GPO chief: Foreign media coverage in Gaza 'a disgrace to the profession

[DogPoundPup]

Branding foreign journalists "spoiled crybabies" unwilling to make "a little effort" to get into Gaza during Operation Cast Lead, Government Press Office head Danny Seaman denied Sunday there had been any ban on their entry into the Strip during the battle.

Foreign Press Association Chairman Steve Gutkin disputed this, telling the The Jerusalem Post that the association was still pursuing its petition with the High Court of Justice to arrange regular access.

"There was no ban," Seaman declared, "Israel did not want to endanger the lives of the workers at the crossings so we didn't open them, not for humanitarian reasons and not for foreign journalists."

"Those spoiled crybabies just didn't want to put a little effort in ," he said "We never arrested anyone who went in, nor are we running after them now," which proves that it wasn't an actual Israeli policy.

more ... http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1232643746482&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

[EFerrari]

1. I guess all those people like Nick Robertson were just lying, then.

[Idealism]

2. If there was no ban on journalists in Gaza

why did the Israeli High Court overturn a law barring journalists from entering? Why did Israel then continue to ignore that decision, citing "safety concerns," if there was no ban?

[Chulanowa]

3. Shh shh shh!

Don't bring facts and logic to the Israel-Palestine forum!

[oberliner]

5. Of course journalists were not allowed in

But there were also some who were already in Gaza, reporting.

[Idealism]

6. The article stated there was no ban

or at least, quoted that.

The ban seems to be on the truth, as both sides will report their bias. In the war of the airwaves, Israel is clearly dominating.

[oberliner]

7. Well the article is RW silliness

Pretty weak argument being made if you ask me.

[DogPoundPup]

8. What is this sillyness with your Right Wing silliness?

What is that supposed to mean exactly? It's getting tiresome..AS IF Israels policies didn't coincide with Bush's right wing policies for the last 8 years. Even longer perhaps, under the Clinton prez as well!

[oberliner]

9. I am saying that the Jpost article is silly

The interviewee seems to be playing word games to somehow claim that there was not a ban on journalists entering Gaza when it sure seems like there was.

[DogPoundPup]

10. Israel said they weren't using white phospherous too, till they admitted they did

No 'silliness' is too silly I guess until they get caught.

[oberliner]

11. Glad they admitted it

Sometimes those internal inquiries actually yield results.

[DogPoundPup]

12. internal what? LOL how about video proof displayed on YouTube!

[oberliner]

13. There is a lot of BS on Youtube - an internal inquiry seems more worthwhile

Under review by Israeli officer Colonel Shai Alkalai is the use of white phosphorus by a reserve paratroop brigade in northern Israel. According to army sources, the brigade fired up to 20 phosphorus shells into a heavily built-up area around the township of Beit Lahiya.

The internal inquiry — which the army says does not have the status of a full investigation demanded by human rights groups such as Amnesty International — follows weeks of fighting in which Israel either denied outright that it was using phosphorus weapons or insisted that the munitions it was using were in line with international law.

http://www.theage.com.au/world/israel-investigates-phosphorus-claim-20090122-7nw6.html

[DogPoundPup]

14. oh geez ...

here's a website for you ...

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0901/S00499.htm

[oberliner]

15. Thanks - very interesting

Have you signed that petition?

[DogPoundPup]

16. Did I sign the petition? Well, I'll tell you.

I signed the petition.

No, I didn't sign the petition.

I signed it.

Really, I didn't sign it.

My left wing side signed it, but my right wing side erased the signing, and on and on and on .....

:hi:

[oberliner]

17. That is very clever

Thanks for the laugh!

[DogPoundPup]

4. Last update - 25/01/2009 Court to state: Let foreign media into Gaza when borders open-Haaretz

The Supreme Court on Sunday ordered the government to allow free access to Gaza for foreign correspondents, rejecting a ban imposed even before the recent Israeli offensive there.

The ruling came in response to an appeal by the Foreign Press Association, representing reporters based in Israel and the Palestinian areas, to overturn the ban.

more ... http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1058574.html