Palestinian forces abuse WBank, Gaza reporters-HRW

[oberliner]

GAZA/RAMALLAH, West Bank, April 6 (Reuters) - Palestinian journalists are abused with impunity by the security services of West Bank-based President Mahmoud Abbas and his Islamist rivals Hamas in the Gaza Strip, Human Rights Watch said on Wednesday.

A 35-page report by the monitoring group cited reporters' charges of beatings, arbitrary arrests and equipment seizures by government enforcers -- carried out against the backdrop of inter-factional feuding in the divided Palestinian territories.

"Palestinian security forces are becoming notorious for assaulting and intimidating journalists who are just trying to do their jobs," said Joe Stork, deputy Middle East director for Human Rights Watch.

"The people who have been responsible or allegedly responsible for carrying out these violations and these abuses, they face no consequences," he told a news conference.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/04/06/palestinians-journalists-rights-idUSLDE73512W20110406

[Turbineguy]

1. And if they don't do this

they'd have to go out and find a real job.

[LeftishBrit]

2. Ugh

Unfortunately, things like this have been happening for a while, e.g. the attack on Jamal Aruri in 2004:

http://www.newssafety.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2560:west-bank-afp-photographer-attacked-by-masked-men-in-ramallah&catid=91:palestine-west-bank-media-safety&Itemid=100383

[oberliner]

3. Kudos to the many human rights organizations who have brought these incidents to light

Shame on those who turn their heads and look the other way.