Israeli security forces use violence against journalists in East Jerusalem

September 17, 2015

Reporters Without Borders condemns the violence used by Israeli police against journalists covering the clashes between security forces and Palestinian protesters that have been taking place in and around the plaza in front of East Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque for the past three days.

At least ten Palestinian journalists were injured on 13 and 14 September while covering the clashes, which coincided with the Jewish New Year celebrations.

Palestine TV cameraman Mustapha Al-Kharouf and reporter Christine Al-Rinawi were physically attacked on 14 September and Al-Kharouf was arrested along with demonstrators who had been pursued by the police.

According to our sources, the police beat Diala Jowayhan, a journalist with the daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadeeda. Reporters Without Borders deplores the way the Israeli security forces have treated journalists who were there just to cover the events and who were not taking part in the protests and rioting.

Most of the journalists were the victims of the teargas used by the police, but some were deliberately targeted by the security forces, which manhandled them, hit them or damaged their equipment in order to prevent them from filming.

Dozens of people have been injured in these clashes, which erupted on the morning of 13 September inside the Al-Aqsa Mosque and in the plaza outside.

Classified by Reporters Without Borders as “Information Predators”, the Israeli security forces have repeatedly used physical violence against media personnel. See the 2014 Reporters Without Borders report “Palestinian Journalists Caught Between Three Sides”.

For more information contact:
Reporters Without Borders
Phone: +33 1 44 83 84 84
Website: www.rsf.org