Violations of media freedoms during April 2008
Killing of journalist Fadel Shana"a most serious violation
Titi, Amarneh and Moughrabi acquittals a victory for media freedom

In a very serious escalation of attacks on Palestinian journalists by Israeli occupation forces, last April witnessed the murder of Reuters cameraman Fadel Shana"a. It was the most serious incident among other violations committed by Israeli and Palestinian forces. The acquittal of several journalists came as a victory for media freedom.

Information available to the Palestinian Centre for Development and Media Freedoms (Mada) and a number of local and international institutions operating in the defense of human rights and journalists, pointed out that the crime appeared to have been committed deliberately for the following reasons:
• Because the area in which the crime was committed had no presence of armed Palestinians.
• Because the area where the crime was committed had not witnessed armed clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinian gunmen.
• Because the car was clearly marked press in large letters.
• Because the tank which fired at the car was able to distinguish Fadel and the car, due to sophisticated equipment it contains.
• Because two shells were launched at the car in order to make sure it hit its target.

Just because Israel caved in to pressure several days after the crime by local and international media and humanitarian organizations for the formation of a commission of inquiry, does not mean that Israel is serious in reaching the truth. Previous experience in this area does not encourage optimism. For example, the Israeli judiciary system rejected in April 2005 indictments against those responsible for the killing of British journalist James Miller on 2 May 2003, arguing that there was insufficient evidence. So we believe that the pressure must continue, in order to bring the perpetrators to justice.

The Israeli authorities also closed Radio Ram FM office in East Jerusalem and arrested seven of its employees. Other incidents include the injuring of photojournalist Ammar Awad in his right leg, and the raid on the house of Almajd Radio Director Esam Jaradat, which was closed by the occupation forces on 11 March.

On the Palestinian side violations also continued, although less than in previous months, where the Palestinian police in Rafah city confiscated Ala"lam (the World) Television cameraman Emad El Ajrami"s camera. They also confiscated two tapes from Reuter"s photographer Ibrahim Abu Mustafa and Reuter"s cameraman Nihad Shana"a in Zawaida village (Gaza Strip). The Palestinian Broadcasting Corporation (PBC) launched a complaint against Emtyaz Moughrabi for an article published in several media.

Mada welcomes the distribution of “Al-Ayyam" newspaper again in the Gaza Strip after the prevention of distribution for a period of 78 days, following a decision issued by the Magistrate"s Court in Gaza. Mada also welcomes the decision of the magistrate"s court in Hebron which acquitted journalists A"laa Titi and Osaid Amarneh of Aqsa TV on 24 April. It further welcomes the decision of the magistrate"s court in Ramallah which acquitted Emtyaz Moughrabi on 5 May, and considers this a victory for freedom of opinion and expression, and the rule of law.

Mada renewed demands to allow “Felesteen" and “Al-Resaleh" newspapers to print and distribute in the West Bank, and to allow all media to exercise freely their work in various Palestinian areas. Mada also demands the release of journalist Musa"ab Qatalouni, who was jailed by the Palestinian Authority, since 5 March, and the release of journalists detained in Israeli prisons.

Monthly Summary Report

(April 3) - Palestinian police confiscated two films from Reuters photographer Ibrahim Abu Mustapha and Reuters cameraman Nihad Shana"a, after photographing the results of explosion which happened in the English cemetery at the entrance of Zawaida village in the central Gaza Strip.

(April 7) - Radio FM office in the city of East Jerusalem was closed by Israeli security forces after the raid and confiscation of studio equipment, arrest of seven of its workers, who were released the next day, but put under house arrest at home for seven days (and not allowed to talk with each other for a period of fifteen days.) The Israeli security forces argued that it was an unlicensed radio, but the radio office opened again the next day. The radio has broadcast from its headquarters in Ramallah since its founding in February last year by a South African company, and is licensed by the Palestinian Authority. It is the only radio which broadcasts in English, where 80% of its programs are music and the rest is news and talk.

(April 16) - Reuters cameraman Fadel Subhi Shana"a (24) years was killed deliberately, and his assistant Wafa Abu Mezyed was wounded in his left hand and right leg, by Israeli tank fire, as they were covering the Israeli incursion in the Juhr Al-Deek area north of the Bureij camp (Gaza Strip).

(April 16) – The home of the Director of Radio Almajd, Esam Jaradat, in the village of Silat Harthiya was raided by Israeli occupation forces, but he was absent from the home so they investigated his brother Fayez on his whereabouts. They also raided the house of his father. The occupation authorities had closed Almajd Radio in Jenin city on 11 March after the confiscation of all its equipment.

(April 18) - Reuters cameraman Ammar Awad was injured by a rubber bullet in the right leg as a result of the Israeli occupation forces firing bullets and tear gas at journalists and participants in the weekly anti-apartheid wall march in Bila"in village (Ram Allah).

(April 18) - Ala"lam (the World) Television cameraman Emad El Ajrami"s camera was confiscated by Palestinian police in Rafah city (Gaza Strip), while he was awaited the beginning of a march called for by Fatah movement on the occasion of the captive Palestinian prisoner"s day. The police returned the camera after Ala"lam correspondent Mustafa Abdul Hadi went to the police station. The police also prevented the march and attacked a number of participants.

(April 30) – A lawsuit was started against freelance female journalist Emtyaz Moughrabi with charges of libel and defamation, after the Palestinian Broadcasting Corporation (PBC) filed a case against her, after she wrote an article entitled “Is the PBC on the list of reform?" on 25 March which dealt with conditions of PBC. It was published in many news sites such as Dunia Alwatan, Amad for Media, and Alhiwar Al- Mutamaden.

Moughrabi had received a call from a member of the Executive Palestinian police in Ramallah on 25 April (Friday), who told her to come to the police station to answer some questions relating to the case filed against her. Her attorney Sana Aranki went to review the file with police in Ramallah, where she found the aim of the summons was to arrest Moughrabi, because the police had a warrant and arrest order because there was a case brought against her by PBC.