RAMALLAH, March 3 (JMCC) - Israeli soldiers have repeatedly harassed Palestinians carrying video cameras supplied by an Israeli human rights organization.
The group, BTselem, has provided Palestinians living in areas of tension in the occupied Palestinian territories with cameras to help them document their lives.
But despite the military's own admission that it is not illegal to film in most areas of the OPT, the human rights cameramen have faced repeatedly army harassment, says BTselem.
In their response to B'Tselem’s repeated complaints about these actions, army officials stated that there is no law prohibiting filming, including during operational activity, and that filming is forbidden only if its aim is to obtain confidential information or if it disturbs ongoing army activity. They also pointed out that the forces serving in the field have been given explicit directives regarding the matter.
Despite these clear statements, we find that, again and again, B'Tselem’s workers and volunteers are harmed while documenting human rights violations. This indicates a gap between the army’s official policy, which is presented to the world, and the actions of the forces in the field. It also shows that the army is not doing enough to explain to soldiers that it is forbidden to harm persons who are filming.
Watch the military harassment on JMCC.org...