17 Israeli attacks on journalists in January

A statistical report issued Monday by the Government Information Office on the state of media freedom in the Palestinian territories indicates that Israeli occupation forces assaulted journalists and media personnel in the Palestinian territories 17 times in January 2013.  These assaults included beatings, arrests and shootings, according to a report on the findings from the Middle East Monitor. The Middle East Monitor reported that the analysis shows the occupation's increased aggression against Palestinian journalists and reporters working in the Palestinian territories, especially in the West Bank and occupied Jerusalem. The most prominent attacks against journalists were during the Israeli raid on the village of "Bab Al-Shams" east of Jerusalem. Bab Al-Shams was established by Palestinian and international activists on land that is threatened with seizure in order to build one of the largest Israeli settlement projects. The report also noted that the occupation arrested the journalist Anan Samir Ajjawi, 28, from the town of Ajjah, south of Jenin, as he returned from Egypt through the Karama Crossing. They also arrested journalist and researcher at the Wadi Hilweh Information Center, Mahmoud Qarain, during his coverage of the demolition of homes and the bulldozing of land in the town of Silwan in Jerusalem.  Occupation forces are currently detaining 5 journalists from various news outlets.