Outrage over beating of two Palestinian journalists by Israeli soldiers

Reporters Without Borders today voiced its outrage at the violent beating which two clearly identified Palestinian journalists received from Israeli soldiers late last night in Bethlehem. One of the journalists sustained an injury to his right hand that will prevent him from working for some time. Calling it "a gratuitous physical attack," Reporters Without Borders secretary-general Robert Ménard said, "Israeli soldiers must learn the difference between a beating and an ID check that respects journalists' freedom of movement and dignity." Ménard said last night's events were not as serious as the killing of two journalists - Nazeh Darwazi and James Miller - by the Israeli army in two separate incidents last month. "But they are no less revealing of the intimidation that journalists systematically receive from Israeli soldiers in the Palestinian Territories," he added. The victims of last night's beating were Joseph Handal, 27, a cameraman with the French public TV station France 2, and Chaaban Qandel, 21, a cameraman with Arab Network News. They were driving along Bethlehem's main road at around midnight in a car marked "press" and covered with "TV" stickers when they were stopped by a group of at least four Israeli soldiers, who hit them and threw them to the ground. Although the cameramen protested that they were journalists and showed their press cards, the soldiers continued to beat with great force. Both were treated in the Beit Jala hospital, Handal for a double fracture to his right hand.