Israel a loser in press freedom index
‘Reporters Without Borders’ just released their latest 2009 international index of press freedom. Some of the movers and shakers are no great surprise. Iran has plummeted, but given the repression of human rights post election there, a tightening up of the media was a given.
It always interesting that changes in press freedom rankings reflect political maneuverings in the country. The Israeli press rankings sank post the Gaza War, as the Israeli government denied access to the Gaza during hostilities. It buttoned the Gaza borders tighter than a straight jacket, and that included denying all press access so what happened is more rumor and hasbara than fact even today, which is also why the findings of the UN Goldstone report are even more worrying. When you lock out the press, there is generally a suspicion that the intent is probably not good
The 2009 ranking meant Israeli lost its place as the top country for press freedom in the region, falling behind Kuwait at No. 60, Lebanon at No. 61 and the United Arab Emirates at No. 86.
Israel’s dramatic drop – 47 spots since last year – came as a result of its press regulations dictated to international media during the Gaza offensive earlier this year.
“Israel has begun to use the same methods internally as it does outside its own territory,” said Reporters Without Borders, adding that journalists had been arrested and imprisoned and that military censorship also posed a threat.
But as a result of actions during Israel’s war against Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip in December and January, Reporters Without Borders ranked the country at No. 150 for its “extraterritorial actions.”
“The toll of the war was very heavy. Around 20 journalists in the Gaza Strip were injured by the Israeli military forces and three were killed while covering the offensive,” it said.
Israel ranks low for freedom of press, after Gaza war media ban – Haaretz – Israel News
