Gaza open to foreign reporters

ISRAEL: Israel's Supreme Court has ordered its government to allow free access to Gaza for foreign correspondents.

The ruling came in response to an appeal by the Foreign Press Association. The FPA, representing reporters based in Israel and the Palestinian areas, complained when the Israeli government banned them from Gaza during the recent Israeli offensive.

The court ruling Sunday said the Israeli government must allow access to reporters whenever the borders are otherwise open.

The court said it assumed the crossings would be closed "only in dire circumstances of concrete danger." The FPA welcomed the decision as a victory for press freedom. Since the offensive ended, Israel has restored access to Gaza for reporters.

Jerusalem, Monday, AP