Response to FPA Condemnation of Israel
(Communicated by the Israel Government Press Office)
Tuesday, 29 June, 2004

We find the Foreign Press Association in Israel's condemnation of the State
of Israel puzzling, hypocritical and pretentious.

Puzzling, since if there were no persons present in the building attacked,
in what way does the FPA consider this "callous disregard for the life and
security of journalists."?

Hypocritical, because the FPA has repeatedly demanded that the State of
Israel not prevent the entry of journalists into Gaza, despite it being an
area of conflict and regardless of the obvious dangers to the journalists
themselves.

Pretentious, since if members of the press are going to involve themselves
in business relations with elements known to have connections with - and in
service of - terrorist organizations, one would expect them to also assess
the risks involved with such a venture.

Furthermore, while we realize that Israel's considerations may not always be
clear to the FPA, the assessment of our security forces as to the proportion
of the threat posed was accurate and valid.

Finally, we are rather curious as to whether the FPA will also protest the
reckless behavior of the Hamas, whose indiscriminate shelling of Sderot must
certainly be endangering the many journalists who are there today.