Report: Two photojournalists injured by IDF at West Bank protest

The Foreign Press Association in Israel condemns recent harassment and arrests of journalists in the West Bank by the IDF

By News Agencies and Haaretz Service

Two Palestinian photojournalists were injured by Israel Defense Forces troops on Saturday during a protest in the southern West Bank town of Beit Umar, near Hebron, news agencies reported.

The photojournalists were covering a weekly demonstration against Israel's West Bank security barrier. The demonstration was attended by dozens of Palestinians as well as foreign and Israeli activists.

One photojournalist reported being hit in the face and leg by a soldier with a baton and another photojournalist was said to have suffered hearing loss after a stun grenade exploded near his head.

The IDF said that security forces had dispersed 40 demonstrators who had entered a closed military zone and thrown rocks at soldiers.

The military spokesman said anyone who chooses to enter conflict areas does so "at his or her own risk."

The Foreign Press Association in Israel issued a statement on Saturday condemning what it called a "recent policy change" by the IDF and border police in regards to journalists covering events in the West Bank.

"Over the past months journalists covering these events have been harassed, arrested and attacked by the various on site forces before these forces turn their attention to the activists or demonstrators," the statement read.

"We would appreciate it were the authorities to remind the various forces involved, that open, unhindered coverage of news events is a widely acknowledged part of the essence of democracy."

"Generally speaking this would not include smashing the face of a clearly marked photographer working for a known and accredited news organization with a stick, or for that matter aiming a stun grenade at the head of a clearly marked news photographer or summarily arresting cameramen, photographers and/or journalists."

The IDF refuted the FPA's statement, saying that journalists report from "everywhere, all the time and every situation" in West Bank. The IDF cautioned that journalists who cover violent demonstrations face the possibility of getting hurt.