Karine Jean-Pierre Asked By AP About Israeli Officials Seizing Equipment: ‘How Is That Acceptable Behavior in a Democracy?’
(AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the administration is “looking into” reports Israeli officials seized Associated Press equipment, but she stopped short of a full condemnation when being questioned by one of the outlet’s reporters.
During a press gaggle on Tuesday aboard Air Force One en route to New Hampshire, Jean-Pierre was asked by AP White House reporter Seung Min Kim about the actions of Israeli officials, which included seizing broadcast equipment and cutting a live video feed.
“Earlier today, Israeli officials seized equipment from the AP and took down our live shot that had been going into northern Gaza. How is that acceptable behavior in a democracy? They’re citing their new media law. Does the administration have a reaction to that, the Israeli government’s actions?” Min Kim asked.
Jean-Pierre referred to the seizure reports as “concerning” and said the White House stands with journalists, though she did not go into the specifics of the situation.
“We’ve seen the reporting and obviously we’re looking into them. You hear this from me, and obviously the president himself, when we talk about journalism and the importance and how essential it is to the pillars of our democracy, and we have women and men, certainly, worldwide who work very hard 24/7, obviously, to uphold those pillars of democracy,” she said.
The press secretary added that the White House “[stands] firm in our belief in making sure that journalists have the ability and the right to do the job.”
“Do you condemn that action?” Min Kim asked.
Jean-Pierre warned she needs to be “mindful” of her response and again claimed the issue is being looked into.
“I mean, I want to be really, really mindful,” she said. “We’re looking into it and obviously this is concerning and so we want to look into it, but we’ve always been clear about the importance of the work that you all do.”
The Associated Press called the seizure by Israeli officials an “abusive use” of a new broadcaster law, which allows the government to shut down foreign press networks if it is deemed to be for national security reasons. Israel has faced pressure from many activists over mounting civilian casualties in Gaza, some of whom have been journalists. Israel has said their assault of Gaza will not stop until the terror group Hamas is eliminated.
“The shutdown was not based on the content of the feed but rather an abusive use by the Israeli government of the country’s new foreign broadcaster law,” Lauren Easton, vice president of corporate communications at AP, wrote in a statement. “We urge the Israeli authorities to return our equipment and enable us to reinstate our live feed immediately so we can continue to provide this important visual journalism to thousands of media outlets around the world.”
Watch above via The White House.
