Wednesday, 1 June 2011

Just Journalism
May 27, 2011
Op-eds and Features



VIEWPOINT: BBC Middle East editor blames Israel for conflict


Just Journalism's Editorial Manager Carmel Gould analyses BBC Middle East editor Jeremy Bowen's response to Netanyahu's Congress speech.

In the same week that MediaGuardian attacked the BBC for being 'replete in imbalance and distortion' - in favour of Israel, BBC Middle East editor Jeremy Bowen has been published on the Corporation's website, unequivocally blaming Israel for the conflict with the Palestinians, whilst entirely exonerating the Palestinians.

In 'Netanyahu chooses to make things worse with Capitol Hill speech', Bowen directly accuses the Israeli prime minister of deliberately opting to worsen the situation in the Middle East:

'No peace process worth talking about exists to be revived. But he had a choice of making matters worse or better, and he chose to make them worse.'

While the article appeared under 'Features & Analysis' such an assertion nonetheless stands out for its partisan nature. At every opportunity, the veteran journalist casts Israel as guilty and the Palestinians as implausibly innocent.

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The Wire


Guardian highlights 'Global Peace Index' 2011; Israel ranked 145/153


Thurs. 26 May 2011 @ 13.51 -

Guardian Datablog showcases results of Global Peace Index 2011, ranking Israel below all of Arab Spring countries; gives Israel worst possible human rights ranking.

Yesterday The Guardian's Datablog published the results of the Global Peace Index, which ranks the 'calm' and 'peacefulness' of 153 countries across the world. The index takes into account a broad array of factors, including crime rates, internal and external relations and conflicts, arms sales, military size, democratic indices and social indicators. In the overall ranking of countries Israel - not including the Palestinian territories - ranks 145 out of 153, its lowest ever rating.

The methodology of the index, devised by the Economist Intelligence Unit, was questioned by the unit's sister company, The Economist, at its inception in 2007. 'Give peace a rating' suggested that 'the index will run into some flak', as it was weighted against more militarised countries:

'By unconditionally endorsing low military budgets and marking down high ones, the index may seem to give heart to freeloaders: countries that enjoy peace precisely because others (often America) care for their defence.'

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The Wire


Hamas in Gaza: 'Armed confrontation will be backbone of the resistance'


Fri. 27 May 2011 @ 10.44 - 

Head of Hamas international relations department who was hosted by Guardian to condemn PA as 'stooges', demands 'the return of the Israelis to the countries from which they came.'

Osama Hamdan, the head of Hamas' international relations department, used a television interview to clarify the Islamist organisation's intention to use violence against Israel, following its recent reconciliation with Fatah. According to Memri's translation of his appearance on 4 May, Hamdan argued that the new unity deal meant that 'all the Palestinian forces' would now 'operate within the single framework of confronting the Zionist entity':

'[I]t will be an armed confrontation, as well as all other forms of struggle, including civil Intifada against the occupation, against the wall, and against the Judaization of Jerusalem. There is no doubt, however, that the armed confrontation will continue to be the main effort and the backbone of the resistance, until the liberation of Palestine.'

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The Wire


Guardian plays up tokenistic Muslim Brotherhood gestures


Thurs. 26 May 2011 @ 15.49 -

Editorial claims that Muslim Brotherhood's inclusion of Copts signals its tolerant intent, ignoring the Islamist group's growing relationship with hardline Salafists.

Today's Guardian's editorial discusses the implications of yesterday's speech by Barak Obama to both houses of parliament, in which he stated his belief in promoting the shared values of the UK and the US. While opening by flattering the American president, 'Leadership is about deeds, not words' nonetheless sounded a note of caution, warning that at times Obama's speech came 'perilously close' to echoing George W Bush's 'freedom agenda.'

The issue of democracy in the Middle East was raised as a particular sticking point, with the broadsheet noting that while the president asserted that democracy couldn't be 'imposed', it had yet to be seen how the US would react if Arab states such as Egypt and Tunisia voted in 'conservative Islamists' such as the Muslim Brotherhood. However, rather than acknowledge that the democratic election of groups that do not themselves value democratic principles might present a genuine dilemma, the editorial instead opts to vaunt the Brotherhood's supposed inclusivity:

'[J]ust to reinforce its intent the Brotherhood is sponsoring a large number of Coptic Christians as its candidates.'

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