I'lam chose to address the work of journalism in areas of armed conflict to commemorate the bloody events of 2012 which claimed the lives of nearly 90 journalists, according to data published by Reporters Without Borders.

 

Itai Anghel and Samer Shalabi participated in the seminar. Anghel works as an investigative journalist for the Israeli news program “Ovdah”. Samer Shalabi is a Middle East producer for CBC who has worked in conflict areas around the globe: Kosovo, Rwanda, Afghanistan, Egypt, Yemen, Syria, and Libya.

 

Mariam Farah opened the conference by recounting the risks which generally face press crews. She stressed that domestically, dating back to May 3rd  of this year, there have been no gains in journalistic freedom, and that the freedom of expression in Palestinian society within Israel remains precarious due to institutional constraints and its surrounding culture.

 

 

Farah addressed the message of I'lam in this context and stressed, “the sanctity of the profession of journalism and the need to respect freedom of expression, a pluralism of opinions and positions, and the importance of the work of journalists in developing and strengthening the consciousness of our people and society” and affirmed “that our existence as an oppressed and decreasing minority and requires a broad public awareness in which the press plays an active professional part, through which authoritarian schemes and impediments can be confronted.”

 

 

Itai Anghel began the seminar speaking about his experience, which began in Bosnia, stressing that he usually enters these countries with an American passport, and that he usually does such hazardous tours  alone. He added that after a meeting with journalists from “Latvia”, in the house of Hamas' chief bomb-maker Yahya Ayyash, AKA “The Engineer”; Anghel learned how to access areas of conflict with confidence, without showing any signs of fear. The only thing which could lead to his harm or arrest would be being identified as an Israeli. He explained that he is fastidiously careful not to be arrested, especially after the technological revolution of the Internet, which can lead to the very quick detection of people's identities.

Anghel expressed his current fears, especially since a number of colleagues were killed while covering events, he emphasized that the most dangerous experience has not been in Syria but in Afghanistan, where he covered a tumultuous demonstration against Israel, where protesters were burning Israeli flags.

 

He also revealed the story behind his report on Syria, explaining that he was unable to reach the other faction, the regime supporters, as he was in areas dominated by what he called, “armed rebels, a large portion of whom are foreign.”

 

 

Following Anghel, Samer Shalabi spoke about the risks also faced by the crew, touching on the beginning of an attempt to kidnap him and his Canadian television crew in Egypt during the revolution. He explained how he found himself with two colleagues surrounded by a group carrying swords, debating among themselves whether or not they would execute the Shalabi and his colleagues on the spot. Before traveling to any area of armed conflict, he reads up on the respective agendas of the conflicting parties, so that he is fully informed on the positions of the faction that he deals with. He also stated that a skillful correspondent also possesses two traits: first, naiveté, and second, the strength to work with integrity and a quick wit.

 

Shalabi admitted that his weak point in the field is the presence of a serious crew working with him. While Anghel works individually, Samer is forced to protect himself and his crew.

 

As for his experience in Syria, Shalabi explained that it was difficult and troublesome, stressing that Syria is in the middle of a fierce war between the regime and the so-called revolutionaries. However, he preferred not to go into the details of the work out of fear for the safety of the channel's crews.

 

At the end of his speech, he stressed that although the conflicts and revolutions of the Arab world is a preoccupation of the press, he was upset that they have ignored the changes to holy places and archaeological sites due to those conflicts, referring to the Sayeda Zeinab shrine in Syria.

 

The seminar ended with several questions from the audience, and included a presentation of Anghel's report from Syria.