REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JERUSALEM -- The Foreign Press Association on Sunday accused the Israeli army of "deliberately targeting" journalists after soldiers fired rubber bullets and threw stun grenades at photojournalists clearly identified as press.

In a statement, the Tel Aviv-based group, which represents journalists of all foreign media, including AFP, said troops had directly targeted a group of photographers covering skirmishes at Qalandia crossing between Jerusalem and Ramallah.

"On Friday afternoon, Israeli forces threw stun grenades at FPA photojournalists as they were leaving Qalandia. The FPA members had put their hands in the air, indicating to the forces that they were leaving at which point the grenades were thrown from close quarters directly at their backs," it said.

Earlier an Italian freelance photographer covering the same incident had almost been hit in the face by a rubber bullet, it said.

"Fortunately the photographer was taking pictures at the time and the rubber bullet shattered the camera instead of his head. All the photographers in question wore clearly-marked jackets and helmets," the FPA said.

"There is no question that the forces were directly targeting the journalists."

The army said in a written reply to AFP questions that its soldiers had responded accordingly after protesters hurled fire bombs and rocks at them.

"Throughout the provocation, photojournalists were sighted adjacent and in the midst of the rioters, putting themselves at risk," it said.

The army's initial review of the incident involving the Italian freelancer had found that "the rubber bullet which hit the photojournalist's camera, who was in the vicinity of violent protesters, was not intentionally fired towards him, but part of the riot dispersal means which were aimed at disbanding the protest," it said.

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