WATCH: Israeli soldiers attack Palestinian, foreign journalists

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

http://972mag.com/watch-israeli-soldiers-attack-cameras-belonging-to-palestinian-foreign-journalists/112049/

I was there covering the clashes that followed the funeral of Ahmad Khatatbeh’s funeral, 26, who died from his wounds after being shot by Israeli soldiers at the Beit Furik military checkpoint last Friday. While I was on air for the Beirut-based Al Quds television station, I noticed two journalists coming from the Israeli side of the checkpoint, where some soldiers tried to stop them.

Suddenly a soldier snatched a camera from one of the journalists’ hands, smashed it on the ground and threw it beside the road. The journalists tried to complain, but the soldiers pushed them back. I couldn’t actually comprehend what I was looking at. I immediately pressed the record button to start documenting; I was sad that I had missed the moment, but it was only the beginning.

While the journalists were on their way back toward the checkpoint, another soldier picked up the camera from the side of the road and smashed it in the middle of the street. Then another soldier decided to follow the journalists in order to confiscate more cameras and equipment from them. He was followed by more soldiers who came to the scene in their military jeep. One of the soldiers managed to snatch another camera and destroyed it immediately. More cameras and equipment were forcefully confiscated.

Several minutes later, one of the journalists tried to get close and collect some of his camera’s wreckage, At this point the soldiers jumped on him pushed him to the ground.

The camera doesn't lie, but I expect some others to come by soon to do just that.

[oberliner]

1. "Disciplinary measures will be taken," IDF Spokesperson Lt. Col. Peter Lerner told the agency

"Disciplinary measures will be taken," IDF Spokesperson Lt. Col. Peter Lerner told the agency, adding that "the highest levels of command are aware of the incident."

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/1.677603

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

2. Suuuuuuuuuuuure they will.

The IDF will get right on that right after they bring the murderers of the Dawabsheh family in.

TY for not failing me.

[oberliner]

3. Hopefully they will

This should be much easier to address than the arson murders since in this case everything that occurred was recorded on camera and everyone involved is easily identifiable.

[King_David]

4. Commander of troops seen attacking foreign journalists removed from post

IDF says West Bank incident considered ‘grave’ and ‘in contravention of code of ethics and professional standards’; probe ongoing

http://www.timesofisrael.com/commander-of-troops-seen-attacking-foreign-journalists-removed-from-post/

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

6. It's always harder to lie for Israel when there's video proof that cannot be destroyed.

Dontcha think?

[oberliner]

5. Israel suspends officer over assault of AFP journalists

Jerusalem (AFP) - The Israeli military has suspended the officer in charge during an incident in the West Bank that saw soldiers assault two AFP journalists, take their equipment and destroy it, the army said.

"The officer in charge of the operations on the ground has been suspended from operational duty until further notice," Lieutenant Colonel Peter Lerner said of the incident on Friday.

Lerner said the move was an immediate step "pending further disciplinary measures" against the officer or other soldiers and that investigations were continuing.

He added that the Israeli military considered it a "grave" incident.

"Lessons from the incident will be learnt and disseminated within the (Israeli army)," Lerner told AFP late on Saturday.

http://news.yahoo.com/israel-suspends-officer-over-assault-afp-journalists-063658420.html