Jul. 20, 2004 22:22 Palestinian reporters told to tow the line in Gaza By KHALED ABU TOAMEH
Palestinian journalists have been warned that they must stop covering the street marches held by gunmen and the clashes between rival groups in the Gaza Strip.
The warning was issued by the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate, whose heads are Arafat loyalists, following an emergency meeting to discuss the latest developments. It warned that any reporter or photographer who violates the ban would be punished severely, arguing that the picture of the armed men "led to a negative escalation on the internal front."
The Palestinian journalists were instructed to report only on issues and events "that consolidate the internal front and national unity."
The syndicate said the decision was taken after several Palestinian journalists covering the recent events in the Gaza Strip complained that they had been threatened by the warring parties.
PA officials complained in the past few days that footage documenting the internecine fighting in the Gaza Strip had caused grave damage to the Palestinians. "The pictures from the Gaza Strip are encouraging violence," said one official. "We want to clam the situation; the Palestinian journalists must not play into the hands of the rival groups."
