“Arresting” Lieberman: Journalism or Activism?
February 24, 2011 17:08 by Simon PloskerOn Feb. 22, Irish “journalist” David Cronin attempted a citizen’s arrest of Israel’s Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman at the start of a press conference at the EU in Brussels. Cronin shouted: “Mister Lieberman this is a citizen’s arrest. You are charged with the crime of apartheid” while accusing Israel of being an apartheid state. Video footage of the incident can be viewed below:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZGBeVRL52A&feature=relmfu[/youtube]
According to The Guardian’s report of the incident:
Cronin, a freelance journalist who has written for the Economist, the Inter Press Service news agency and the Guardian’s Comment is Free, was restrained by security guards and escorted from the building, shouting “Free Palestine”.
Can Cronin really be described as a “freelance journalist”? These are not the actions of a credible, honest media professional. Cronin’s actions are an abuse of the access granted to him and others with press credentials.
Perhaps it is unsurprising to see that Cronin contributes to The Guardian, a newspaper that has itself blurred the lines between journalism and activism with its coverage of the Palileaks.
We were also surprised when we saw the story on our Google RSS Reader, which we use to keep track of articles from so many media outlets. Take a closer look at the authors of the article.
Could it be that The Guardian allowed David Cronin to co-author a news item about an incident in which he was the key player? There is no evidence of this on The Guardian’s website. Yet, an RSS feed does not make errors independently from the original source material that it reproduces.
Which leaves us with one question: Innocent slip up that required a swift correction or an intentional cover-up of an unethical piece of reporting?
Update – 25 Feb: David Cronin himself has added the following in the comments section below: “I can confirm that I did NOT co-author the article in The Guardian to which you referred.”
At what point does journalism become activism? In this case, Cronin clearly crossed the line. Indeed, the Arab-Israeli conflict is one prime example of two competing narratives where not only have many journalists accepted one of those narratives but are actively promoting one side over the other.
We hope that The Guardian and other mainstream media outlets will not publish any of David Cronin’s writing on any subject related to Israel. With The Guardian, however, we suspect that Cronin’s outburst will only endear him to the paper’s editorial team.
hanna Hughes
5:15 am
Feb 25, 2011
Was that guy searched before he was let into the meeting? I am so sick and tired of these so called reporters who do not know what is going on… or is someone paying them to do it.?
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Josephine Bacon
5:56 am
Feb 25, 2011
When the lid is finally being blown off the Arab world and everyone can see for themselves that the Arab countries are ruled by ruthless dictators it is laughable that someone like David Cronin should attack Lieberman. What is “apartheid” exactly? If it means legal and physical separation and boycotts, it is the boycotters who are guilty of Apartheid and of tarring Israel with the same dirty brush as its oppressors. Even thick David Cameron has realised and said that the vicious antisemitism that the Arab world pretends is a legitimate cause against Israel is shoved by the dictators like a pacifier into the mouths of their gullible citizens to deflect their attention of the way they are ruled.
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Leon Hale
6:33 am
Feb 25, 2011
It appears to me that Cronin is one of many activists using so called journalism as propaganda against Israel. Where did he get credentials from ? and as a freelance he must
have some support of those of like nature other than the newspapers who take his garbage.
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rnd
7:22 am
Feb 25, 2011
The romantic idealic Europeans with their Arabs-Israeli ideas for relationships fit for animated stories.
What Clarcks and a like hide and do not say in streight forward words is that:they either wish or lead to the destruction and abolishment of the state of Israel.(tiny group on the globe who came back to their own ancient land))
Israel is under a siege and in a situation of beeing in a giant prison for the last 70 years but yet, somehow survives and floats above the water.
The Majority of the Palestinians and Moslem world wants, acts and plan to destroy Israel.
What any humane beeing can do to stop it!?
Talks? They demand impossible terms.
Gight? They rather lose scores of dispesable civilians of both sides.
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waterwillows
7:28 am
Feb 25, 2011
What kind of a place is the EU that this can take place there? We all know the Guardian is a cesspool of immature reporting and limited vision.
But what kind of a place is the EU?
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Julian
8:17 am
Feb 25, 2011
An active media blitz to show the difference between South Africa Apartheid verse reality in Israel is required. Something along the lines of:-
In Apartheid South Africa non-whites could not vote.
In Israel all citizens can vote.
In Apartheid South Africa non-whites were restricted as to where they could live.
In Israel all citizens can choose to live where they want.
In Apartheid South Africa non-whites were restricted access to higher levels of education.
In Israel all citizens have access to higher education.
This is but a few of the many differences between that exist between Israel and what existed in South Africa.
Interestingly the Islamic Apartheid in terms of gender inequality parallels some of the aspects that existed in Apartheid South Africa.
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Stephen
9:05 am
Feb 25, 2011
If Julian will contact me fcint@lantic.net I can send him a broadsheet that the South African Zionist Federation is distributing to the Jewish and local press about this comparative exercise in response to the fallacious Apartheid accusations.
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jane.e.stewart
9:36 am
Feb 25, 2011
I’m Irish and ashamed for my country
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David Cronin
10:01 am
Feb 25, 2011
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
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Leah C.
10:37 am
Feb 25, 2011
Mr. Cronin,
How about reading Julian comment above and educate yourself in what exactly defines apartheid???
And maybe visit Israel with an open mind and and an open heart to educate yourself in what that country really is and stand for.
Then also visit and follow a site like Memri.org where you will hear from their own mouth what Israel accusers think and say, and educate yourself in what the Muslim world stands for.
Then, maybe, just maybe, you will understand the depth of the trauma inherited by the Jewish world in general, by Israel particularly, you will understand how close Nazism and Islam-ism are.
You will understand that the suicide bombers who were acceptable to the world when they were exploding in Israel are now exploding everywhere in the world;
in the same way, the fate that the world wishes to Israel will become the world fate sooner than you think.
You will understand that Israel must and will fight to the death because if they lose, it will be death anyway,,,
Shame on you for what you did, for what you said, for the lies you published.
Yes, there is oppression, unbearable oppression in the Muslim world, but the truth is out, on your TV, today. Look at Egypt, Tunisia, look at Libya right now… Only yesterday, their argument was the same as yours, But when these countries exploded under the oppression, it was plain for all to see that Israel had nothing to do with it.
Same with Palestinians, my friend, their leaders do anger control by directing it toward Israel, but they too might explode soon against their rulers and regain some of their true honor in the process…
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baroque
10:39 am
Feb 25, 2011
Kindly explain then, why your name appears in “black and white”, for all to see, as co-author? Perhaps you should obtain a citizens arrest for crimes committed against journalists or activists. What exactly are you David? The lines are rather blurred!
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Ad Hammingh
12:09 pm
Feb 25, 2011
Mr Cronin should look in the Arabic states where he could see real apartheid.
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Simon Plosker
12:14 pm
Feb 25, 2011
Thank you Mr. Cronin for your comment. We shall update the HonestReporting piece accordingly.
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Michael
4:09 pm
Feb 25, 2011
I visited your blog to see your views in their entirety. Turns out you are as racist as can be. It’s apartheid to require ALL citizens to state their allegiance to the country they live in? It’s apartheid not to allow citizens to celebrate the failure to destroy their own country? Cronin, you have selective beliefs and they are all based on your hatred of Jews. Israelis that live in Judea and Samaria are PEOPLE, they are not SETTLERS. Haters like you prefer to de-humanize the Israelis by using terms like “settler” or “settlement”. When an Arab kills a woman or child you refer to the victim as a “settler” and therefore the death is acceptable. Woe to the Arab for he was so oppressed. What is it with you and your ilk that you see hate as a good thing? People like you are the fools that prolong the use of Arab refugees as political tools. Over 750 thousand Jews were absorbed by Israel after they were expelled from their Arab countries after 1948. Yet 450 thousand Arabs (most of whom left on their own volition) were abandoned by 22 Arab countries. For a journalist you sure are ignorant of the FACTS.
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Tweets that mention "Arresting" Lieberman: Journalism or Activism? | HonestReporting -- Topsy.com
10:10 am
Feb 25, 2011
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Boaz Arad, fivehippos. fivehippos said: "Arresting" Lieberman: Journalism or Activism?: http://t.co/REwklQN "apartheid" accusation at EU conference in Brussels [...]
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SAH
1:52 pm
Feb 25, 2011
I am Irish and was shocked at this. Not all Irish people are devoid of reason and intelligence when it comes to Israel. But I am also ashamed as an Irishman – David, please stop showing up the Irish as ill-educated and biased when it comes to Middle East politics!
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Salah Yakoub
3:23 pm
Feb 25, 2011
Message for Mr Cronin and the guardian.
It seems when any reporter or Newspaper wants to be noticed by the public at large so what is the best way to achieve it?
Let me tell you and the guardian why not bash the Jews that brings in free advertising and straightaway you are both celebrities.
The last time it was Lipni!, Barak and other Israelis so what became there quickest way to get notarized apply for warrants of arrest when they land in Britain now it is Leiberman — congratulations Mr Cronin and the guardian.
Let me tell you that while Britain is emersed in the sinking swamp of finance with no way out for the next few years ahead eating away her hard fought success Israel has gone forward by lengths. We have given this rotten world inventions more than other nations contributed even as much as curing some cancers and other cures, security, arms etc. etc.
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glikson
5:53 pm
Feb 25, 2011
Free palestine!!! FREE FROM HAMAS… FREE FROM HESZBOLAH!!!, than , maybe will be possible talk about peace….
Shabat Shalom…
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jimmy
9:16 pm
Feb 25, 2011
Since this Cronin character was part of the story, there is no way he can be considered a journalist.
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Nathan Zafran
2:04 am
Feb 26, 2011
Do not be surprised by Cronin’s behaviour. With the relentless and well orchestrated campaign against Israel, its’ people and freely elected government (now that’s something the Arabs and Muslims know nothing about), in the UK and Ireland, it’s a small surprise that now and then some moronic idiot needs to show how efficiently anti-Israeli he/she is. Especially vitriolic are the Guardian and the Independent (which it isn’t). One Robert Fisk has dropped so many silly clankers and has again and again shown shoddy and libelous reporting. This entitled him to an award for his journalistic skills. A cartoon showing Ariel Sharon eating Palestinian babies, based on a drawing by Goya showing some Greek god eating his own children, received first prize for the political cartoon of the year. Another cartoon in the Guardian shows Sharon placing his hands against the Western Wall, as practiced by praying Jews, only in this case he was smearing blood on the wall. So if raw antisemitism is rife and acceptable and even prize winning don’t be surprised at moronic outbreaks against Israelis. Shame on England!
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Duncan
4:19 am
Feb 26, 2011
Israel is the shining light of freedom and democracy and innovation surrounded by an ocean of moronic, intolerant despots ( with minor exceptins). The Jews have an ancient claim to that land predating and of greater substance than any other claim. They have done well with Israel. Cronin won’t see this. He must be either deeply misguided, biased, or simply stupid.
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Julinho Aisen
4:37 pm
Feb 26, 2011
Mr. David Cronin, you are a perverse IDIOT!
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Robert
8:55 pm
Feb 26, 2011
An Arab judge sits on Israel’s High Court. Arabs serve in the knesset. There is affirmative action favoring arabs for seats in Israel’e universities. In brief, Arab states practice gender, religious, and racial apartheid. Israel has nonexistent apartheid!
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Haim Naggar
3:50 pm
Feb 27, 2011
Wonder what David Cronin think today about his Body, Kadafy, I bet not.
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Yosef K
9:24 pm
Feb 27, 2011
One has to wonder if these people love Arabs and Palastine or simply hate Jews.
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