ISRAEL'S COMMITMENT TO PRESS FREEDOM QUESTIONED AFTER JOURNALIST SHOT

BYEYTAN HALON

 JUNE 8, 2017 10:48

Foreign Press Association: "The case offers an important test of Israel’s commitment to protecting all civilians and ensuring freedom of the press.

The Foreign Press Association (FPA) in Israel on Wednesday called into question Israel's commitment to protecting civilians and ensuring freedom of the press. The FPA's statement follows the wounding of an Associated Press photographer by an Israeli national who opened fire in an act of "self-defense" during a disturbance in the West Bank town of Hawara on May 18.

In the statement, the Board of the FPA called on "the Israeli police and all other relevant authorities to conduct a thorough and timely investigation into the actions of the shooter and to take legal action against him if any wrongdoing is found."

• ‘I saw my life flash before my eyes’

According to the statement, the police were still investigating the matter but concern was expressed over the lack of punishment handed down.

"Instead of any punitive measure being taken, the settler has reportedly received his handgun back, and Israel's deputy defense minister has praised him for shooting a “terrorist who threatened his life,” the statement read. "The case offers an important test of Israel’s commitment to protecting all civilians and ensuring freedom of the press."

http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/Israels-commitment-to-press-freedom-questioned-after-journalist-shot-496220