Al Jazeera Calls for Release of Jerusalem Bureau Chief

DOHA, July 17: The Middle Eastern news network Al Jazeera is
calling for the immediate release of its Jerusalem bureau chief Walid Al Omary,
who has been detained by Israeli authorities.

According to Al Jazeera, Israeli authorities have been
attempting to obstruct its news crews from covering the current conflict in
Lebanon. The authorities also detained correspondent Ilyas Karram, but he was
subsequently released. Bureau chief Al Omary is still being detained, Al
Jazeera says, with no explanation from the Israeli authorities.

“Al Jazeera hereby expresses its utmost disapproval and
strong denunciation of the Israeli authorities’ obstruction of its coverage of
the conflict and reiterates its adherence to internationally recognized
professional journalistic standards,” the network said in a statement. “Al
Jazeera is covering the conflict showing the different opinions in the war,
particularly the Lebanese and Israeli points-of-view, with accuracy, balance,
and integrity. Al Jazeera demands the immediate release of its Bureau Chief Mr.
Walid Al Omary so that he, along with the rest of his team, can continue their
work without hindrance and obstruction.”