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del.icio.us Digg It!  new Last update - 17:22 07/12/2007 IDF troops briefly detain two journalists at West Bank protest By The Associated Press Tags: Israel, West Bank  Two journalists covering a West Bank protest for the international media were arrested Friday by Israel Defense Forces troops, and were released three hours later. The two Palestinian cameramen, one an employee of The Associated Press and the other of Reuters, were detained by soldiers during a Palestinian protest against Israel's West Bank separation barrier near the town of Bethlehem, said Eyad Mograbi, the AP staffer. Advertisement The Reuters cameraman is Muhammad Abu Ganiyeh. The IDF said the two participated in the protest, which included blocking a road, and had pushed and directed verbal abuse at soldiers before they were detained. Mograbi denied the allegations. Soldiers did not know the two were journalists because they did not have Israeli press accreditation, the military said. Palestinian journalists are not eligible for Israeli press cards. The two were taken for questioning at an police station, where a complaint will be filed against them, police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said. The soldiers who detained them were also giving testimony, he said. The Tel-Aviv-based Foreign Press Association, which represents foreign media covering Israel and the Palestinian territories, condemned what it called the harassment of journalists, and disputed the military's claims that the cameramen took part in the demonstration and obstructed troops. "We urge the relevant authorities to allow journalists to cover these sorts of events without interference," the FPA said in a statement. "The construction of the barrier remains an important story and coverage of demonstrations against it is entirely legitimate." The rally at Um Salmona is a weekly event organized to protest the construction of the separation fence, which cuts off Bethlehem from some of its suburbs. Israel says the barrier's stated purpose of keeping out Palestinian attackers has been largely achieved, with suicide bombings in Israel sharply down in recent years. But the Palestinians complain it usurps large swaths of lands they want as part of a future state, while cutting off people from livelihoods, relatives, schools and medical services on the Israeli side of the barrier. Friction between the army and journalists covering the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is common. Media advocacy groups have often complained of journalists being wounded or detained by IDF troops. Related articles: UN: West Bank fence severs Palestinans farmers from fields Hamas forces attempt to arrest prominent Gaza journalist Palestinian journalists slam use of 'TV' vehicle in Gaza attack Bookmark to del.icio.us Foreign correspondents Police probe 3 Israeli journalists suspected of unauthorized travel to enemy states. Petrol protest Gaza gas station owners refuse to accept reduced fuel supplies from Israel.   1.   "Palestinian journalists are not eligible for Israeli press cards 15:02  |  POP 07/12/07   2.   Cameramen arrested 15:12  |  Palestinian Brit 07/12/07   3.   Pop, if I may have a word.... 16:22  |  Teresa-Maria (Tess) 07/12/07   4.   END The Attacks On Journalists/Freedom Of The Press! 17:10  |  Proud Pal Defender 07/12/07   5.   #2 Palestinian Brit 17:13  |  * BEN JABO 07/12/07   6.   Journalists detained. 17:27  |  David Nigel Braham 07/12/07   7.   MAKE A DECISION 17:30  |  Brant 07/12/07   8.   Brant... 17:53  |  Teresa-Maria (Tess) 07/12/07   9.   umm what did hamas do in gaza?? 18:01  |  vik 07/12/07   10.   #4 PPD 18:08  |  * BEN JABO 07/12/07   11.   HAARETZ 18:12  |  DANNY. 07/12/07   12.   Footage Should be Released, Too 18:19  |  Mark of Lewiston 07/12/07   13.   Vik - Aspiring to be like Hamas? 18:54  |  Mark of Lewiston 07/12/07   14.   Nazi and Japan "journalists" did not get US press cards in 1943 18:59  |  Dr. L. Brnd 07/12/07   15.   Ben Jabo - 19:04  |  Palestinian Brit 07/12/07   16.   David Nigel.... 19:10  |  Palestinian Brit 07/12/07   17.   Local photographers for International agencies 19:45  |  H.H.M 07/12/07   18.   Mark of Lewiston 20:52  |  vik 07/12/07   19.   #18 Delusional Vik - Seek Professional Help 21:17  |  chet 07/12/07   20.   9 & 18 Vik - You Seem Confused 22:01  |  Mark of Lewiston 07/12/07   21.   #15 Palestinian Brit 22:45  |  * BEN JABO 07/12/07   22.   #17 H.H.M. Jerusalem 22:49  |  * BEN JABO 07/12/07   23.   Bethlehemite Christians 23:09  |  Palestinian Brit 07/12/07   24.   Keep Up The Wall 23:32  |  akiva (zionist) 07/12/07   25.   mark since when does footage mean anything to you? 23:56  |  vik 07/12/07   26.   #23 2ND TRY Palestinian Brit 00:24  |  * BEN JABO 08/12/07   27.   Teresa Maria. Chompsky? Finkelstein? What fine examples! 01:16  |  Jake 08/12/07   28.   Proud Pal Defender touts "freedom of the press" 01:21  |  Jake 08/12/07   29.   #23 TH IRD TRY - Palestinian Brit 02:37  |  * BEN JABO 08/12/07   30.   Stop the terror = no need for fence 03:14  |  Free Gilad Shalit 08/12/07   31.   25 Vik - Group Branding is Wrong 03:55  |  Mark of Lewiston 08/12/07   32.   #30 Mark of Lewiston 05:31  |  * BEN JABO 08/12/07   33.   Ben Jabo 09:19  |  Palestinian Brit 08/12/07   34.   Local photographers 09:25  |  Palestinian Brit 08/12/07   35.   #33 Palestinian Brit 11:36  |  * BEN JABO 08/12/07   36.   #34 Palestinian Brit 11:39  |  * BEN JABO 08/12/07   37.   Jake, 12:40  |  Teresa-Maria (Tess) 08/12/07

Today Online Bradley's Burston: Self Test: Are you a fanatic on the Middle East? Responses: 124 Rice warns Israel against East J'lem construction Responses: 242 Defense officials: Hamas upgraded Qassam arsenal Responses: 224 Magnate in U.K. scandal: I feared charges of a 'Jewish conspiracy' Responses: 103 Yoel Marcus: Olmert wants to leave his mark as a PM with a peace agenda Responses: 61 Rosner's Domain The attack on Hanukkah (WTR) The NIE and the freedom to grumble Poll: Do you trust the new intelligence on Iran? Israel Factor: Yes to Rudy, no to Mideast mediation More Headlines 10:06 U.S. Defense Sec.: Gulf nations must band together to counter Iran 12:39 Housing Min.: There's no reason to cease E. Jerusalem construction 12:17 Report: Hamas wants ceasefire with Israel in the Gaza Strip 08:26 Magnate in U.K. scandal: I feared charges of a 'Jewish conspiracy' 08:29 Poll: Few West Bank settlers willing to leave homes for cash 19:08 Thousands come to J'lem to protest plans to divide capital 17:41 Muslim religious heads from Indonesia pay a rare public visit to Israel 20:27 Arab League head urges world to increase aid to Palestinians 17:16 Palestinians: IDF soldiers kill Gaza farmer near Israel border 17:22 IDF troops briefly detain two journalists at West Bank protest Previous Editions Select Day 07 dec 06 dec 05 dec 04 dec 03 dec 02 dec 30 nov 29 nov 28 nov 27 nov 26 nov 25 nov

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