Israel's highest court ruled today that it was illegal for the government to routinely deny press credentials to all Palestinian reporters on the grounds that they were a potential security threat.
The High Court of Justice made the landmark ruling in cases brought by global news and information company Reuters and Qatar-based Arabic television station Al Jazeera.
The ruling by a panel of three judges said the Government Press Office had no right to deny press cards to Palestinian journalists once they had been given security clearance to enter Israel and work there.
At the end of 2001, the Israeli government had refused to renew press cards it previously granted Palestinian journalists, saying they should all be considered a security threat during the current Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
"This special threat is theoretical and insubstantial and is no justification for harming the protected interests of freedom of expression and flow of information," Justice Dalia Dorner said in the ruling.
Press cards are vital for reporters working not only inside Israel, but also in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. They are the only press credentials recognized by the Israeli army, which controls movement between Palestinian enclaves.
The High Court ordered the government to renew the press card of Reuters Television senior producer Ahmed Seif, given that no reason had been found to consider him a security threat. Seif had held a press card for 12 years before it was revoked.
"We are very pleased with this landmark ruling in defense of press freedom. We now look forward to seeing it applied," Reuters said in a statement.
Seif said: "This is a good step for freedom of expression."
The court also ruled that press cards be issued to Al Jazeera staff who had been denied them, as long as they got work and entry permits.
The ruling said that since some of the Al Jazeera journalists had been given security clearance to interview President Moshe Katsav, it did not appear fair that they should be seen as too much of a risk to get press cards.
Paris-based press freedom campaign group Reporters without Borders said it was delighted.
"The Israeli authorities have been trying to limit media coverage for over two years by not renewing Palestinian press cards," a spokeswoman said. "We hope it (the ruling) is applied as quickly as possible and it is not just a false gesture."