7/24/2010 

The Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA) condemns strongly the Israeli occupation forces detaintion of four journalists:Reuters photographer Yousry El-Jamal, Associated Press photographer HazemBader, France Press photographe Mousa Alshaer , and Maan News Agaency cameraman Luay Sababa. Yesterday , 7/23/2010, in the areas of Bethlehem and Hebron in the West Bank.

MADA also condemmns the Israeli army attack on the Middle East Agency photographer Najeh Hashlamoun by throwing a gas bomb on him from close range on 24/7/2010, when he was covering the weekly march in Beit Ommar near Hebron. Hashlamoun said that he went this morning to cover the weekly march in Beit Ommar, after the arrival of the demonstrators to the Israeli chechpoint, the Israeli army began throwing tear gas atthe demonstrators heavily. Gas grenade was shot at close range in his back, causing him to lose consciousness for a short period. 
El-Jamal said that he went to cover the settlers confiscation of Palestinian land in the Bouira area, near Hebron, and while he filmed with his colleague Bader, one of the Israeli occupation soldiers said to them: "This is a closed military zone where photography is forbidden", they asked him: do you have a military order to do this? Instead of answering thier question he detened them inside a military jeep for two hours, during which he prevented them from talking or making phone calls. After that, he released them, but he threatened that if they returned to the area they will be arrested immediately. 
Alshaert said that he went to cover alma’sra weekly march, south of Bethlehem, and when he arrived there the Israeli occupation army detained him with his colleague Sababa, to prevent them from filming, and after the march, which lasted about three hours, they released them. 
MADA again condemns the continued Israeli violations against Palestinian journalists, especially during their coverage of the weekly peace marches in the West Bank. And demands that the relevant international bodies to intervene urgently to stop them. 

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contact: 
Riham Abu Eita 
Public Relations Coordinator 
riham@madacenter.org 
www.madacenter.org 
00970 2 2976519