Behind the Headlines | Recommended Reading
 



Recommended Reading

Media

The intifada: Two years on
Haaretz

http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?
itemNo=214101&contrassID=2&subContrassID=0&sbSubContrassID=0

Who killed Muhammad Al-Dura?
by Amnon Lord
6 Av 5762 / 15 July 2002

http://www.jcpa.org/jl/vp482.htm

Muhammad Al-Dura, the child who became the symbol of the Al Aksa Intifada, was not killed by IDF gunfire at Netzarim junction, according to an inquiry by the German ARD television network. The Palestinians, in cooperation with foreign journalists and the UN, arranged a well-staged production.

When Editing Is Censoring at the New York Times
by Andrea Levin
EYE ON THE MEDIA-
Jerusalem Post, July 29, 2002

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/A/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1027506375878

A succinct, but real insight into "The NY Times' aggressive intervention to protect the United Nations, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International from criticism by an expert in the field of law and human rights, and to whitewash their scapegoating of Israel..."

Sympathy for the devil
Bret Stephen's Eye on the Media
Jerusalem Post, July 18 2002

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/A/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1025787833359

The writer attributes recent sympathetic and empathetic US media coverage of Israeli victims of terror and their difficult recovery to public outcry about the media presentation of Israel, the Bush speech and some solid editorial guilt. Multiple examples are brought to support this thesis, beginning with the New York Times, logging other newspapers and, of course, CNN.

Palestinian Voices: A Deep Despair
Photo Essay by Erge Schmemann and Ruth Fremson
July 14th, 2002

http://www.nytimes.com/2002/07/14/weekinreview/14SCHM.html?8hpib (Log-in name and password needed to access the article)

Based on the title, one might expect to find an article highlighting Palestinian suffering in an attempt to provide a "balanced" picture of the conflict between Israel and the PA. It's not. Instead, this person-on-the-street slide show shows primarily a segment of Palestinian society frustrated by the current situation. And while they find fault with Israel's actions, they are also frustrated and angered by Arafat's actions and PA corruption. It's hard to tell, however, how much of the society they represent.

What did you do while Israel was destroyed?
by David Pearlmutter

http://jewishworldreview.com/0502/what_did_u_do.html

David Pearlmutter, Associate Professor at Louisiana State University and senior fellow at the Reilly Center for Media & Public Affairs raises a number of questions we should be asking ourselves about our own actions (or lack thereof) during this most crucial period in Israel's history. As much as the media may be to blame, the real causes behind Israel's lack of positive media position may be closer to home than we care to think. The ultimate question we have to answer, however, is expressed in the headline

An Electronic Eye - Web sites evolve into media monitor
By Rita Ciolli
Newsday, May 29th 2002

http://www.newsday.com/business/local/newyork/ny-bznet292724233may29.story

An interesting evaluation of how electronic citizenship is empowering the community and allowing us to impact on media coverage of the Middle East, with criticism and cancellation of subscriptions. However, it also raises the point that ownership of the medium is the best way to get your message across. Good quotes. Covers mainly press and radio items.

An Impossible Occupation
ByScott Anderson
New York Time Magazine, May 12, 2002

http://www.nytimes.com/2002/05/12/
magazine/12IDF.html?homepageinsidebox=
&pagewanted=print&position=top

Scott Anderson puts us in the center of the conflict, both military and moral, facing Israeli soldiers during Operation Defensive Shield. A group of Israeli reservists from an elite IDF paratrooper squad, whose personal political opinions run the gamut from left to right, struggle to carry out their objective of flushing out terrorist while preventing unnecessary casualties or damage to Palestinian property. An insightful and very important article. (note: If you do not subscribe to the NYTimes online you must register to read this article)

Journalistic License: Professional Standards in the Print Media's Coverage of Israel
by Jeff Helmreich
Jerusalem Letter / Viewpoints, 15 August 2001

http://www.jcpa.org/jl/vp460.htm

A highly detailed analysis of mis-translation and deliberate omissions of Palestinian broadcasting by western electronic media, from TV to press. Also the blurring of report and opinion distinctions in judgmental writing. Extends to journalistic patterns of identification with the Palestinian cause, thus blaming Israel, while ignoring terrorism and previous core issues. Urges professional critique, focusing on errors as the only acceptable input to newspapers. Well referenced.

Media Watch / Spinning Out of Control
by Aviv Lavie
Ha'aretz Sunday, April 28 2002

http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=155633&contrassID=2
&subContrassID=14&sbSubContrassID=0&listSrc=Y

Israelis are prone to complaining about defects in the country's "information" (public relations) operation, but at one of the peak moments of the current war - the media battle for Jenin - it was the Palestinians who made a series of bad mistakes. Use of the massacre fiction finally rebounded on the Palestinians, when the facts became clear. Other 'harsh facts' were overshadowed by this in the Israeli editorial coverage.

The War Crimes Lie
By John Podhoretz
The New York Post April 22, 2002

http://www.nypost.com/postopinion/opedcolumnists/46174.htm

The more daring & unsubstantiated the lie, the more sucessful - that there was a Jenin massacre of 500, that Israel harmed civilians. Israel entered Jenin to root out terrorists, arms. International Law forbids armed personnel feigning civilian status - the Palestinian terrorists did so & are thus responsible for civilian casualties. It forbids improper use of the Red Crescent - one such violation was even video-taped! The war criminals are the Palestinians.

Media Is Drawn Into West Bank Propaganda War
By Howard Kurtz, Staff Writer
Washington Post Thursday, April 18, 2002

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A7366-2002Apr18.html

Dramatically different accounts about Jenin result partly from political affiliations of the press. Survey of horror stories in UK press; US press more factual, admits atrocity reports not verifiable. WSJ calls US to stand on its principles.

The hatred Europe cannot shake
National Post editorial
The National Post April 16, 2002

http://www.nationalpost.com/commentary/story.html?
f=/stories/20020416/652730.html

6 reasons why Israel is unique and scorned, lambasted for actions; why Jews aren't portrayed as the victims of terror. Also: UN-speak sends out OK signals; UNHRC resolution condones "armed struggle", i.e. more terror - while ignoring murdered Israelis; 14 Muslim states are Commission members - bad human rights offenders. UNHRC cred. =zero.

Truth about Israeli casualties is being ignored in this war
By Barbara Amiel
The Daily Telegraph 15/04/2002

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?xml=/opinion/2002/04/15/do1501.xml
&sSheet=/opinion/2002/04/15/ixopinion.html&secureRefresh=true&_requestid=242707

Press reports ignore context: the deliberate incitement to terror and shielding of terrorists in civilian population, as well as facts and names. The UK press ignores heavy Israeli casualties, offering anecdotal "spoilt kids" travails and Goebbels- style propaganda, especially Paulin's slander and Clark's inaccuracies. The EU is noxious - fearing terror at home, their immigrants' reactions, oil supply problems; together with left newspeak and the misplacing of the underdog, they are also anti-US. If no real peace is offered by the Arabs, the possible outcomes are frightening.

This war tells us more about Europe than the Middle East
By Mark Steyn
The Daily Telegraph 14/04/2002

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?xml=/opinion/2002/04/14/do1401.xml
&sSheet=/opinion/2002/04/14/ixop.html

The international establishment, France, Norway has a proven track record of being wrong - will the US join them? Arab interests discourage PA denunciation of terror; problems with Israel delay the US attack on Iraq and terror linked to Saudi Arabia. The victories in the war of terror come via the media and violence the French government won't address. Muslim violence worldwide is ignored; Europe is bent on appeasement.

Did journalists help Palestinian fugitives escape?
James Taranto
The Wall Street Journal's Best of the Web Today

http://www.opinionjournal.com/best/?id=105001857

Good review of biased journalism.

The Media's Giant Error - It's tiny Israel that faces a pitiless Goliath
Thomas J. Bray
The Wall Street Journal Apr 2, 2002

http://www.opinionjournal.com/columnists/tbray/?id=105001859

Well set-out examples of biased TV reporting and focus.

A letter to an American Jewish friend Professor
Shlomo Avineri
The Jerusalem Post April 9 2002

http://www.jpost.com/Editions/2002/04/09/Opinion/Opinion.46543.html

Thoughtful analysis of what Jewish solidarity could achieve if Jewish leadership visited Israel. Constructive ideas on which issues to act upon & how; call to support israel by protesting terror effectively and locally.

They are the product of institutionally indoctrinated hatred of the West or of Jews
Howard Gerson and Harold Waller
The Toronto Star April 6, 2002

http://thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?
pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1017961298394
&call_page=TS_Opinion&call_pageid=968256290124&call_pagepath=News/Opinion
&col=968350116695

Scathing review of supposed media and academic "reason and even-handedness" in seeking justification of terrorist motivations, even after Sept. 11, rather than examine indoctrinated hatred (with examples). Israel takes the blame for legitimate self-defense, while the PA greatly intensifies terror - which augurs badly for the free world, too.

 

 

 


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