Israeli Journalists Shun Settlers Over Sham News Crews

Israeli journalists said today they will refuse to report on Jewish settlers in the occupied territories after some settlers pretended to be correspondents by putting press signs on their vehicles.

Ronnie Shaked, head of Israeli journalists covering the West Bank and Gaza Strip, said correspondents have been put in greater danger in covering the 15-month-old uprising because Palestinians now doubt the identity of real journalists.

Militant settlers traveling in vans bearing press signs clashed several times with Palestinians last week.

“Lately everyone wants to be a journalist. The police disguised as journalists. Now the settlers put up the press signs and in the name of journalism carry out activities no journalist would,” Shaked said.