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Last update - 03:27 28/11/2008 Foreign journalists speak out against ban on entry to Gaza By Gili Izikovich ,Haaretz Correspondent, and AP Tags: journalists, Israel News  The Foreign Press Association held a news conference Thursday to protest the Israeli government's ban on international journalists entering the Gaza Strip. British Broadcasting Company journalist Jo Floto noted that the only countries in the world where BBC journalists are currently denied access are North Korea, Myanmar (Burma) and Zimbabwe. "We don't want Gaza to join that very select and regrettable club," he said. In the three weeks since the ban was imposed the FPA sent an open letter to its members and filed an official protest with the Prime Minister's Office, signed by leaders of the world's international news organizations. Advertisement Signers of the letter include AP Chief Executive and President Tom Curley, Reuters Editor-in-Chief David Schlesinger, New York Times Executive Editor Bill Keller, ABC News President David Westin, BBC News Director Helen Boaden and other top executives from CNN, the Canadian TV network CTV, the German broadcaster ZDF, and the French news service Agence France Presse. The organization also appealed against the ban to the High Court of Justice, which gave the state two weeks to respond. In addition, FPA representatives requested an urgent meeting with Defense Minister Ehud Barak and senior ministry official Amos Gilad. FPA chairman Steven Gutkin, who also serves as the Associated Press bureau chief in Jerusalem, said that Israel controls the only official entrance to the Gaza Strip. "We believe the current denial of access amounts to a serious violation of freedom of the press, and runs counter to Israel's own claims that it is a democracy that respects media liberties," Gutkin said. In the past two weeks, coverage in Gaza has been largely left to local Palestinian staffers and a handful of foreign journalists who entered before the closure went into effect. Israeli authorities have said little about why journalists are not being allowed into Gaza, saying that reporters are not being singled out because many are being kept out. They say access will be restored when Palestinian militants stop firing rockets. Government spokesman Mark Regev rejected the notion that the Gaza ban violates press freedom. "Israel cherishes the freedom of the press," he said. "All journalists who work in Israel know that freedom for a fact." Gutkin noted Olmert's comments earlier this week after a visit to the Newseum in Washington D.C., a museum dedicated to journalism. Olmert expressed pride in Israel's record on a free press. "Now Israel has a chance to match those words with policy," Gutkin said. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Dancing on graves It is hard to believe that Pakistan is behind the Mumbai carnage. 'Tis the season Bethlehem mayor says Christmas season will cap a boom year for tourism.   1.   Objectivity is dangerous in Gaza. 05:52  |  judith 28/11/08   2.   Exclusive -- from GAZA! 06:08  |  Jasper 28/11/08   3.   Hmmmm 06:19  |  Steve J 28/11/08   4.   Prima Facia 07:30  |  Mark Lincoln 28/11/08   5.   Does secrecy help Israel? 07:33  |  Mark Lincoln 28/11/08   6.   This story an example of poor journalism by Ha`aretz 09:06  |  Joe Sittizen 28/11/08   7.   ban 09:33  |  colin 28/11/08   8.   Crusades again, BBC leads the parade, clever, but transparent 09:41  |  Harvey 28/11/08   9.   Has the Blair Witch been upgraded to journalist yet? 09:43  |  Harvey 28/11/08   10.   We all know who`s side BBC is on ! 09:49  |  Benjamina 28/11/08   11.   Mark Lincoln.They can stop being so bloody minded &go thru` Egypt 10:08  |  PETER SM 28/11/08   12.   They can ask Egypt 10:26  |  Freddy 28/11/08   13.   Keep out the journalists. 11:16  |  Charles Smyth 28/11/08   14.   joe sittizen 6 11:34  |  potobac 28/11/08   15.   Why are they yaketting in Israel 12:47  |  reader 28/11/08   16.   #Beniamjna 13:24  |  Alberto 28/11/08   17.   #13 Charles Smyth 13:29  |  Boycott 28/11/08   18.   Stop the journos entering Gaza for good 14:28  |  O-Dog 28/11/08   19.   Why not just go in through Egypt? 14:29  |  Arie 28/11/08   20.   potobac-question for you 14:35  |  Arie 28/11/08   21.   You really gave it away 15:03  |  Murray 28/11/08   22.   theban is 25 years too late and should have been imposed on the 15:08  |  v.hardman 28/11/08   23.   v.hardman ? a ban on you would be humanitarian 15:43  |  since you embarass 28/11/08   24.   No reason 15:52  |  Mr Ipp 28/11/08   25.   Sderot is not out of limits 16:25  |  Serge 28/11/08   26.   Marc Typical antisemite 16:29  |  Aby 28/11/08   27.   How low can Israel go? 16:49  |  a jew 28/11/08   28.   Why be surprised! 16:54  |  John Allen 28/11/08   29.   same regev 16:56  |  curious george 28/11/08   30.   #17 Boycott, you are grossly misinformed or, 17:04  |  John Allen 28/11/08   31.   Peter SM 17:43  |  Mark Lincoln 28/11/08   32.   Victor hardhead 17:45  |  Mark Lincoln 28/11/08   33.   The news according to Jonah Jameson. 18:33  |  Charles Smyth 28/11/08   34.   Foreign Journalists in Gaza 18:56  |  Mark 28/11/08   35.   Foreign Journalist 19:10  |  American 28/11/08   36.   Who is a "journalist" 19:20  |  Kumar 28/11/08   37.   Sharon Spring - the wrong journalists.... 19:47  |  Palestinian Brit 28/11/08   38.   No 28. Story untrue? 19:52  |  Palestinian Brit 28/11/08   39.   This shouldn`t shock anyone here... 19:57  |  Silvienne 28/11/08   40.   let the jounalists in so they can find the bates motel;just as 20:05  |  glenna 28/11/08   41.   My dear, naive potobac 20:11  |  Joe Sittizen 28/11/08   42.   Joe Sittizen, Israelis shouldn`t define the Palestinian response 20:43  |  Dutch 28/11/08   43.   Only via smuggler`s tunnels Mark 20:48  |  Mark Lincoln 28/11/08   44.   Mark Regev, about your freedom with journalists.. 20:57  |  Dutch 28/11/08   45.   Foreign journalists and Gaza 21:30  |  Erik Sol 28/11/08   46.   Foreign Journalists 21:40  |  Talya 28/11/08   47.   Opening the crossing points dangerous for IDF 22:01  |  Gee 28/11/08   48.   So why don`t they run it on the front page? 22:13  |  Mick 28/11/08   49.   Dutch, why do you treat Palestinians like idiots? 23:30  |  Joe Sittizen 28/11/08   50.   Foreign jounalists - Gaza 23:44  |  Dani Renan 28/11/08   51.   Foriegn journalists - Gaza 23:47  |  Dani Renan 28/11/08   52.   They did not know 00:11  |  Johan Van Hulle 29/11/08   53.   all gone 00:16  |  Joe Hill 29/11/08   54.   stables 00:23  |  Joe hill 29/11/08   55.   #40: Gilad Shalit 00:25  |  Charles Smyth 29/11/08   56.   Gilad Shalit? Re 39 & 40 00:50  |  Steve J 29/11/08   57.   Border is closed 01:11  |  Great White North 29/11/08   58.   Pal Brit + Sylvienne 01:46  |  ChanahS 29/11/08   59.   Banning of journalists makes perfect sense 02:12  |  Akiva P 29/11/08   60.   Keep them out 03:04  |  Yaacob 29/11/08   61.   #44--Dutch, Mark Regev is right. 18:53  |  US CITIZEN 29/11/08   62.   #58, ChanahS... 05:45  |  Silvienne 30/11/08   63.   US citizen What you seem to lose of is Israel an illegal occupier 06:42  |  Dutch 30/11/08   64.   Mr. Hyde is missing in the Israeli rreports. 17:25  |  Dutch 30/11/08   65.   63 US citizen note the vital statistics todate 01:42  |  Dutch 01/12/08

Read & React Two Israelis in Mumbai remain unaccounted for Responses: 78 Israeli experts: Slow op meant 'no chance' for Chabad house captives in Mumbai Responses: 110 Bush to Olmert: Why are you giving Syria the Golan for nothing? Responses: 82 Is 'the most dangerous man in the world' behind the Mumbai attacks? Responses: 14 More Headlines 02:19 EU paper on solving Mideast conflict worries Israel 00:29 Two Israelis still missing after Mumbai attack 20:08 Olmert: No doubt Mumbai attack targeted Jewish institutions 22:11 India enters 'war' alert, blaming Pakistan for Mumbai terror 21:24 U.S. rabbi: I spoke to Mumbai terrorist on slain rabbi's phone 01:48 Police victim ID unit leaves for India, as two Israelis still missing 01:03 Treasury officials to PM's advisers: Your economic plan is illegal 16:55 IDF soldiers get cash reward for refusing to evict settlers 19:03 Cabinet approves releasing 250 Palestinian prisoners in gesture to Abbas 14:07 Qassam strikes residential area in central Sderot 00:50 Picasso sketchings sell low, as Jerusalem auction feels pinch of cash crisis 20:11 Bethlehem mayor: Christmas season will cap boom year for tourism 22:04 Olmert to bring for cabinet vote plan to fortify Gaza-area homes 17:57 Iran proposes building joint nuclear plants with Arab neighbors 22:20 Rabin assassin declares hunger strike to protest prison conditions 20:27 Pope praises Nazi-era pontiff who Jews say turned blind eye to Holocaust Previous Editions Select Day 30 nov 28 nov 27 nov 26 nov 25 nov 24 nov 23 nov 21 nov 20 nov 19 nov 18 nov 17 nov

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