The dispute over the the journalists global union federation expelling their Israeli sisters and brothers continues to attract a lot of attention in cyberspace. For the 2nd day in a row the International Federation of Journalists have issued a statement to explain their position. Their statement follows.
Meanwhile, a spokesman for the Israeli journalists tells TULIP: “By accepting the boycott on Israel without a word of protest the IFJ is moving away from the role that we hoped to see happen - that of a professional go between that makes bridges between journalists from Israel and the Arab world. Instead the IFJ is now part of the trend to push Israelis out of international events and frameworks, to brand us in a negative way… This is a sad irony - because by any comparison the Israeli press is an example of free and biting voice in a democratic society. Instead of turning us into a model to the professional journalists in the region - the IFJ is leading the effort to isolate us.”
One early result of this expulsion is that the Jordanian Press Association (JPA) has been given the green light to bar Israel from attending an International Federation of Journalists meeting in Amman, Jordan, scheduled for October. The JPA trade union opposed the conclusion of the peace treaty between Jordan and Israel in 1994 and still disapproves of all normalisation steps.
On 7 June 2009 the IFJ Executive Committee at its meeting in Oslo, Norway, agreed unanimously to expel the National Federation of Israel Journalists from membership of the IFJ. The IFJ wrote to the NFIJ confirming the decision and offering them the opportunity to appeal the decision which can be heard at the Congress of the IFJ in Spain in May 2010.
A Financial Decision, not a Political Decision
The decision to expel the NFIJ was based upon financial matters alone. There was no political element in the decision. It was taken unanimously.
The NFIJ has not paid any fees to the IFJ for more than five years. (The last payment made was on 26 April 2004.) The IFJ systematically warns all unions more than three years in debt for non-payment of fees of the danger of expulsion if fees are not paid.
The Israeli union was offered a generous deal - to waive the debt for the last three years and to pay normal fees for 2009, but they refused.
They offered no payment towards the debt and said they would only pay the equivalent of a “third world” fee (available only to the poorest countries) which is a quarter of the normal amount. Lower fees are paid by unions in countries classified below United Nations poverty indicators. Israel is one of the richest countries in the region with the highest average living standards in the Middle East.
The Executive Committee had no choice but to expel them in these circumstances.
The IFJ has applied its rules regarding fees fairly in this case. The financial management rules are transparent and well known. In recent years unions from France, Serbia, Kenya, Thailand, Korea, Chile, and Moldova are among those expelled for non-payment of fees.
NFIJ Complaints over IFJ Actions
The NFIJ has registered complaints with the IFJ over its criticism of the state of Israel, particularly on matters related to military attacks on media and free movement of journalists.
The IFJ has publicly criticised Israel for military strikes against unarmed media installations in Lebanon, Gaza and the West Bank. It has made similarly criticisms of NATO (attack on Serbian television in 1999) and on the United States (attacks on media during the Iraq war 2003.)
These statements have consistently pointed out that such military action against media is in violation of international law. Similarly protests have been made by other press freedom advocacy groups.
The NFIJ also complained about the failure to consult them on the mission the IFJ carried out to Gaza in January 2009 which led to a report making a number of criticisms of the Israeli government including attacks on media and restrictions on the free movement of journalists.
In response to that on 13 February 2009 the IFJ issued a Press release - IFJ Defending Journalists in Palestine and Israel - which stated:
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has reaffirmed its commitment to defend the interests of journalists in Palestine and Israel in response to concerns expressed by its affiliate the National Federation of Israeli Journalists (NFIJ) that recent actions in carrying out a mission to Gaza and IFJ statements over the crisis have not adequately taken account of the views of journalists in Israel.
The IFJ says that the emergency mission to Gaza was primarily focused on the conditions and circumstances of Palestinian journalists and media and was not designed or intended to examine the situation in Israeli journalism.
The IFJ recognises that Israeli journalists have sought to report the crisis fairly under difficult conditions - they, too, were victims of the media blockade imposed by Israel which restricted foreign media access to Gaza during the conflict. The actions of the Jerusalem-based Foreign Press Association which successfully challenged this blockade in the Israeli courts were also supported by many journalists in Israel.
The IFJ, says General Secretary Aidan White, “Staunchly defends the role of its affiliate in Israel as an independent voice of professional journalists in Israeli society and has publicly and robustly repudiated attempt in some quarters to link the NFIJ with the actions of the Israeli government.”
The IFJ remains committed to building working links between journalists in Israel and Palestine in defence of free and independent journalism and will continue to oppose and condemn military strikes against unarmed media installations, regardless of who carries them out. It will challenge all groups, whether in Gaza and the West Bank and in Israel itself, when they intimidate or threaten journalists.
The IFJ Supports Israeli Journalists:
The IFJ regrets the decision of the NFIJ not to reach a reasonable compromise on the payment of fees and says it will still support Israeli journalists. The IFJ’s good faith in its relations with the NFIJ is borne out by the efforts made by the IFJ to maintain its relations with the NFIJ:
- The IFJ sent three missions to Israel in recent years;
- The General Secretary has visited the NFIJ to discuss relations and financial matters three times;
- The IFJ invited the NFIJ to participate in its European section;
- The IFJ has offered to support solidarity actions inside Israel in support of journalists and the promotion of ethical journalism.
The IFJ remains committed to promotion of solidarity and support for journalists fighting for their rights in Israel. We will welcome the NFIJ back into membership at the earliest opportunity when they are ready to pay their fees in line with the IFJ Constitution.
Please read the IFJ Letter to the National Federation of Israeli Journalists here
Please read the IFJ Statement on the National Federation of Israeli Journalists here