Israeli troops attack photographers in West Bank

Released on - Saturday,17 July , 2010 -16:33

Two Palestinian news photographers were hospitalised on Saturday after being attacked by Israeli troops during a weekly protest in the occupied West Bank, one of them said.

An AFP photographer said a soldier hit him in the face and leg with a baton and that another photographer lost his hearing after a stun grenade exploded near his head.

The two were covering a weekly demonstration against Israel's controversial separation barrier attended by dozens of Palestinian, foreign and Israeli activists near the southern West Bank town of Beit Umar, outside of Hebron.

An Israeli military spokesman declined to comment directly on the two journalists being wounded, saying only that security forces had dispersed 40 "rioters" who had entered a closed military zone and thrown rocks at them.

"Anyone who chooses to be present in close proximity to conflict areas or violent incidents does so at his or her own risk," he added.

Weekly demonstrations have multiplied across the West Bank in recent years and frequently see Palestinian youths hurling stones at Israeli troops, who fire tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the gatherings.

The Foreign Press Association on Saturday protested what it called a "recent policy change" by the military and border police.

"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," it said in a statement.

"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 organisation 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," it said.

The group represents most international media outlets operating in Israel and the Palestinian territories, including AFP.