Palestinian Threats Against Journalists

American Jewish Committee
Friday, 14 September 2001

The American Jewish Committee today called "outrageous and despicable" the Palestinian Authority's threats against an Associated Press photographer who filmed thousands of Palestinians in Nablus celebrating Tuesday's devastating terror attacks in New York and Washington.

"Palestinian Authority intimidation of foreign journalists working in areas under Palestinian control is all too common, but only rarely revealed," said David A. Harris, executive director of the American Jewish Committee.

"Thanks to the courage of the Associated Press bureau chief, we now know that the Palestinian Authority threatened to harm an AP photographer if he distributed his videotape of the several thousand Palestinians in Nablus celebrating the terror attacks in the U.S," Mr. Harris said.

"The incident was reminiscent of the nearly successful effort by Palestinian officials to prevent foreign journalists from filming the horrific lynching of two Israeli soldiers in Ramallah last October. One Italian camera crew was able to evade the Palestinian clampdown and smuggle out a film which was later broadcast around the world."

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