AMMAN – The Jordanian Press Association (JPA) threatened to punish member journalists who visit Israel in violation of its decision to bar normalisation of ties with the Jewish state, newspapers reported yesterday.
"The JPA council will inflict deterrent punishment on journalists who violate its decision that bans any form of normalisation," the group said.
The JPA council was responding to local Press reports that 40 Jordanian journalists, most of whom work for the state-run Radio and Television Corp, planned to travel to Israel to attend a three-week training course at Haifa University that was designed to spread a "peace culture" in the region.
"We wonder about the feasibility of such a visit at a time when Israel violates all agreements and practises daily acts of killings, annexation of land, violation of human rights and cracking down on the Palestinian people," the association said.
It reminded members that both the JPA and Arab Press Federation "prohibit all forms of normalisation with the Zionist entity."
Jordan concluded a peace treaty with Israel in 1994. The Jordanian government has repeatedly expressed its determination to fulfil the provisions of the peace treaty but made it clear that it would not compel its people to normalise ties with Israel.
