Israeli bill aimed at curbing press freedom faces backlash

The bill tabled in Israel's parliament aims at banning the filming of Israeli soldiers in combat situations


News Desk May 30, 2018
The proposed bill has also been backed by Israeli defence minister Avigdor Liebermann PHOTO: REUTERS

A bill was proposed in Israel’s parliament (Knesset) last Thursday, banning and criminalising the filming of Israeli soldiers in combat situations.

The proposed bill received severe criticism in Palestinian journalistic circles, Al Jazeera reported.

The Palestinian Journalists’ union reacted to the bill by terming it ‘racist’.

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While the Palestinian Journalist Syndicate (PJS) claims that the proposed bill will legitimise Israel’s aggressive territorial expansion in Palestinian territories, and conceal warcrimes being committed by Israeli soldiers.

The PJS condemned the bill as a ploy to curb the press freedom in its statement, adding that “it is an attempt to escape punishment and international justice.”

The proposed bill has also been backed by Israel Defence Minister Avigdor Liebermann.

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According to the bill, anyone filming, photographing or recording Israeli soldiers on duty, with the intention of sabotaging their spirit will face an imprisonment sentence of five years.

Israeli authorities claim that the bill is designed to protect on-duty soldiers, providing them with optimal and safe conditions to perform their duty, without having to worry about being monitored or recorded.

The bill was also condemned by Israeli Haaretz daily which in an editorial claimed, that the public has a right to know the activities the Israeli military engages in, during its military operations in Palestinian territories.

The PSJ has appealed to the United Nations and international press freedom institutions to exert pressure on Israel to abide by international laws and press freedom conventions.

This story originally appeared in Al Jazeera

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