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The cars have TV badges on them for easy identification
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By
Ahmad Al Bedeiry, IOL Ramallah correspondent
RAMALLAH,
April 7 (IslamOnline) – Israeli aggressions have violated all
international codes and treaties, including the restriction of the
movement of ambulances, U.N. trucks carrying essential foodstuff to
the victims of the city of Ramallah. However, foreign correspondents
are also suffering, with threats to their lives as a maximum danger
and the cutting of electricity as the minimum.
European
and American media have been attacked severely by the Israeli
occupation army to force them to leave the areas of aggression and
so that they do not cover the massacres and Israeli atrocities which
pose a constant danger on the residents of the occupied cities.
Ramallah,
the first city that came under attack is the economic, cultural,
political and media capital of the Palestinian Authority and has a
number of television production companies that play a vital role in
providing technical services and satellite transmission equipment.
In
the first day, four Israeli tanks entered a media building and
evacuated all those inside so that it could search the building
“looking for terrorists”. One of the companies searched was Link
Production company which is used by ABC network, Reuters, Abu Dhabi
TV, Yemen TV and other media organizations.
Thirty
journalists were taken out of the building, putting them in danger,
as they were in the open in a dangerous zone where cross firing
usually takes place.
The
journalists appealed to the Israeli army to allow them to reenter
the building. Their request was refused, and only after three hours
were they allowed to enter the building’s foyer.
Suddenly,
the Israeli snipers entered the buildings and told the journalists
to leave it permanently and hence occupied the building. The
journalists were now in a crisis, since there were no other
Palestinian companies that could fulfill the needs that were
fulfilled by Link. Some went to other companies and others decided
to leave Ramallah.
The
aim of the entire operation is to hinder the reporters’ work. Some
foreign media networks own armored vehicles which give the
journalists a sense of security. That’s why the Israeli response
to reporters in Ramallah is to threaten their lives.
Dan
Louis, the correspondent for American NBC network was in his armored
car with his crew and was driving back after dark to go back to his
office when he was attacked.
Suddenly
an Israeli soldier started to fire at him. “The streets were dark
and empty and suddenly I found an Israel soldier in front of me
firing at our car so I stopped. Moments later, I lit the inner light
in the car and we all raised our hands. But the soldier continued
firing at us. I thought I was going to die but I didn’t.” The
armored car was damaged and could not be used again which meant that
NBC could not go out and work anymore.
Two
other reporters, one French, and the other American, were injured
after they were fired at. Carlo Joseph, the cameraman from the
Egyptian Nile TV news station was also hurt when the Israeli
soldiers fired at him as he was driving the car. Both the NBC and
Nile News cars had TV badges on them, so the Israeli soldiers knew
they were press cars.
Like
the rest of Ramallah’s residents, the reporters do not have water
and are also lacking essential food supplies, as well as equipment,
film and cables. The pressure on the journalists in increasing and
no one knows how much longer they can continue working under these
conditions. Some networks might withdraw their teams if there are
security concerns. CNN for example, has sent a security expert to
advise the crew in cases of pending danger.
The
Israeli occupation forces have declared Ramallah a closed military
area, and banned reporters from entering. Therefore, reporters who
are in Ramallah are already breaching the “laws” set by the
army. The CBS network left Ramallah after being asked to leave by
the Israeli army and was escorted outside the town.
Qatari-based
Al Jazeera Satellite channel crew were also expelled from the city.
Reporters in the streets of Ramallah maybe kicked out any moment,
and news coverage is being hindered.
Despite
these difficulties, the journalists in the city are determined to
continue their work and to cooperate to make that possible, even
among competing stations. It is this cooperation that helps create a
brotherly atmosphere underneath the gunfire.
“I’m tired and sad because of what’s happening here,
but I will continue working no matter what,” said Fouad Jabr, a
sound technician.
Hayan
Yatoub, the manager of Smart Frame company said that “these
conditions enhances the performance of the Palestinian and foreign
journalists. I’ve seen with my own eyes that they collaborated and
cooperated with one another, regardless of their nationalities.
Palestinian reporters also benefit from the experience of their
foreign peers.”
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