IFJ condemns Israeli attack on leaders

BRUSSELS, Nov 17 (KUNA) -- The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) Saturday condemned a tear gas attack today at the Qalandiya checkpoint on its leaders after Israeli soldiers fired on a peaceful assembly demanding the right to freedom of movement for Palestinian journalists.
One member of the IFJ's Executive Committee was injured after being hit on the shoulder and many others were left choking after the attack, the IFJ said in a statement.
In a letter to the Israeli Prime Minister, the IFJ - whose Executive Committee is meeting in Ramallah - has demanded an urgent response to the unprovoked attack on the peaceful demonstration in support of the rights of Palestinian journalists.
The letter said that "after having held a brief press conference the IFJ's global leadership and a number of Palestinian journalists walked peacefully a few hundred metres along the main road towards the Qalandiya checkpoint.
"At about 100 metres from this important entry point to Jerusalem the Israeli army, with no warning and no discussion, fired around 10 tear gas grenades towards the group, injuring one of the members of the IFJ's Executive Committee on the shoulder and causing many others to choke," it said.
"In a peaceful manner and still well within the Palestinian territories the IFJ delegation turned and retraced their steps along the road in a bid to escape the Israeli gas attack," it noted.
"No democratic state worthy of the name can react in this way," stressed the letter.
The IFJ also called for the Israeli authorities to recognise the International Press Card which is recognised by 145 governments worldwide - but not in Israel.
The Brussels-based IFJ represents around 600,000 journalists in 146 countries. (end) nk.hm