Soldiers punished for disrupting Palestinian TV report
IDF officers cancel weekend leave of three troops involved, confining them to base for two weeks
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Three Israeli soldiers who disrupted a Palestinian journalist as she reported on camera have been punished by the army for their behavior, receiving a 14-day detention sentence from their commanders.
The decision means the soldiers will be confined to their base and not allowed out on their regularly scheduled leave.
An army spokesman condemned their behavior Tuesday, saying the soldiers did not act “in accordance with IDF guidelines.”
“In light of the event, forces operating in the area were briefed regarding IDF protocol toward the media. The IDF will continue to ensure the freedom of the press in Judea and Samaria,” read a statement from the IDF Spokesmen’s Unit.
A video of the incident, which took place over the weekend, shows reporter Sara Al-Azra apparently finishing an item on what she called “Israel’s racist policy of collective punishment” while three IDF soldiers stand behind her making hand gestures, calling “Allahu Akbar” and saying she’s a liar.
The incident took place near the West Bank village of Abud, close to Ramallah.
The report alleging collective punishment came as Israel prepared to demolish the home of local resident Abdel Rahman Barghouti, who on December 4 stabbed an IDF soldier in the neck, lightly wounding him. Barghouti was shot dead at the scene.
This incident is the not the first in recent months in which IDF soldiers have clashed with media crews in the West Bank. On September 25, a group of Israeli soldiers were filmed seizing and destroying equipment belonging to two AFP journalists. According to the French agency, video journalist Andrea Bernardi was held down on the ground by a soldier, one knee on his chest, until he managed to show his press card. Bernardi suffered bruised ribs and a facial injury.
The commanding officer of the soldiers was removed from his post; as he was due to complete his army service soon after, the military police decided to close the case without pressing charges.
AFP and Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.
The Times of Israel Community.