VIENNA, March 6 (News Agencies) - Both Israelis and Palestinians are hampering or attacking journalists covering the Intifada, but Israeli authorities account for some three quarters of all reported incidents, a lobby group said Tuesday.
Two newsmen have been killed and at least 30 shot since the start of the uprising last September, while many have been harassed or physically assaulted, said the International Press Institute (IPI).
"Both the Israeli and Palestinian authorities appear to be trying to prevent negative media coverage of the clashes," said the IPI, releasing a report on treatment of the media during the uprising.
Out of 84 incidents of "press freedom violations" against journalists, 64 were carried out by Israeli authorities, seven by Israeli settlers, six by Palestinian authorities and five by Palestinian civilians, it said.
Violations of journalists' rights include the closure of four broadcasting stations that were either shut down by authorities or were damaged or destroyed due to missile attacks, and the withdrawal of one foreign journalist's accreditation, IPI said.
In addition three newsmen were denied entry to Israel from the West Bank, and all Palestinian journalists were denied Israeli press cards "and thus severely obstructed in carrying out their profession."
The IPI "recommends that the Israeli security forces review their guidelines concerning protection of journalists. In particular, neither journalists nor the facilities in which they work should ever be military targets."
In addition "Palestinian authorities should end their arbitrary arrest and intimidation of journalists. They should also refrain from closing or censoring media outlets," it said.
