration demanding for the eviction of settlers from Al-Shuhada’ street in the old City of Hebron, around 12:30pm, IOF confronted the demonstration with suppression, and attacked the journalists and forced us to leave the place immediately”.

He also added,” one of the IOF deliberately targeted me with a “sound bomb” that hit my right knee, where I received the medical treatment for two hours at Hebron Governmental Hospital”, Wazwaz also added that “amongst the journalists that were assaulted and banned from the coverage were: Yusri Al Jamal, Hazem Bader, Amer Abedi and Akram el Natsheh”.

 

26/02- cameraman and director of Roya Jordanian TV Chanel Mohammad Radi Shousheh (34years) got some burns due to firing him with a “sound Bomb” while covering a demonstration erupted in Hebron, concurrently IOF also arrested Wattan News Agency cameraman Mohammad Jaradat, Shousheh reported to MADA ”on 26/02 and while covering a demonstration on the memorial of The Cave of the Patriarchs massacre “the Ibrahimi Mosque” that was carried out in Hebron, and while the demonstration was heading toward the Ibrahimi Mosque, IOF attacked all demonstrators through firing heavily different types of bombs in a brutal way to disperse them, as two “sound bombs” exploded right between my legs, causing burns on my knees and thighs, I received an immediate treatment in one of the ambulances, as the burns were external”, he added” they also arrested (IOF) my colleague Mohammad Jaradat cameraman of Wattan”.

 

The Director of Wattan TV in Hebron reported to MADA, IOF took Jaradat to the army center in (Keryat Arba’ settlement), they detained him for two hours, interrogated him and confiscated his protective gas mask, and helmet before releasing him”.