Journalists Under Israeli Security Scrutiny -Report
Wed November 5, 2003 08:50 AM ET
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - The Israeli government has submitted the names of thousands of journalists for scrutiny by the secret service under new rules for press accreditation, a local newspaper reported Wednesday. Danny Seaman, head of the government press office, declined to comment on the report published in the Haaretz newspaper. Seaman said Monday reporters would not be subject to security clearance until the start of next year.
Israel's Foreign Press Association has protested the security scrutiny as "an utter violation of freedom of the press," and national press groups have also voiced opposition.
Seaman had told Reuters that Israeli and foreign journalists seeking government accreditation would undergo security checks due to mounting security concerns arising from a three-year-old Palestinian uprising. Previously most cards have been issued without review.
About 15,000 journalists currently holding government-issued press cards will have to produce a lawyer's affidavit and pay a fee for a press pass.
Seaman, whose bureau began denying permits to Palestinian journalists last year citing security concerns, said the names of both Israeli and foreign journalists would not be handed over to the Shin Bet, Israel's internal security agency, until January 1.
But Haaretz, citing sources in the press office, said the press office has already turned over the names of thousands of Israeli journalists. The sources said the Shin Bet so far has found none of the reporters to be "problematic."
Seaman had said credentials would be denied only in instances where a journalist is proved to be "a clear and present danger to the public or (have) involvement with a terrorist organization."
The Foreign Press Association issued a statement Monday condemning the plans as "an utter violation of freedom of the press," in that Israeli authorities would be given "unreasonable veto power" to decide who can serve as a foreign correspondent.
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