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Last update - 22:49 20/10/2009
Israel ranks low for freedom of press, after Gaza war media ban
By Gili Eizkovitch Haaretz Correspondent and Haaretz Service
Tags: Israel Media, Gaza Offensive 

Israel placed No. 93 out of 175 countries on a 2009 international index of press freedom, released by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) on Tuesday.

The 2009 ranking meant Israeli lost its place as the top country for press freedom in the region, falling behind Kuwait at No. 60, Lebanon at No. 61 and the United Arab Emirates at No. 86.

Israel's dramatic drop - 47 spots since last year - came as a result of its press regulations dictated to international media during the Gaza offensive earlier this year.
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"Israel has begun to use the same methods internally as it does outside its own territory," said Reporters Without Borders, adding that journalists had been arrested and imprisoned and that military censorship also posed a threat.

But as a result of actions during Israel's war against Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip in December and January, Reporters Without Borders ranked the country at No. 150 for its "extraterritorial actions."

"The toll of the war was very heavy. Around 20 journalists in the Gaza Strip were injured by the Israeli military forces and three were killed while covering the offensive," it said.

Meanwhile, RSF noted that press freedom has improved in the United States in the last year as the country jumped 20 places to No. 20.

The media watchdog said the assumption of the presidency by Barack Obama in January brought a new approach in Washington after eight years under President George W. Bush, while some European countries fell in the group's Press Freedom Index.

It expressed concerns about U.S. attitudes toward the media in Iraq and Afghanistan, where it said journalists had been injured or arrested by the U.S. military.

"President Obama may have been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, but his country is still fighting two wars," the group said. "Despite a slight improvement, the attitude of the United States towards the media in Iraq and Afghanistan is worrying."

The United States came in just behind Britain on the press freedom index of 175 countries, while China was at No. 168. Afghanistan No. 149 and Iraq at No. 145.

Reporters Without Borders noted that in the United States the House of Representatives this year backed legislation to allow journalists to protect their sources - it has not yet been voted on in the Senate - and the Obama administration had promised better access to public information.

The group said civil liberties were violated in the name of national security during the Bush era.

European countries hold the top 13 spots, led by Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Norway and Sweden. France fell eight spots to No. 43, Slovakia dropped 37 places to No. 44 and Italy fell five spots to No. 49.

"Europe should be setting an example as regards civil liberties. How can you condemn human rights violations abroad if you do not behave irreproachably at home?" said Reporters Without Borders Secretary-General Jean-Francois Julliard.

Press freedom in France has been worsening for several years, the group said, with the authorities placing growing pressure on journalists to reveal sources and proposing legislation that could reduce their freedom.

In Italy, Reporters Without Borders said press freedom was being stifled by threats from the mafia and various lawsuits being brought or considered by Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi against news organizations.

At the bottom of the list were Turkmenistan, North Korea and Eritrea "where media are so suppressed they are nonexistent," said Reporters Without Borders.

Iran dropped to No. 172 from No. 166, with Reporters Without Borders saying the disputed re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had fostered a paranoia about journalists and bloggers.

"Automatic prior censorship, state surveillance of journalists, mistreatment, journalists forced to flee the country, illegal arrests and imprisonment - such is the state of press freedom this year in Iran," the group said.

The ranking was compiled from hundreds of questionnaires completed by journalists and media experts around the world and reflecting press freedom violations that took place between Sept. 1, 2008 and Aug. 31, 2009. The exact number of questionnaires completed was not immediately available.

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      1.   Why should Israel let anyone into Gaza? Gaza is Jew free 19:58  |  fo realz 20/10/09
      2.   War crimes dont happen in the sun 20:03  |  John 20/10/09
      3.   Al Jazeera and Hamas TV were in Gaza, where was Johnston? 20:22  |  fo realz 20/10/09
      4.   Are there Israeli reporters in Lebanon or Kuwait? 20:28  |  Absolute Sweden 20/10/09
      5.   Lower then Kuwait and Lebanon... interesting 20:34  |  Mike 20/10/09
      6.   Freedom of Press - NOT IN USA! 21:05  |  A TRUE American 20/10/09
      7.   #1, Why should Israel keep anyone out of Gaza? 21:08  |  Silvienne 20/10/09
      8.   Haaretz should make it number 1 21:19  |  Joey 20/10/09
      9.   Daft commenters 21:40  |  Apa 20/10/09
      10.   Humor in the news 21:43  |  Manny 20/10/09
      11.   Absolute Sweden, do you want your Israeli reporter 21:51  |  Mohammad 20/10/09
      12.   None of the countries in the top 20 are at war! 22:09  |  Jane 20/10/09
      13.   Lebanon ahead of Israel -- hilarious 22:09  |  Serge 20/10/09
      14.   It depends on who`s doing the ranking. 22:22  |  Heather Czerniak 20/10/09
      15.   Israel succeeded in hiding the truth. 22:30  |  Ryan 20/10/09
      16.   The list isb a joke & pointless 22:51  |  John Phee 20/10/09
      17.   Israel Did Allow Reporters In Gaza...I think we all know why. 23:16  |  Ed 20/10/09
      18.   The authors of this index are idiots 23:29  |  Darth Zaider (Ed) 20/10/09
      19.   Important as last year`s high school sports lineup 23:56  |  Jasper 20/10/09
      20.   Same old, same old 00:36  |  Apa 21/10/09
      21.   lebanese press... 00:46  |  northern neighbor 21/10/09
      22.   Media 01:42  |  julie 21/10/09
      23.   Hah! So go visit Lebanon and try criticizing Hezbollah! 01:54  |  Dr. L. Brnd 21/10/09
      24.   Seems very political 02:14  |  Dave 21/10/09
      25.   The censorship seems to be working now though 02:25  |  Mark Lincoln 21/10/09
      26.   after Gaza? not every day? 04:46  |  John Spear 21/10/09
      27.   4 Is Lebanon or Kuwait massacring defenseless civilains 04:55  |  lydia 21/10/09
      28.   One incongruity 05:18  |  Colin Wright 21/10/09
      29.   And Still Censoring! 05:29  |  Mark Lincoln 21/10/09
      30.   Y`all remember the guy? 06:38  |  utagawa 21/10/09
      31.   absolute sweden 4 12:38  |  potobac 21/10/09
      32.   To Dr. L. Brnd about criticizing Hezballah 14:01  |  Elie 21/10/09
      33.   And then there`s the feud of Obama and Fox News. 14:57  |  Petra 21/10/09
      34.   And, there`s Obama and Fox News..... 15:08  |  Petra 21/10/09
      35.   # 6 Israel says! 15:16  |  Petra 21/10/09
      36.   How many reporters has Israel killed or injured? 16:09  |  Tcherkessi 21/10/09
      37.   @12 non of the top 20 countries are at war! 11:08  |  Michael 22/10/09
      38.   #37 Exactly: far far away, so war doesn`t have to be won 18:06  |  Another guy 09/11/09
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