20:06 Reported News Briefs Tamuz 17, 5769 , 09/07/09 Tamuz 17, 5769 , 09/07/09 International Journalists Union Expels Israel



The liberal-leaning New York Jewish Forward noted that the expulsion, approved in an unanimous vote by the international union’s executive committee, “raised the specter of another effort by international unions to boycott Israel for political reasons.”



The Federation claims the expulsion is based on Israel’s failure to pay its dues. It argues that its decision has nothing to do with politics or previous Federation charges that Israeli media sacrifices its independence by toeing the line regarding government policies.

Read more The International Federation of Journalists has expelled the Israeli branch after refusing to allow it to pay the same reduced amount of dues levied on neighboring countries, such as Jordan. Chaim Shibi, an Israeli branch official and veteran Israeli journalist, charged that the action by the international body is the culmination of a long-standing anti-Israeli bias.The liberal-leaning New York Jewish Forward noted that the expulsion, approved in an unanimous vote by the international union’s executive committee, “raised the specter of another effort by international unions to boycott Israel for political reasons.”The Federation claims the expulsion is based on Israel’s failure to pay its dues. It argues that its decision has nothing to do with politics or previous Federation charges that Israeli media sacrifices its independence by toeing the line regarding government policies. ► ◄ Other archived news briefs:Jul 09 2009, 08:06 PM, 7/9/2009