US media reporting of 9 Palestinians killed by the Israeli army over two days
It is no wonder why people in the US have a completely skewed reality of the world in general but of the Israel-Palestine conflict in particular. Yes our politicians are beholden to AIPAC but that is only a small part of the story. Regardless of AIPAC, if the US media relayed the story to us objectively and honestly, the pressure on the politicians would hopefully be enormous, thus equalizing the playing field with AIPAC.
But then AIPAC is just one part of the larger Israel lobby which penetrates deeply into the US media.
The US headlines regarding 9 Palestinians killed by the Israeli army provide the most recent case in point.
By examining the top 5 US newspapers' coverage of this past weekend’s violence, several patterns emerge. The first and probably most important is what I have just done myself. I’ve referred to “this weekend’s violence.†The violence this weekend was perpetrated by the Israeli army inside occupied Palestinian territory. So it would be more accurate to say “this weekend’s latest assault on Palestinians by the Israeli army.â€
Four issues arise from the reporting:
-one is the language used in headlines and in the relaying of the facts as they occurred,
-the second is the pattern of violence used by Israel whenever there is pressure for negotiation from the international community.
-the third is the art of omission. There were no US broadcast reports of the latest crimes committed by the state of Israel.
-and finally is the report of the break in relative calm as if the Israeli army has ever stopped killing Palestinians.
The only footage was provided by Democracy Now
Other US reporting of the killings:
The most obvious and immediate observation of the headlines is that the US media focus on the Palestinian response rather than the crime committed by the Israeli army. In some cases it appears that Hamas has just unilaterally declared open season on Israel for no apparent reason.
The New York Times:
Headline: Israel and Palestinians Trade Fire in Gaza and West Bank
By ISABEL KERSHNER; Taghreed El-Khodary contributed reporting from Beit Lahiya, Gaza.
First sentence:
A sharp escalation of Israeli-Palestinian violence in the West Bank and Gaza left up to six Palestinians dead and culminated in an Israeli airstrike into Gaza, officials said.
“A sharp escalation of Israeli-Palestinian violence†–
——again, Israeli army assault on Palestinians. The violence did not escalate by itself. Israel escalated it.
“left up to six Palestinians deadâ€
—–Did they die by accident? No. Six Palestinians were killed by the Israeli army
“culminated in an Israeli airstrike into Gazaâ€
So let me get this straight, the Israeli army killed six Palestinians which caused the Israeli army also to bomb Gaza? This is the New York Times.
The Boston Globe
Headline: Hamas renews call for attacks on Israel.
by Ibrahim Barzak,Associated Press
The headline, like most of the headlines related to this story, focused on the potential response rather than the crime.
The article says nothing about how the assault began, why it was carried out, and only mentions the two gunmen and one child who were killed. Who are the other six?
The Globe also presented the usual Israeli line, this time delivered by Miri Eisin, a spokeswoman for Olmert, that “Israel reaches out for peace, while at the same time we will always consistently fight against terror.”
“…Israel will continue its operations against Palestinian militants, she said, while “always doing our utmost to avoid any innocent casualties.â€
The Washington Post
Headline: Hamas Calls For Revenge In Killing of Palestinians
Weekend Incidents Leave Nine Dead in Territories
Israeli soldiers killed three Palestinians in incidents Sunday in the West Bank, prompting Hamas officials to call on their movement’s military wing to respond “with all possible means of resistance.”
Following the most violent day between Israelis and Palestinians in weeks, Israeli soldiers killed two wanted men in Nablus during a morning arrest operation after troops came under fire, military officials said.
The killings brought to nine the number of Palestinians killed over the weekend, most of them members of armed groups.
Here we have the justification:
The logic follows that anyone who is a member of an armed group is by definition a legitimate target for by murder. In fact this logic is the exact logic used by terrorists in the occupied territories who carry out attacks inside Israel on civilians. In Israel, military service is compulsory, therefore making every Israeli citizen a member of an armed group.
USA today did not report the story.
Los Angeles Times:
Headline: 6 Palestinians killed, 2 Israelis injured in clashes
Wall Street Journal
Headline Hamas Calls for New Attack on Israel
Houston Chronicle, TX
Headline Hamas calls for new offensive against Israel
San Francisco Chronicle
Headline Hamas Calls for Offensive Against Israel
April 26th, 2007 at 6:36 am
Why do you conveniently forget to mention in your anti-semitic blog that theArabs were terrorists? Do you ever think that the Arabs - there is no such thing as a Palestinian - were preparing another terrorist act? Until proven innocent, every Arab is considered a terrorist - they send children to blow themselves up. Yes, Anti-Semites like you always blame Israel. Well, the Arabs could have had peace many years ago but refuse to do so because their goal is the elimination of Israel. So, when you spew your anti-Israel remarks you are essentially showing your anti-semitic views.
April 26th, 2007 at 1:14 pm
And your definition of that is?
Great work Tom. Just came across your site.
April 26th, 2007 at 8:28 pm
Palestine is mentioned in the Chapter of Joel in the Holy Bible. So that means there are Palestinians whether this simpleton above who sounds like a racist against Arabs who uses anti-Semitism to cover up the truth and any criticism of Israel.
Israel has never wanted peace with Palestine, Israel killed Count Folke Bernadotte when he offered peace - they also killed Rabin one of their own people. Israel wants a piece of every donum of Palestine, that’s what they covet.
Peace would end most of US aid too - Israel seem like they can’t survive without US tax payers but last year Israel had become a lender, imagine that.
Feith was a card-carrying member, so to speak, of the neocon-Likud-Netanyahu plan, “A Clean Break: A New Strategy for Securing the Realm.” This document urged Israel to end the Oslo Peace Accords, stop peace negotiations with the Palestinians, attack Syria, eliminate Saddam, and vastly widen the illegal settlements on the West Bank.
How many UN Resolutions have Israel broken, I’ve lost count? They continue an illegal occupation and deny Palestinians of their basic human rights on a daily basis and break international law, the Palestinian have the RIGHT to defend themselves under that same international law also.
But, you are right, Palestine’s story never does get told correctly. AIPAC makes sure of that folks. There are reliable sites out there where you can find the truth about what really goes on in Palestine, Wafa - Maan News.
May 9th, 2007 at 1:15 pm
[…] I did not see CNN and Fox and Huffington Post and America Blog asking why 9 Palestinians were killed over a two day period just a week and a half ago. […]
October 21st, 2007 at 8:09 am
Why is it that anyone who criticizes Israel for its behaviors is targetted for personal attacks from
Israelis and Jewish Americans. I do know of any country whose policies are immuned from
criticisms. Why should Israel be an exception?