IPI urges the Israeli government, responsible for an overwhelming majority of press freedom violations during the Intifada, to undertake thorough and transparent investigations into the repeated incidents of firing at, killing, injuring and otherwise harassing media workers, journalists and media outlets covering the conflicts, or simply residing in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. IPI further requests that the results of these investigations be made public.

Furthermore, a worrying trend has revealed the Israeli army as deliberately violating the democratic principles of freedom of expression by sealing off and barring the entry of journalists to every Palestinian town and city beleagured or under siege by the Israeli army. Ramallah, Qalqiliya, Bethlehem, Beit Jala, Nablus, Tulkarem, Jenin and Hebron, alongside a plethora of villages and hamlets have been declared off limits to journalists, aid organisations, relief workers and other forms of humanitarian intervention. Although these measures have been initiated for what were cited as "security reasons" on behalf of Israeli officialdom, it would appear that the Israeli authorities have something to hide from the world's press and international public opinion. The International Press Institute recommends that the bans be discontinued as soon as possible and that the Israeli authorities responsible for the incursions uphold the virtues of democracy that remain publicly professed by members of the state authority.

IPI also recommends that the Israeli government take appropriate measures to ensure the protection of journalists and media workers as stated under the Articles 19 and 29 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and under Articles 50 and 51 of the "Protocols Additional to the 1949 Geneva Convention which emphasise the protection of civilians in the time of war including journalists, since they are part of the civilian population". Article 79 of the 'Protocols Additional to the 1949 Geneva Convention' further stipulates that: "journalists engaged in dangerous professional missions in areas of armed conflict shall be considered as civilians within the meaning of Article 50, Paragraph 1.They shall be protected as such under the conventions of this Protocol, provided that they take no action adversely affecting their status as civilians". So far, there has not been any reported evidence of journalists unequivocally taking such action.

The PNA should acknowledge its duty, under international norms of free expression, to tolerate free public expression of dissenting views. The PNA should also stop trying to control the Palestinian media by arbitrary arrests and intimidations of journalists. It should also refrain from closing or censoring media outlets.

It seems as if the news and propaganda war is gaining in importance as the conflict continues. The media has been directly affected by the growing hostilities and entwined in the overall deteriorating state of affairs. This is very unfortunate since the peace process needs a free and unbiased media in order to uncover the truth in the omnipresence of political propaganda.