PRESS COVERAGE IN THE GAZA STRIP
When it does not get its way, we can always depend upon the news media to bellyache.
Israel scrapped arrangements Monday to allow the first foreign reporters into the Gaza Strip since the military launched its offensive against Palestinian militants, adding to mounting media frustration at being locked out of the war zone.
The ban on foreign media, which has been appealed to the Israeli Supreme Court, drew criticism from journalists that Israel is trying to manage the story.
Israel asserts that opening border crossings for journalists would endanger staff at the terminals, which have often been targeted by militants. (from here)
As one reads this story, one wonders if journalists think Israel staged its offense for their benefit. What is apparent is that some journalists do regard themselves as indispensable.
“There is a need for journalists to be on the ground to document the news stories, and frankly to monitor the behavior of all belligerent parties, whether it is Hamas or the Israeli army,” he said. “The presence of the media in any place where war is raging has helped keep violations under check.”
Reporters who cannot enter Gaza devote much of their time reporting on rocket attacks by Palestinian militants and filming the damage caused on the Israeli side of the line, or filming Gaza from distant vantage points inside Israel. (from here)
Israel is conducting military operations, and secrecy is generally helpful under such circumstances. In addition, the news media is notorious for emphasizing the lopsided casualty counts. Apparently, too much of the foreign press is unhappy with the relatively small number of Israeli dead and injured.
What should be obvious is that Israel is surrounded by hostile nations. Yet only Iran, the backer of Hamas, would clearly benefit if Hamas continues its belligerency. So Israel’s task is to quiet Hamas with minimal civilian casualties. In fact, if Israel kills too many civilians, the operation will be a dismal failure. Instead of stopping Hamas’ rockets, Israel will have riled its Muslim neighbors.
Nonetheless, the foreign press must report something, and gore is best. So we get unhelpful, gory speculation.
Israel is believed to be using controversial white phosphorus shells to screen its assault on the heavily populated Gaza Strip yesterday. The weapon, used by British and US forces in Iraq, can cause horrific burns but is not illegal if used as a smokescreen.
As the Israeli army stormed to the edges of Gaza City and the Palestinian death toll topped 500, the tell-tale shells could be seen spreading tentacles of thick white smoke to cover the troops’ advance. “These explosions are fantastic looking, and produce a great deal of smoke that blinds the enemy so that our forces can move in,” said one Israeli security expert. Burning blobs of phosphorus would cause severe injuries to anyone caught beneath them and force would-be snipers or operators of remote-controlled booby traps to take cover. Israel admitted using white phosphorus during its 2006 war with Lebanon. (from here)
Other Views
The Armchair Generalist explains the limits of airpower here.
Mosquito blog has string of stories. This here was my ahh… favorite.
The Richmond Democrat offers the news media a full blown frontal assault of his own. See here.
Avenging Archangel provides a link to pro-Israeli news coverage here.
XCurmudgeon takes the Israeli side here.
Shaun Kenny provides some pertinent information about the rocket attacks here. Make certain you check out UPDATE x3 at the bottom is his post.
Why is Israel allowed to kill hundreds of innocent Palestinian men, women and children and leave thousands seriously wounded as if they are insects to be wiped out? Who can control them if they simply ignore international law and UN legally binding declarations? Have they forgotten already what happened to them last century in Europe? They are either extremely stupid or taking out their revenge on the innocent Palestinians.Don’t you think it is natural that the Palestinians fight back. They were told to have democratic elections which they did. But oh dear! the people chose Hamas! I don’t like the Labour Party in the UK but I don’t think it’s permissible to go and impose sanctions and bomb London with phosphorous bombs because they were elected.
The Palestinians may be weaker physically and have “primitive” weapons, but they now occupy the high moral ground as the Jewish zionist state demonstrates its complete disregard for human life. But don’t you worry, injustice may reign now but God’s justice will be established, if not in this life in the next!
Not only are the surrounding countries of Israel hostile to it but the citizens of other countries are also, as is clear from the massive wave of demonstrations around the world.If only the governments would listen to their citizens the world would be a much better place!
ceajallo
January 12, 2009 at 4:18 pm
ceajallo – Followers of Hamas and other Palestinians attacked Israel from the Gaza. The Palestinians in the Gaza Strip allowed these attackers to hide amongst them. If Israel is to stop the attacks, they have to go into the Gaza Strip and fight where their enemy has chosen to hide. That means unavoidable (from Israel’s perspective) civilian casualties.
Choices have consequences. Instead of bettering themselves, the residents of the Gaza Strip have chosen to war with a more powerful neighboring state. They have let their religious bigotry get the best of them.
Citizen Tom
January 12, 2009 at 8:14 pm
Every colonised or occupied country in history has fought for freedom and independence so why should Palestine be any different. The Palestinian people are prepared to pay the price. Or should they just roll over and die a slow death from the sanctions imposed? Or should they just be” good boys and girls” like schoolchildren and say yes and no in the right places? What right do the European, American, Russian etc.Jews have just to move in and take the Palestinians land ? The Palestininans have been displaced since 1948.How would you and others feel if Russia, for the sake of example, decided that they had the right to take over Texas or Washington and made the citizens live in a 20 square mile area of land and imposed sanctions on them beacause they voted for Obama? Oh, but that’s probably a bit too close to home for comfort. The Palestinians are somewhere far away and don’t really matter. A bit like the American Indians who were exiled from their lands and treated as something a bit less than human by the settlers. Please my friend these Palestinians are humans with a heart and a SOUL!The Jewish people should understand that oppressed people will always resist the oppression they experience. They, above all others, should understand this instead of simply stamping on anyone who dares to say we will not accept this status quo. I know there is never anyone 100% right or wrong but I sincerely think that Israel should stop bullying the Palestinians and allow them to be free to live the way they wish in their own land. It’s the only way they will have peace (if that’s what they want).Please citizens of the world stop oppression, be it in Palestine or wherever. Stop being brainwashed by the propoganda of those who wish to impose their own agenda on the world at the expense of the weak and poor. Look for the truth behind the words of political language which George Orwell once said is “designed to make untruths sound truthful”. Wake up world and see what is really happening!
ceajallo
January 13, 2009 at 3:06 am
ceajallo – You are making the assumption that the Israelis drove the Palestinians out. Not true. You are also making the assumption that others have been brainwashed. Yet you are proceeding on the unsubstantiated assumption you know the truth.
Have you offered a solution? No. What it appears you want is for the Israelis to give up and stop defending themselves. How does that help? Why should Hamas and others be allowed to attack the Israel without consequence? Are the Israelis suppose to put up with rocket attacks just because they are stronger? That is silly.
Old Fashion Liberal
January 13, 2009 at 7:57 am
Before the immigration of Zionist Jews into Palestine the three religions, ie, Jews, Christians and Muslims lived in peace until someone somewhere decided that it was in their interest to stir things up. The problem here is not religious but political and it started with Zionism, not Judaism versus Islam or Christianity. I take your point about there being consequences to any choice, but the problem here is the occupation by Israel, which in turns causes resistance, as has been the case throughout history.
The people of the Middle East lived in harmony in the past and the Jews actually enjoyed the protection of the Muslim community which they never found anywhere else. You may think me naive, but the world should realise that the source of the problem is the occupation of Palestine by the Israelis, which has caused the resistance and not the other way round.
Please look at the pictures of little children, whose lives are cut off so young or are permanantly disfigured and disabled. There have been over 200 killed so far. Don’t you think the response is disproportionate? Or are you one of those who think Palestinian lives are cheaper than Western lives? Even from a humanitarian point of view, this killing must stop. If you read up your history you will understand the suffering of the Palestinian people since 1948. The Palestinian people have been oppressed for 60 odd years and things are getting worse for them and they are just expected to accept this. I believe they have the right to express their resistance to the occupation even if it means provoking Israel. At least they know then that the situation is unacceptacle for the Palestinians.
And finally, don’t forget the British considered the early Jewish settlers in Palestine as terrorists (remember the King David Hotel?), but then they became respectable leaders. So Israel was established on terrorism – interesting isn’t it?
The solution is to stop the Israeli occupation and bullying of the Palestinian people and let all peoples of the area live in dignity and harmony. This will only happen when the Jewish state stops its hatred of Muslims and other religious groups.Hatred only breads hatred and violence only breads violence.
ceajallo
January 13, 2009 at 4:46 pm
Just look at the map of Palestinian land between 1948 and now , they have lost over 70 % and they history says they were driven out , so denying it makes you look foolish .
Over 200 Palestinian towns were cleansed and renamed in Hebrew , since 48 and to deny Israel has trapped Gaza , sealed off the border , attack fishing vessels daily, destroyed power stations , kidnap many , deny travel to thousands and the theft of land is still happening today , settlements are EXPANDING , its a FACT and you can’t expand w/o taking land , so keep your lies to yourself , we know better .
Kahoneez
March 6, 2009 at 11:21 pm
Kahoneez — Foolish? Well, it would not be the first time. Did Israel drive out the Palestinians? Has Israel taken over 70 percent of Palestine? Do the Palestinians deserve our sympathy to the point where we should help them drive all the Israelis into the sea? I don’t think so. I am afraid you are operating with some false assumptions.
The Volokh Conspiracy has an article you might find interesting (see here). You might also consider that nearly a quarter of the population is non-Jewish (mostly Arab), and that 16 percent of the population is Muslim (see here).
Citizen Tom
March 7, 2009 at 3:50 pm