How B'Tselem Creates False Perceptions In Latest Media Report About Israel

PRESS RELEASE May 9, 2013  Contact: Lenny Ben-David NGO Monitor 054-216-8155 lenny.bendavid@ngo-monitor.org  B'Tselem Acknowledges Inability to Assess Palestinian Allegations Condemnation of IDF in Press Release Not Supported by Accompanying Report On May 9, 2013, the Israeli organization B'Tselem issued a 30-page report headlined "Human Rights Violations during Operation Pillar of Defense 14-21 November 2012." This publication immediately received widespread coverage in the Israeli media, apparently based largely on an accompanying press release. However, the claims in the press release are inconsistent with the actual report, creating false perceptions in the media reports.

Mideast Media Sampler 5/02/13: Confirmed: Omar Masharawi Was Another Palestinian Killed By Hamas Rocket

by David Gerstman, contributing blogger at Legal Insurrection


1) Might? May?

In March, a report from the UN suggested very strongly that Omar Masharawi (or Mishrawi) was killed by a Hamas rocket.

Omar Masharawi, another Palestinian that was killed by
 a rocket launched by Hamas. 

Who Was The Real Loser of Operation Pillar Of Defense: Abbas and the Palestinian Authority

Brig.-Gen. (res.) Michael Herzog writes about Operation Pillar of Defense: Objectives and Implications.

First, here is a summary:

• Both in the 2008-2009 Operation Cast Lead and in the 2012 Operation Pillar of Defense, Israel’s government focused its objective on enhancing deterrence  – opting for hitting the terrorists hard enough to give them an interest in a ceasefire for as long as possible – rather than dismantling Gaza’s terror infrastructure or toppling the Hamas government.

The Israel-Hamas War May Have Left Both Sides Stronger Politically (Updated)

Jonathan Tobin asks a question about the recent war between Israel and Hamas that a few months would have been unthinkable: Did Hamas Win the Last War?.

The question arises in light of 2 developments following the ceasefire:

• Gaza fishing craft were being allowed to sail further into the Mediterranean by the Israeli Navy
  
  
• The news that Israel is now allowing in construction materials that it had heretofore prevented from entering Gaza

While the greater freedom of fishing boats and the relaxing of the Israeli ban on gravel and cement in light of the continued existence of Gazan tunnels have little or no military implication, Tobin notes:

At the time the cease-fire was arranged, both the Israelis and the Americans issued statements that were aimed at making it seem as if the shooting was ended with no concessions made by either side. But the looser naval blockade and the end of the ban on construction material gives the lie to the notion that Israel didn’t pay a ransom in order to get the Islamist terrorist group to stop shooting.

While this may very well be a victory for Hamas, there is another implication that, while weakening Netanyahu, may not be quite as beneficial to Hamas:

If Hamas really did win the last war, or at least didn’t lose it as Israel had claimed, it is understandable that there will be consequences from this that will affect Israeli policy as well as public opinion. It may be that Prime Minister Netanyahu had no choice but to accept the deal that called for these concessions if he was to stop the shooting. But these revelations help explain why so many Israelis have not only given up hope for peace with moderate Palestinians but are also prepared to vote for parties to Netanyahu’s right in this month’s Knesset election. [emphasis added]

More than making Netanyahu less willing to make unilateral concessions -- this time with even greater backing of the Israeli public -- there is likely to be a renewed push for acceptance of the Levy Report emphasizing Israel's rights to Judea and Samaria. This will be seen by Israelis not only as a response to Abbas's unilateral move in the UN, but also as a precaution against the increased influence of Hamas in the West Bank and the fear that it will replace the Palestinian Authority as it did in Gaza.

2013 may have the apparently contradictory result of both a politically stronger Hamas as well as a politically stronger Israel as well.

Addendum: Israel Matzav writes Poll: Plurality of Israelis (including Arabs) oppose a 'two-state solution', Jewish Home up to 18 mandates:

A new poll by Geocartography (link in Hebrew) shows that 45% of Israelis oppose the 'two-state solution,' while 40% favor it. The poll includes 'Israeli Arabs,' who make up about 20% of the population. 14% did not answer.

Meanwhile, Naftali Bennett's Jewish Home party - which is to the Right of the Likud - continues to surge and has now reached 18 mandates (link in Hebrew). Likud-Beiteinu goes to 35 mandates (compared to 42 in the current Knesset), Labor goes to 18 mandates, Shas weakens to 8 mandates, Yair Lapid weakens to 5 mandates.

Read the whole thing.


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Technorati Tag: Israel and Gaza and Hamas and Operation Pillar of Defense.

Video: Analysis Of Israel's Operation Pillar of Defense

The following video, Pillar of Defense, came out last week:

The November 2012 conflict in Gaza: What happened and why, Israel's & Hamas' strategies, and the role of the media. Compiled by Nevet Basker, Broader View.

It puts together what happened, not only in terms of the military strategies, but also the added dimension of the role of the media as well.

Here is the video:

The Middle East Media Sampler 12/17/2012: Thomas Friedman In Denial Over Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood

From DG:

1) That river in Egypt

There's an incredible paragraph in Thomas Friedman's Egypt - The next India or the next Pakistan?:

Yes, democracy matters. But the ruling Muslim Brotherhood needs to understand that democracy is so much more than just winning an election. It is nurturing a culture of inclusion, and of peaceful dialogue, where respect for leaders is earned by surprising opponents with compromises rather than dictates. The Noble Prize-winning Indian economist Amartya Sen has long argued that it was India’s civilizational history of dialogue and argumentation that disposed it well to the formal institutions of democracy. More than anything, Egypt now needs to develop that kind of culture of dialogue, of peaceful and respectful arguing — it was totally suppressed under Mubarak — rather than rock-throwing, boycotting, conspiracy-mongering and waiting for America to denounce one side or the other, which has characterized too much of the postrevolutionary political scene. Elections without that culture are like a computer without software. It just doesn’t work.

The "Muslim Brotherhood needs to understand?"

The Middle East Media Sampler 11/29/2012: Mr. Abbas Goes To The UN

From DG:

2) The editors on the bid

The New York Times has an editorial, The U.N. bid from Palestinians. There is little to object to in the opening paragraphs of the editorial:

On Thursday, a week after the Gaza cease-fire between Hamas and Israel, the Palestinian Authority, which controls parts of the West Bank, is scheduled to ask the United Nations General Assembly to upgrade the Palestinian status to nonmember observer state. 

The 193-member body is expected to approve the application. That support has grown since the Gaza fighting, with France and other European nations declaring their backing for the Palestinian bid — in part as a way to bolster the more moderate Palestinian forces, which recognize Israel’s right to exist and seek a two-state solution. 

But passage of the resolution — which would allow the Palestinians to try to join the International Criminal Court, where they might be able to bring cases against Israel — would not get the Palestinians any closer to statehood. A negotiated deal with Israel is the only way to ensure creation of a viable Palestinian state and guarantee Israel’s security.

There is a notable omission.

Why Is FIFI Building Hamas Missile Storage Instead Of A Bomb Shelter For Kids?

It has been reported that FIFA pledged to rebuild the Gaza stadium used to hide Fajr5 missiles:

FIFA secretary-general Jerome Valcke has pledged that soccer's world governing body will help rebuild the Palestine Stadium in Gaza City, after it was partially destroyed in Israeli air strikes.

"We see it our mandate to rebuild football infrastructure which has been destroyed," Valcke was quoted as saying on fifa.com. "We will also rebuild the stadium in Gaza, which has been destroyed.

Very economical: FIFA can rebuild both Gaza's football infrastructure -- and Hamas terrorist infrastructure -- all in one shot.

Why Does The Media Choose To Help Publicize Hamas Propaganda Points?

Hamas is a flagrantly anti-democratic, anti-Semitic, anti-Christian, anti-feminist and anti-gay movement dedicated to genocide. The United States, Canada and the European Union all consider it a terrorist organization. Hamas strives to kill the maximum number of Israeli civilians while using its own population as a human shield — under international law, a double war crime. Why, then, would the same free press that Hamas silences help advance its strategy?
Israeli Ambassador Michael Oren

In an op-ed in Wednesday's Washington Post, Israeli Ambassador Michael Oren warns against Falling for Hamas’s media manipulation:

The Middle East Media Sampler 11/28/2012: The Media Still Digs Arafat

From DG:

Ambulance chasing as journalism

Can we film the operation?
Is the head dead yet?
You know, the boys in the newsroom got a
Running bet
Dirty Laundry - Don Henley 

The Washington Post reports Samples taken from Yasser Arafat’s remains to see if he was poisoned:

Tissue samples were taken Tuesday from the remains of Yasser Arafat, the longtime Palestinian leader who died in 2004, as part of an inquiry into whether he might have been poisoned, Palestinian officials said.

Video: Color Red: Israeli Kids Learn Song to Overcome Fear of Rockets

Hat tip to American Thinker, where they ask the question:

Why do we not see this side of the conflict in the mainstream media reports from the Middle East?

Here is the video:

Arlene Kushner On How The Israel - Hamas Ceasefire Is Playing Out

From Arlene Kushner:
November 27, 2012

Normalcy?

There is a question mark after "Normalcy" because it's more than a bit difficult to ascertain precisely what "normal" is. But I'm aiming for it, certainly in my own life. Postings will resume their regular frequency -- which means they will be sent often, but not necessarily every day. To my many readers who have written to me in past days, please know that I've done my best in terms of responding.

The world at large is definitely "certifiable." But even here in Israel, I think a bit "crazy" is what's normal. And we'll see that as I write today.

~~~~~~~~~~

The Middle East Media Sampler 11/27/2012: Media Bias from New York Times and Washington Post

From DG:

1) Pexton supporting Hamas

After the Jayson Blair scandal the New York Times and other newspapers introduced a "public editor." Other newspapers, such as the Washington Post (which calls its public editor an "ombudsman") have had them for longer. The idea behind the public editor is to have someone who outside of the newsroom or editorial offices of the newspaper act as its in-house critic. Presumably someone outside of the newspaper's culture with a non-renewable contract can be a better critic of a newspaper than someone from within.

But public editors are usually taken from the ranks of other newspapers. While they may not be part of a given paper's culture, they are still usually taken from newsrooms and editorial offices and are very much a part of the journalistic culture. So rather than representing the public in any meaningful way, they are more likely to explain to the uninformed public why the editors and reporters have much better judgment than their critics. One of the worst and most partisan of these public editors is the current ombudsman of the Washington Post, Patrick Pexton.

Arlene Kushner on Hamas Rearming after Ceasefire With Israel

From Arlene Kushner:
November 25, 2012

Key Issues

Before I go to the heart of the matter, which is the ability of Hamas to re-establish its supply of Fajr and other long-range missiles...let me provide a clarification:

Had the IDF gone into Gaza last week, it would not have been for one of the operations I described yesterday with regard to re-taking Gaza either partially or in totality.

This had been made very clear: the goal would have been to remove additional rockets that could not be reached by air because of their placement in densely inhabited civilian areas. It was very difficult to witness the intense barrage of rockets that was launched at our civilians immediately prior to the ceasefire and in the hours following, and to know that the IDF would not be taking out those weapons that Hamas still possessed. But if the IDF would have gone in to do this, it would have been a quick operation.[emphasis added]

Did Abbas Give The Order For Israel's Operation Pillar?

For those who disregard the provocations of the Hamas terrorists that led to Israel's bombing of Gaza, they will be pleased to know that in undertaking Operation Pillar of Defense, Israel was merely following Abbas's advice.

Back in December 2005 -- when he was still in charge of Gaza -- Abbas told Israel to stop Gazan rockets because he couldn't:

Barry Rubin: Who Won The Latest Israel-Hamas War?

The following by Barry Rubin is reposted here with permission:

Who Won The Latest Israel-Hamas War?

By Barry Rubin

Naturally the question of who won any given war preoccupies people’s minds. And I’m amused by those who think that Hamas won the recent conflict. Winning has to mean something real, not just bragging to reassure oneself.

Let’s begin by examining the causes and goals of each side.

Arlene Kushner on the Israeli Concessions In The Israel - Hamas Ceasfire

November 24, 2012

Motzei Shabbat (After Shabbat)

Mission Impossible

My attempts to get a handle on the Gaza situation are serious and earnest. But, as one close associate said to me tonight, "Your problem is that you're trying to do a rational analysis of a situation that is not rational." And oh, is that the case.

Every talking head has something else to say. Every Internet sources has different "inside" information. I don't use talking heads as my sources, and not primarily Internet sources providing that "inside" information, either. I try to pick the brains of analysts and those in the know -- as I've explained before, including some who are Arabic speaking. And I have found it very difficult.

This, it seems to me, is an important part my report -- to reflect the turmoil that is swirling about this issue, with all its complexities. To say that the dust hasn't settled, and that everyone has a different take.

~~~~~~~~~~

I would like to provide an overview here that, hopefully, will be reasonably clear. Then, in coming days, as new information and perspectives emerge, I will share them with you.

~~~~~~~~~~

Video: Review of Events Up To and Including Operation Pillar of Defense

Created by TV7 Israel News, this video gives the background on the Hamas terrorist attacks that provoked the operation, as well as giving day-by-by what happened during the operation.

Can Morsi Support Israel - Hamas Ceasefire If Muslim Brotherhood Opposes It?

It's all very well for Obama to entrust the fragile Israel - Hamas ceasefire to Egypt. After all, Egypt traditionally has been a major leader in the Muslim world.

But in this case, we are talking about Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi, member of the Muslim Brotherhood, which is radical, and traditionally anti-American, anti-Jewish and anti-Israel.

Unlike Morse, the Muslim Brotherhood sees no need to support the ceasefire:

The top leader of Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood denounced peace efforts with Israel and urged holy war to liberate Palestinian territories on Thursday — one day after the country's president, who hails from the movement, mediated a cease-fire between Israelis and Palestinians to end eight days of fierce fighting.

Video: Latma on The BBC lies and Israel defends itself

Here is this week's Latma:

A BBC reporter demonstrates courageous journalism at its best with a little imagination, Jamil and Awad present new demands to Israel and how we plan to protect ourselves in the future against Hamas rockets.

Here is the video: