NGOs call for press freedom to be respected

The undersigned organizations call on the government of Israel to allow the foreign media access to the cities of the West Bank. The prolonged attempt to seal off entire cities, where hundreds of thousands of people live, has been excessive, unjustifiable and utterly counterproductive. We furthermore call on Israeli officials to desist from public attacks on the foreign press in which irresponsible generalizations have been employed to criticize the way we conduct our business. They only undermine the freedom of the press and endanger journalists. We also repeat our fervent call on Israel to accredit Palestinian journalists working for the foreign press out of the Palestinian territories. The current operation in Areas A only shows, yet again, why these professionals need, for their safety, to be able to identify themselves to Israeli soldiers as journalists. The government promised to issue "territories-only" accreditations two months ago, and the promise has not been implemented. We call on the government to make good on this pledge without any further delay. At the same time we call on all the Palestinian factions to cease efforts to confiscate materials or intimidate journalists. Attempts to suppress unflattering visuals are utterly unacceptable. We call on the Palestinian authorities to reject such tactics unequivocally. The foreign press here has a proud and long tradition of excellent and unbiased journalism. Its job is to report this complicated and delicate story -- a story that generates tremendous interest abroad. It is important that it be allowed to carry out this mission. 9 April 2002 Foreign Press Association (Jerusalem) Committee to Protect journalists (New York) International Federation of Journalists (Brussels) International Press Institute (Vienna) Reporters sans frontières (Paris) World Association of Newspapers (Paris)