Reporters Without Borders demands release of seven Palestinian journalists

Reporters Without Borders called today on Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to free seven Palestinian journalists and to stop attacking freedom of the press. "As we celebrate the 12th International Press Freedom Day, we ask you to cease attacking journalists, especially those who are Palestinian," Reporters Without Borders secretary-general Robert Ménard said in a letter to him. "The seven Israel is still holding were apparently just doing their job," he said. At least 20 Palestinian journalists have been arrested since the start of the Israeli occupation of Palestinian towns and cities on 29 March. The seven journalists were Jalal Hameid, of the privately-owned Bethlehem TV station Al-Rouah, Maher el-Dessuki, of Al-Quds Educational TV, Kamal Ali Jbeil, of the daily Al-Quds, Hussam Abu Alan, a photographer for Agence France-Presse (AFP), Iyyad el-Juneidi, managing editor of the Hebron TV station Al-Mostaqbal, Yusri el-Jamal, a Reuters sound man, and Ayman el-Kawasmi, head of the local radio station El Horriya. Sound man Jamal and Mazen Dana, a Reuters cameraman were seized on 30 April as they filmed outside Hebron's hospital. The soldiers took their press and ID cards, blindfolded and handcuffed them and put them in an Israeli tank, after which they were taken to the district coordination office. On the way, the soldiers humiliated and threatened them and, according to Dana, one of them pointed a gun at his head and asked him: "How do you want to die?" When they got to the office, they were forced to lie on the floor for several hours without food or drink. Dana was interrogated next morning, received apologies and was freed, but Jamal was held prisoner. Also on 30 April, Kawasmi was arrested at his home and also taken, handcuffed and blindfolded, to the district coordination office. The next day, he was taken to the Ofer detention centre, near Ramallah. Soldiers also destroyed all the radio station's equipment. On 29 April, Juneidi was arrested at his TV station by Israeli soldiers who smashed its equipment and blindfolded and handcuffed him. He is also being held at the Ofer centre. Photographer Alan was arrested on 24 April at the Beit Anun checkpoint near Hebron. Along with Reuters cameraman Dana and other journalists, he was going to Bani Naim to cover the funeral of two Palestinians. Alan was blindfolded and handcuffed and taken to an Israeli tank. Dana was freed a few hours later. It is not known where Alan, who lives in Hebron and has worked for AFP for seven years, is being held. Like most Palestinian journalists, he has not been able to get his Israeli press card renewed since the beginning of the year. Dessuki and Jbeli were arrested by Israeli soldiers on 18 April and are being held at the Ofer centre. Hameid, along with Ashraf Farraj, Al-Rouah's chief editor, were arrested on 3 April at the press centre in Bethlehem with several other journalists, who were soon freed, according to Al-Rouah boss Hamdi Farraj, while the other two were taken to the Beitunia detention centre near Ramallah. Ashraf Farraj was freed on 24 April but Hameid is still being held.