The number of attacks on journalists continues to rise, but the police have not yet published the refinement of procedures in the field, to which they committed.
The issue came up today (Sunday) in the Economy Committee chaired by MK David Bitan (Likud), which convened to discuss the implementation of the committee's decision on the formulation of a police procedure that would prevent attacks on journalists.
We will remind:
following several incidents of assault and violence against journalists, the Economy Committee convened exactly one year ago to discuss the issue At the discussion, a resolution was passed instructing the Commissioner of Police to formulate a police procedure in consultation with the Press and Communications Council in Israel.
The police replied a month later that they do not find a place to formulate such a procedure.
However, at another hearing that took place about five months later, Committee Chairman Bitan ordered the Israel Police and the Ministry of Justice to meet with representatives of the press and examine the need to amend police procedure. Because the main solution that must be promoted is the creation of a forum that will meet once a month under the leadership of the Israel Police. It was also agreed that the police will re-examine the correction of its procedures. The solutions that were agreed upon have not yet been promoted. Only recently, the journalist Itamar Cohen was attacked at the scene of the attack at the Nablus Gate by a police officer. "B. His hand was broken. In 2023, a total of 61 complaints about attacks on journalists were filed.
David Bitan Chairman of the Economy Committee/Knesset Speakers, Knesset Speakers
MK Bitan:
"We asked to formulate a procedure in the Israel Police together with other authorities.
There is foot-dragging in dealing with attacks on journalists and in formulating a regulated procedure for the Israel Police.
We ask the Israel Police to refine its procedures.
The Ministry of Justice should have supervised along the way the formulation of the appropriate procedure for preventing attacks on journalists in the Israel Police.
I ask the Ministry of Justice to carry out its responsibility and ensure that the Israel Police consolidates its procedure together with the Press Council and the Israel Police.
We dealt with this issue in February '23 and since then we haven't made any progress.
No one from the Israel Police met with retired Judge Meltzer, who heads the Press Council, and I take this seriously." Retired
Supreme Court Judge Hanan Meltzer, President of the Press Council:
"Recently, a journalist named Itamar Cohen, who wanted to cover the attack at the Nablus Gate, was asked to stay away from the scene, and this against to the existing procedure even though he had a journalist certificate.
When he moved away from the scene, police officers arrived who interfered with his work and beat him to the point of breaking his arm. There are journalists who are lying in hospitals following attacks by the public and following attacks by police officers on duty. The police close cases due to lack of evidence and this despite the fact that we provide photographic evidence for each of our complaints. Apart from the procedure in the public court, we will initiate civil proceedings against any policeman who was involved in harassing journalists. I issued letters to all the relevant parties dealing with attacks on journalists and the only one who responded to us was the Chairman of the Economic Committee.
It was agreed that a procedure would be established in cooperation with the Israel Police, and the Commissioner informed us that he would issue a refinement to the guidelines for the handling of journalistic coverage. It turned out to me that the police had not issued the guideline Alia had committed to, and the instructions that the police officers in the field work according to had not been refined. We protect journalists who are attacked from the right and the left."
Former judge Hanan Meltzer, March 29, 2023/Shlomi Gabai
Sen. Attorney Mirit Ben Meur, Head of the Communications Section of the Israel Police:
"The MGB commander immediately ordered the suspension of the work of the policeman who recently beat the journalist Itamar Cohen.
Journalists have a place of honor wherever they are.
We at the police believe in the democratic importance of every coverage in every arena.
We have a procedure in the Investigations Division that states that whenever there is a need to open an investigation against a journalist, it requires the approval of the Police Investigations Division.
In the case of demonstrations, the journalists do not want to operate only in sterile areas.
We brief the police forces in the field on how to behave in the event of attacks on journalists."
Anat Sargosti, the organization of male and female journalists:
"We follow up on all complaints.
In 2022 there were 22 cases of complaints about attacks on journalists, and in 2023 there were 61 complaints of attacks on journalists.
There are quite a few cases in which journalists are attacked by policemen. Journalists end their work day in the emergency room at hospitals while they just want to do their job faithfully for the public. The National Police does not pay enough attention to the work of journalists."
Chairman of the Committee MK Bitan concluded the discussion and said that a follow-up meeting on this issue is scheduled in May.
More on the same topic:
David Bitan
Hanan Meltz
Israel Police
Press Council
Efrat Reitan