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Last update - 23:45 02/11/2009
'I have no proof the IDF harvests Palestinians' organs'
By Gili Izikovich, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Sweden newspaper article 

A Swedish journalist who caused outrage in Israel with allegations that Israel Defense Forces soldiers harvested organs of dead Palestinians and trafficked in them defended his article on Monday to a largely hostile audience in Dimona.

Speaking at a media conference, where he was frequently interrupted by hecklers, Donald Bostrom admitted he had no proof beyond the allegations of the families of Palestinians killed by the Israeli army.

Bostrom wrote at article in Sweden's Aftonbladet tabloid in August citing Palestinians who accused the IDF of harvesting the organs of killed Palestinians and selling them.
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His interviewer, Israeli television presenter Yair Lapid, questioned Bostrom's journalistic ethics and accused him of being an anti-Semite "because you are willing to believe the Israeli government would take part in such atrocities."

Bostrom said, "In Sweden, like myself ... we strongly support Israel's right to exist in peace. If you violate the rules ... we have a tradition to criticize."

"The fact is that the families said what they said. That's a normal article," Bostrom said.

"If you are a journalist, you always interview, ask questions, and get answers. Organ trafficking is a global problem," he said.

The article, around which there was "much misunderstandings," only stated the Palestinian families' repeated allegations need to be investigated, he said.

He said Israel had investigated previous cases in which the Abu Kabir Institute of Forensic Medicine was accused of improper conduct and his article was an attempt to push "further investigation of the Palestinian allegations."

The idea for the story came from UN officials who brought the Palestinian complaints to his attention, he said.

Bostrom commended the organizers for inviting him and giving him a chance to defend his work in Israel.

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      1.   another Goldstone report: accusations without proof 23:43  |  Avi 02/11/09
      2.   Evidence has never been an issue for Palestinians 00:36  |  ankhfnkhonsu 03/11/09
      3.   Freedom of Speech!!! 00:48  |  Rambo 03/11/09
      4.   The IDF hasn`t provided any proof 00:56  |  Chris Linthwaite 03/11/09
      5.   Well he used the same technique Goldy used: ask Pals to testify 00:59  |  What a joke 03/11/09
      6.   Pals also said Hamas was not shooting from civilian homes in Gaza 01:03  |  and your point is? 03/11/09
      7.   Well it seems that there is Evidence Haaretz 01:30  |  Marc Leb 03/11/09
      8.   The U.N. gave him the idea -- quel surprise 01:50  |  T. Traub 03/11/09
      9.   DID not stop anti semites around the world using it as fact 01:51  |  PETER SM 03/11/09
      10.   Bostrom interview 02:05  |  David Segal 03/11/09
      11.   GOOD JOURNALISM 03:11  |  RUMPLESTILTSKIN 03/11/09
      12.   misleading title - no proof beyond testimonies 03:12  |  mike 03/11/09
      13.   put an egg on his face and send him home 03:16  |  dude 03/11/09
      14.   Bostrom sounds less professional and ... 03:17  |  Jasper 03/11/09
      15.   Same old same old 05:09  |  alan the real one 03/11/09
      16.   kidneys for sale 05:14  |  bob 03/11/09
      17.   Bostrom is an opportunist. 05:34  |  Fortuna Benmayor 03/11/09
      18.   gideon levy and bostrom PLAY hogwash SOFTBALL 05:39  |  CK Tan 03/11/09
      19.   Swedish journalist harvests and publishes unproven allegations. 05:41  |  Michael J 03/11/09
      20.   If no prove, why than.. 07:57  |  Michael Dar 03/11/09
      21.   Hogwash 08:39  |  shtarka 03/11/09
      22.   Does Bostrom understand? 08:50  |  shtarka 03/11/09
      23.   @CK Tan 09:24  |  Ralph 03/11/09
      24.   the truth is so obvious 09:26  |  bytheway 03/11/09
      25.   Sweden 09:27  |  Jochai Rubinstein 03/11/09
      26.   "The Messiah has come" 09:54  |  Paul 03/11/09
      27.   Why not investigate the allegations? 11:22  |  Paul 03/11/09
      28.   RAMBO freedom of speech came to a screeching halt in Sweden 12:02  |  PETER SM 03/11/09
      29.   4 Chris Linthwaite 13:35  |  Matthew 03/11/09
      30.   proof 13:57  |  Yaron 03/11/09
      31.   PR 14:07  |  OZ 03/11/09
      32.   Lint Wit: Lame Accusation 14:22  |  Ely Melekh 03/11/09
      33.   Paul - every allegation cannot be investigated 17:36  |  David Israel 03/11/09
      34.   Swede Admits story is fabricated 19:30  |  Baruch Gold 03/11/09
      35.   But he had MASSIVE proof the allegation wasn`t true 22:56  |  Dr. L. Brnd 03/11/09
      36.   when organ trafficking is a global problem... 23:08  |  saul a. readner 03/11/09
      37.   Linthwaite: IDF guilty until proven innocent? 00:32  |  Lee 04/11/09
      38.   chris linthwaite, #4 00:32  |  citizen zero 04/11/09
      39.   Bostrom: Why not print any unproven accusations that people make? 00:36  |  Lee 04/11/09
      40.   baruch gold 34 00:54  |  potobac 04/11/09
      41.   Not having proof is sufficient reason not to write... 07:02  |  Esther 04/11/09
      42.   Paul 26, 27 11:49  |  Matthew 04/11/09
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