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February 11, 2011 Special Report The Palestine papers: Implications of The Guardian's coverage      By Carmel Gould Guardian coverage of leaked negotiating  documents reveals hostility towards Palestinian concessions for peace. Key findings The Guardian's handling of the Palestine papers story demonstrated a preference for a hardline Palestinian stance over one of moderation, best illustrated by their call for Hamas to be brought into the diplomatic process and their hosting an opinion piece by the group calling for action. Content of the documents attesting to Israel's efforts and desire for peace were downplayed or ignored; in particular, the content of Olmert's 2008 offer was not reported and a key quote was elided. The Guardian scandalised Palestinian negotiators' acceptance that Palestinians would not be admitted en mass as part of a two-state solution. The newspaper strongly implied that it does not accept Israel as a Jewish state and would maintain this position in the event of the creation of a Palestinian state in the West Bank, east Jerusalem and Gaza. The Palestinian offer to allow Israel to retain most of its settlements in east Jerusalem was treated as an outrage, when such an arrangement would be in line with the 2000 Clinton Parameters. The Guardian treated any outcome on the Temple Mount/Haram al Sharif other than total Arab control as a betrayal of the Muslim world, despite the site's place as the holiest site in Judaism. Read more>> The Wire Arab unrest: Media reacts to Mubarak speech Fri. 11 Feb 2011 @ 12.00 - Following rising hopes yesterday that Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak would  announce his resignation, his blunt refusal to leave office was met with disbelief and anger in Egypt and across the world. Today's broadsheets feature significant editorial comment on President Mubarak's address to the Egyptian people yesterday, in which he defied expectations that he would resign immediately, and sparked further anger from protesters. Editorials in both The Times and The Guardian emphasise the danger that these new developments may bring. The Times comments on how today is a 'deeply dangerous moment' for Egypt, and that anger may now 'erupt in a passionate fury that spills over into grave violence': 'To raise the hopes of demonstrators, only to dash them again, was reckless in the extreme. The demonstrators did not want to hear about a committee to consider constitutional implications of transition; they wanted to hear only one word: "Goodbye."' Read more>>  BBC Focus Muslim Brotherhood on BBC's HARDtalk     Former spokesperson for the Muslim Brotherhood interviewed on the BBC, advocates strict Sharia law for Muslims, rejects description of Hamas as 'terrorists', and expresses support for anti-Zionist Jewish sect. On Sunday Kamal el-Helbawy was interviewed on the BBC's HARDtalk programme about the role of the Muslim Brotherhood in any post-Mubarak government. El-Helbawy, who served as the spokesman of 'the Muslim Brotherhood in the West' from 1995-1997', was previously the subject of controversy following an appearance on the BBC in 2009, which led to accusations that he advocated the killing of Israeli children as they were all 'future soldiers'. During the interview, the BBC's Zeinab Badawi presses el-Helbawy on a number of issues, including the Muslim Brotherhood's attitude towards democracy, Sharia law and Israel. While el-Helbawy assures Badawi that the organisation is committed to democracy and freedom of religion, and would only implement an Islamic state if supported by the electorate, he does acknowledge that the Muslim Brotherhood seeks to govern by Sharia law. Read more>>

The Wire Arab unrest: Israel invoked by all sides  Wed. 9 Feb. 2011 @ 14.16 - Media reports on how Israel is being utilised by all parties in the continuing Egyptian unrest to discredit the opposition. In an analysis piece appearing today in The Times, Middle East correspondent James Hider looks at how Israel is being used by both sides in the Egyptian conflict as a means to attack their opposition. Speaking of his own recent experience of the renewed repressiveness of the Egyptian regime, Hider begins: 'After the chaos and the riots, the leaden hand of bureaucracy is returning to stifle the media and dissenters in Egypt.' This discussion of renewed attempts to repress opposition then focuses on Israel. Slogans on both sides have 'reflected suspicions, whipped up by both sides, over Israel's role in the crisis'. Hider describes how: 'Both the Mubarak regime and the protesters are using Israel as a stick to beat the other.' Read more>> Donate Just Journalism is an independent research organisation focused on how Israel and Middle East issues are reported in the UK media. We produce analysis of print, broadcast and online media and regularly publish research on trends in the media's coverage. We are a not-for-profit company that relies solely on the donations of its supporters. You can donate easily online via PayPal by clicking the button below. For alternate methods of donating such as cheque or wire transfer, please email donate@justjournalism.com.