Friday, July 22, 2011

Foreign Press Association Slams Israeli PM's Office for Humiliating Treatment of Journalists

PNN

Tel Aviv – PNN – The Foreign Press Association has issued a sharp letter to the office of Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, following the repeated harassment of foreign journalists covering the Prime Minister.
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PM Benjamin Netanyahu

“In the past two days, three female reporters in separate incidents were forced to undress, remove their bras and have them placed through an X-ray machine in front of a group of colleagues … This type of treatment is unnecessary, humiliating and counterproductive.”

This is not the first time that foreign correspondents have complained about the treatment they have received from security officials guarding the PM.

“After repeated appeals and promises by security officials it appears that the Prime Minister’s Office does not have the desire to stop this happening and so the FPA will begin consulting its members over whether the foreign media should no longer cover events at the PM’s Office, as this is the only occasion where this type of incident occurs.”

Government Press Office Director Oren Helman responded to the claims in the letter by stating that they are “disturbing and damaging to Israel’s image.” He went on to say that “this is most certainly not our policy;” however, this is not the first time that the President’s office has received undesired publicity for its treatment of foreign journalists.

In January, Al Jazeera filed a formal complaint with the Israeli government after security officials required Najwan Simri Diab, who works for Al Jazeera, to remove her bra in order to enter an invitation-only event hosted by the Prime Minister.

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