The International Press Institute (IPI) is concerned over the spate of recent press freedom violations reported in Israel and the Palestinian Territories, ranging from the possible prosecution of Haaretz journalist Uri Blau, to the continued detention of Palestinian journalist Nawaf al-Amer, to the reported attacks on journalists by Israeli settlers in the West Bank.

Israeli whistleblower Anat Kamm was sentenced to four-and-a-half years in prison on Sunday 30 October for her role in leaking hundreds of classified documents to Haaretz journalist Uri Blau, reports said. Kamm had obtained the documents while working for the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) in 2007; military service is mandatory for both men and women in Israel.

Her leak led to two investigative stories published in Haaretz magazine in August 2008, according to reports. The documents appear to indicate that the IDF unlawfully approved the targeted killing of Palestinian militants and then contrived to lie to the public about it by claiming that the militants were killed in a gunfight.

Months later, Israeli security services reportedly approached Haaretz about the article. A deal was struck whereby Blau would provide copies of the classified documents, in exchange for a pledge that security would not investigate his sources. Shin Bet then broke its promise, while also failing to fully investigate the crime that the IDF had allegedly committed, Haaretz said in an editorial.

Kamm was placed under house arrest and a media gag order was implemented in late 2009; there was even a gag order on the gag order, reports said, until a bid by Haaretz and Channel 10 to lift the ban was granted by the courts in April 2010.

But even with Kamm behind bars, Blau could now face trial for possession of classified documents without authorisation.

“A journalist’s duty to protect his or her sources is sacred,” said IPI Press Freedom Manager Anthony Mills. “In reporting evidence of alleged illegal activity by IDF officials, Uri Blau was fulfilling his public duty. This is not a crime. If journalists cannot protect their sources it will be more difficult for them to obtain information about crimes committed by officials.”

Last week, on 27 October, an Israeli court also extended the administrative detention of Quds TV journalist Nawaf Al-Amer by another four months, the Palestinian Centre for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA) reported.  Al-Amer has been in detention since June 2011. According to MADA, he has neither been charged with any offence nor has he been told the reason for his imprisonment.

IPI condemns Al-Amer’s continued detention without cause. “If Israel has reason to believe that Nawaf Al-Amer has committed an offence they should reveal this accusation and their evidence, so that he can properly defend himself,” Mills said. “Otherwise, it will continue to appear as though he is being detained because of his work as a journalist for Quds TV, which is affiliated with Hamas.”

MADA further reports that a number of journalists were attacked by Israeli settlers in the West Bank this week.  An Al Jazeera crew filming in Beit Lou was reportedly attacked by settlers on 26 October.  Two days later, journalists covering a weekly demonstration near Hebron were injured when settlers began throwing stones at the protestors. IPI calls for a full investigation into these claims.