OSCE Media Representative raises concern over media freedom with Israeli Foreign Minister

VIENNA, 4 April 2002 - "I am very concerned about the reported limitations imposed on the media, the violence against journalists [] promoted by the army of Israel," Freimut Duve, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, has stressed in a letter addressed to the Israeli Foreign Minister, Shimon Peres.

Israel is an OSCE Mediterranean Partner for Co-operation. Mr. Duve underlined that many of the journalists who came under attack are citizens of OSCE participating States and work for media in the OSCE region.

Press restrictions and attacks against journalists are on the rise in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. The city of Ramallah, the scene of heavy fighting, has been declared off-limits to the press. This week alone, an NBC crew, a BBC reporter and a Reuters photographer were fired upon by Israel Defence Forces. Another photographer, from the Gamma agency, was detained for six hours.

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media asked the Foreign Minister of Israel to provide additional information on measures that were taken by the Defence Forces against the media.