Thursday, January 13, 2011

Bra-gate

I didn't like this story when first heard of it, it now ends with an apology. Security workers can over-reach... It can happen in an airport close to you, it can happen entering a meeting with Israeli PM.

First, the story of the incident:'Shin Bet said everyone removes bra' (ynet)

Followed by an apology:
GPO apologizes for 'bra-gate'; vows better press ties(jpost)
The Government Press Office issued an official apology on Thursday, the day after the Israeli and international media was flooded with reports that a pregnant journalist from Al-Jazeera left a reception with Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu, when the PM's Shin Bet security detail insisted she remove her bra.

Al-Jazeera filed a complaint with the GPO and the Foreign Press Association (FPA) following the incident, which took place before an annual banquet the GPO holds for the foreign press in Israel. For their part, the FPA issued a statement expressing their "outrage" at what happened Tuesday night, and vowed not to take part in future PMO events without assurances that such incidents don’t happen in the future.

GPO Director Oren Helman's letter to the foreign press said "respected members of the foreign press, "first of all, I would like to express my regret that journalists left the GPO Annual Cocktail Reception feeling that they were treated in an unbecoming manner by security. Obviously, we do not invite journalists to an event in order to offend them." Helman told foreign journalists in Israel "you are not only our clients, but you are our preferred clients. We will be receptive to your professional needs, and we will try to assist you as much as possible. My door is always open to you." The new GPO head also vowed to file an inquiry with the Shin Bet, who was responsible for the security screenings at Tuesday's event.

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