Dan Semamah and Boaz Bismut, two Israeli journalists covering the war in Iraq, were held by American forces last week on suspicion of spying. After being kept in a jeep for a day and a half, they were transferred to Kuwait late Thursday night and finally released on Friday. Semamah later said, "We were held under very difficult conditions - something that could be considered close to downright abuse. I would not have been surprised if they had shot us."
A Portuguese journalist held with them was hit by the Americans, Semamah recounted.
The Americans arrested the four while they were parked not far from a convoy of U.S. armored vehicles; the sandstorm conditions prevented both the Americans and the journalists from advancing. At first, some Americans were friendly and advised them to stay in place; a few hours later, other troops arrested them when they found that the journalists were lacking the required papers and permits.
Semamah, representing Israel TV's Channel One, and Bismut, of Yediot Acharonot, said afterwards that their phones and other personal items were taken from them. "The Americans don't want independent reporters here," Bismut said. "They want only those who are 'imbedded' into the army units, so that no one will hear the criticism that many soldiers have against the war."
Semamah said that the above explains why the Americans "treated us so forcefully, cruelly, and inappropriately… They accused us of being terrorists, spies, Iraqi intelligence." Bismut said, "The worst part was not the fear, but the humiliation... It was difficult; we knew that our families were worried and that no one knew where we were."
Semamah said that some American soldiers did not treat their captured Iraqi soldiers particularly well either. "On our way to the helicopter that took us to Kuwait," he told Israel Radio, "we saw some 150 captured Iraqis who were humiliated by American female soldiers. They laughed and had fun when they allowed them [the Iraqis] to go to the side to answer nature's call, and did not stop taking pictures…"
A Pentagon spokesman said that the four endangered the American troops: "The forces did not know who these people were, and so they were removed from Iraq to Kuwait." He said that the claims of "inappropriate behavior" on the part of the Americans are being investigated.
A Portuguese journalist held with them was hit by the Americans, Semamah recounted.
The Americans arrested the four while they were parked not far from a convoy of U.S. armored vehicles; the sandstorm conditions prevented both the Americans and the journalists from advancing. At first, some Americans were friendly and advised them to stay in place; a few hours later, other troops arrested them when they found that the journalists were lacking the required papers and permits.
Semamah, representing Israel TV's Channel One, and Bismut, of Yediot Acharonot, said afterwards that their phones and other personal items were taken from them. "The Americans don't want independent reporters here," Bismut said. "They want only those who are 'imbedded' into the army units, so that no one will hear the criticism that many soldiers have against the war."
Semamah said that the above explains why the Americans "treated us so forcefully, cruelly, and inappropriately… They accused us of being terrorists, spies, Iraqi intelligence." Bismut said, "The worst part was not the fear, but the humiliation... It was difficult; we knew that our families were worried and that no one knew where we were."
Semamah said that some American soldiers did not treat their captured Iraqi soldiers particularly well either. "On our way to the helicopter that took us to Kuwait," he told Israel Radio, "we saw some 150 captured Iraqis who were humiliated by American female soldiers. They laughed and had fun when they allowed them [the Iraqis] to go to the side to answer nature's call, and did not stop taking pictures…"
A Pentagon spokesman said that the four endangered the American troops: "The forces did not know who these people were, and so they were removed from Iraq to Kuwait." He said that the claims of "inappropriate behavior" on the part of the Americans are being investigated.