Subscribe to Print Edition | Sat., May 17, 2008 Iyyar 12, 5768 | | Israel Time: 04:17 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Peres Conference Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Last update - 18:19 15/05/2008 Reuters demands explanation from Israel for death of cameramen By Reuters Tags: Israel, IDF, Gaza Strip  A month after journalist Fadel Shana was killed by an Israel Defense Forces tank crew in the Gaza Strip, Reuters renewed its demand on Thursday for a prompt explanation from the Israeli army of why it fired on its cameraman. Shana, a 24-year-old Palestinian, was killed on April 16 along with eight mostly teenage bystanders by darts known as flechettes that burst out of a tank shell in mid-air. Shana had been filming about 1.5 km (a mile) from two Israeli tanks. The IDF army said it had completed an initial field investigation that had determined the soldiers had followed orders and acted appropriately. But military lawyers still had to study the case before the army could give a full account. Advertisement "A month has passed since Fadel Shana was killed by Israeli forces while responsibly going about his professional duties," said Reuters Middle East Managing Editor Mark Thompson. "We urge the IDF to release its report on the incident now so that media organizations and the military can cooperate on ways to ensure journalists can continue to cover this conflict." Independent investigators commissioned by Reuters have prepared their own preliminary report on the incident, which raises serious questions over why the tank opened fire. A spokeswoman for the IDF, Major Avital Leibovich, said: "We are working as quickly as possible to complete the investigation at all levels." The IDF's Advocate General's office, the military judiciary, was now looking at a field-level inquiry which, she said, had already concluded the soldiers had done no wrong. Confirming that the tank crews involved had not been suspended and were still operating around the Gaza Strip, Leibovich said: "They acted according to their orders. "This is the conclusion of the field level investigation." She added: "We can say for sure that the soldiers weren't able to detect that it was a member of the press. The IDF has no intention of targeting press people." Both Shana and soundman Wafa Abu Mizyed, who was wounded in the wrist, were wearing blue body armour bearing the word "Press" on fluorescent strips. Their vehicle also bore "TV" and "Press" markings. They had been working in open view, on a quiet road off Gaza's main highway for some time before the tank is seen opening fire in the final moments of Shana's videotape. Media groups operating in the Palestinian enclave have been urging the Israeli military to improve troops' awareness of the presence of journalists and to coordinate where possible. Rejecting a request that IDF officers relay information to field commanders from journalists about their movements in Gaza to avoid media crews being inadvertently targeted, the army said in a statement last week: "There will be no coordination of press movement and activity in the areas of IDF operations" Bookmark to del.icio.us   Animated massacre Animated Israeli film at Cannes explores Sabra and Shatila massacre. Kowtowing to funders When papers are sponsored, can their reporting be truly independent?   1.   Dangers of Field Journalism 18:42  |  Straight Talk 15/05/08   2.   The numbers keep go up 18:46  |  Gee 15/05/08   3.   Reuters demands. 18:48  |  David Nigel Braham 15/05/08   4.   Demand? 18:49  |  Arie 15/05/08   5.   An insight into IDF investigations 18:58  |  Palestinian in UK 15/05/08   6.   I demand an explanation for biased Reuters Israel coverage 19:10  |  McQueen 15/05/08   7.   Israel makes no explainations for the people they kill 19:45  |  Natallie Durson 15/05/08   8.   Reuters I would like an explanation for two photographs 19:56  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 15/05/08   9.   fauxtography? 20:03  |  Robin 15/05/08   10.   Nothing to investigate. Hamas uses them as journalist shields. 20:15  |  Genuine Tosefta 15/05/08   11.   Hamas/Fatah have not shown the result of their investigations eve 20:18  |  Genuine Tosefta 15/05/08   12.   Reuters` demands 20:21  |  Paul van Gool 15/05/08   13.   Since when do you kill a possible lier? # 4 20:39  |  Rafa 15/05/08   14.   Cold Blooded Murder 20:52  |  Sam 15/05/08   15.   Please Do Not Pay Attention to the MEDIA 21:02  |  FOX 15/05/08   16.   And yet - other IDF investigations #5 21:14  |  William 15/05/08   17.   Natallie#7 - unlike Arabs 21:16  |  William 15/05/08   18.   Margie in TA - Reuters photoshopped pictures 21:19  |  William 15/05/08   19.   pal uk 21:24  |  marc 15/05/08   20.   Here`s the explanation: 21:41  |  Catholic Israeli 15/05/08   21.   Margie 21:42  |  Palestinian Brit 15/05/08   22.   Here`s the explanation: 21:43  |  Catholic Israeli 15/05/08   23.   Rafa...normal for? 21:45  |  Palestinian Brit 15/05/08   24.   We will keep murdering journalists 21:51  |  Genuine Tosefta 15/05/08   25.   We will keep murdering journalists in cold blood 21:58  |  Genuine Tosefta 15/05/08   26.   Pal Brit 22:11  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 15/05/08   27.   Margie in TA, I regretfully agree with Palestinian Brit 22:26  |  Mark B. 15/05/08   28.   "The IDF has no intention of targeting press people." 22:46  |  Colin Wright 15/05/08   29.   Reuters demands 22:47  |  Connie 15/05/08   30.   I demand Reuters explanations for all of this 23:16  |  Red Feather 15/05/08   31.   We demand an explanation from Reuters 23:22  |  Pictures are fake 15/05/08   32.   Mark B 23:25  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 15/05/08   33.   #8 Margie in TA 23:27  |  Boycott 15/05/08   34.   We IDF do have the intention of targeting journalists 23:33  |  Genuine Tosefta 15/05/08   35.   Mark B 3rd time lucky, Haaretz? 23:34  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 15/05/08   36.   It`s good to be honest # 24 23:57  |  Rafa 15/05/08   37.   #1 Straight Talk 00:28  |  MR 16/05/08   38.   So Sad 00:51  |  Denise 16/05/08   39.   IDF = war criminals 01:19  |  Historian 16/05/08   40.   The Were Following Orders, And Orders Were to Kill the Reporter 01:37  |  Johan Odin 16/05/08   41.   suedo palastinian in uk 03:40  |  scott 16/05/08   42.   That`s right, we had orders to kill Arab Terrorist members of Ham 04:05  |  Genuine Tosefta 16/05/08   43.   We are war criminals eliminating Jihadi destroyers of humanity 04:08  |  Genuine Tosefta 16/05/08   44.   He was not going responsibly 04:29  |  TOMY 16/05/08   45.   Reuter was cought many times fixing 04:32  |  TOMY 16/05/08   46.   What do they think they are? 05:12  |  Eugenio 16/05/08   47.   That`s right, we had orders to kill Arab Terrorist members of Ham 05:15  |  Genuine Tosefta 16/05/08   48.   That`s right, we had orders to kill Arab Terrorist members of Ham 05:15  |  Genuine Tosefta 16/05/08   49.   That`s right, we had orders to kill Arab Terrorist members of Ham 05:16  |  Genuine Tosefta 16/05/08   50.   @"Historian": They start wars & we are the war criminals?! 05:18  |  A Life 16/05/08   51.   Reuters "demands" 05:23  |  Joe 16/05/08

Read & React Israel protests UN chief Ban Ki-Moon's use of term 'nakba' Responses: 422 PMO: U.S., Israel see need for 'tangible action' on Iran nukes Responses: 130 Shmuel Rosner: Bush, Obama and the 'appeasement' jibe Responses: 90 Bin Laden vows to 'fight' Israel for Palestinian land Responses: 201 Sultan al-Qassemi: Arab Jews should be welcomed back in their ancestral homes Responses: 128 Rosner's Domain Bush should be measured by the yardstick he prescribed to Obama The greatest achievement and failure of the Jewish people Is Obama a Carter or a Chomsky? (WTR) Poll: Was Bush attacking Obama? Does McCain wants to talk to Hamas? (WTR) More Headlines 02:00 Report: Police to confront Olmert with new evidence 01:44 Obama says Bush policies strengthened Iran, Hamas 23:53 Bush offers Saudis nuclear power in exchange for more oil 13:20 Bin Laden vows to 'fight' Israel for Palestinian land 21:16 The enemies within 17:09 New York Muslim leader forges close ties with city's Jews 21:12 Green giant 09:07 Was Bush's Knesset speech a swipe at Obama? 13:10 PMO: U.S., Israel see need for 'tangible action' on Iran nukes 21:50 Man suspected of stabbing wife, leaving her moderately wounded 14:09 Hamas: Inclusion of Shalit in truce deal must be on our terms 18:20 ANALYSIS: Who wants to stop Iran? Previous Editions Select Day 16 may 15 may 14 may 13 may 12 may 11 may 09 may 08 may 07 may 06 may 05 may 04 may

Special Offers Advertisement Dead Sea Products Buy Dead Sea mineral skin care and beauty products. Coupon code Haaretz for 10% off. The Terraces Your Ultimate Coastal Address On Nitza Boulevard, North Netanya Together Celebrating Israel's 60th The Jewish Agency and You - together making history Pardes Institute Summer Sessions http://www.pardes.org.il/ Free the Palestinians from: Corrupt Kleptocracy, Tyrannical Theocracy, Abysmal Anarchy Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel.