Jerusalem – The Israeli military said Saturday that soldiers caught on camera assaulting a pair of Agence France-Presse journalists will face “disciplinary measures.”
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The military said a preliminary review of the incident indicated “forces operated in contradiction to procedures and in violation of standing orders” regarding how to deal with the press.
The Foreign Press Association says that while covering a West Bank protest on Friday an AFP photographer and cameraman were beaten by Israeli troops in an “unprovoked attack.”
It says soldiers pointed weapons at them and punched and threw one of them to the ground. Their equipment was also destroyed, causing thousands of dollars in damage. Part of the incident was caught on camera and distributed online.
The army has a long history of ignoring complaints of alleged violence against journalists, especially when Palestinian journalists have been involved. But there have been incidents in which soldiers were punished when abuses were caught on camera.