CBS 60 Minutes: An Unholy Attack on Israel
April 24, 2012 11:04 by Simon PloskerThe status of Christians in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza has been featured in the media on numerous occasions. The April 22 edition of CBS’s 60 Minutes, however, presented an unbalanced picture blaming Israel for virtually every difficulty experienced by Palestinian Christians.
After watching the segment, one is left with the impression that Christians are being deliberately targeted by malevolent Israeli policies when nothing could be further from the truth. Undoubtedly, Palestinian Christians are affected by Israeli security measures such as the West Bank security barrier, referred to by Bob Simon as a “wall” despite the majority of the structure consisting of chain-link fencing.
According to Simon:
Palestinian Christians, once a powerful minority, are becoming the invisible people, squeezed between a growing Muslim majority and burgeoning Israeli settlements.
Could Israeli settlements really be responsible for the plight of Palestinian Christians? Or is it due to issues that Bob Simon fails to fully investigate?
Related Content: Ignoring the Real Causes of Christian Exodus
Simon refers to settlements to explain the plight of Palestinian Christians. But his analysis is naive and demonstrates a weak grasp of the issues he’s presenting.
Reporters with more experience reporting on the region repeatedly point to the suppression of voices critical of the Muslim majority in Palestinian cities.
The Associated Press reports:
The number of Christians in the West Bank is on the decline. While some leave for economic reasons, many speak of persecution by the Muslim majority, but always anonymously, fearing retribution.
Justus Reid Weiner has researched the plight of Christians in the Palestinian territories extensively. According to Weiner, Arab Christians rarely speak about their situation in public:
The human rights crimes against the Christian Arabs in the disputed territories are committed by Muslims. Yet many Palestinian Christian leaders accuse Israel of these crimes rather than the actual perpetrators. This motif has been adopted by a variety of Christian leaders in the Western world. Others who are aware of the human rights crimes choose to remain silent about them.
Ha’aretz looks at Israeli reaction to the broadcast even before it was aired:
“We conducted a thorough examination and we found out that no official Israeli source was asked to comment on the assertions in the report,” an Israeli diplomat said.
Israel’s embassy in Washington met with “60 Minutes” several times and found that the report was almost ready for broadcast. In one of the meetings with the investigative reporters, an Israeli diplomat presented an issue of Newsweek with a cover story about the persecution of Christian communities in Arab states.
“The ’60 Minutes’ reporters said that this was not the subject of their article so it was not relevant,” said an Israeli diplomat.
How could Muslim persecution of Christians not be relevant to the subject matter? And how could a supposedly credible media outlet initially fail to consider asking Israeli officials for their views?
For more information on the status of Christians in the Holy Land, read Michael Oren’s article in the Wall St Journal.
John Versteege
7:15 pm
Apr 24, 2012
There is a simple answer to this fiasco….
Bob Simon must have secretly converted to Islam.
That or his closest friend, family member, or pet
has been kidnapped for a ransom…i/e the piece we
are discussing.
So, by now, he must have been reunited with said
loved one.
And he must be ready for a 3 weeks holiday,
compliments of The Muslim Brotherhood (secret) Holiday
Package for good employees of the month…or 60 Minutes…
PS: Bob, you look tired….May be you should retire and write a book…
“The forthcoming collapse of a News Giant”
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fred
12:59 am
Apr 25, 2012
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Michelle Wayne
2:53 am
Apr 25, 2012
Israel ha ethnically cleansed 8000 Christians??? what rotten lier you are, I like to turn around and put this words beck in yours mouth!! While I was in Bethlehem on Christian celebration there where yellow signs in English right in front of the holly churches coaling Christians to return to Allah and Islam the only God?there where Muslims spiting on christian processions and the children and youth with covered faces trowing rocks on the procession, the Palestinian Police did nothing just laugh while the Israeli soldiers where protecting the procession by chasing away the Arabs.The same in Jerusalem the only protection from the rocks and abuse was from Israeli Police and soldiers when the Muslims where attacking the Christians from above from they mosk that they mullah have allowed them, catholic priests are famous for they hate of Jews I personally heard when a Polish priest as I’m Polish my self told a Polish tourists worshipers in Jerusalem that the Jews paid the Arabs to trow rocks on them, it’s the priests who started the antisemitism in the firs place by feeding Christians lies and not telling them that Jesus and his family where Jews.If wouldn’t be for Israel the only sign of Christianity would be in the bible the Muslims would make sure about that, just to mention what the Arabs did to eastern Jerusalem churches and synagogues before 1967 6 days war, destroyed them and burnt them and forbid the worshipers to go near anything christian or Jewish places of worship. Go to Hell 60 minutes you just lost a costumer and I’m not the only one.
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Leah Steuer
8:01 pm
Apr 24, 2012
iT IS STUPID AND DECEPTIVE LIES LIKE THIS THAT CREATE PROBLEMS FOR ISRAEL. SHAME ON 60 MINUTES FOR REPORTING INCORRECT, DAMAGING AND TOTALLY DAMAGING LIES. iSRAEL IS OUR ALLY, STUPID. GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT OR ELSE TAKE YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY TO THE PLACED THAT THE MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD LIVE IN AND PERHAPS YOU WILL FIND IT MORE SUITED TO YOUR SICK BEHAVIOR LEAHSTEUER
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statcitizen
8:40 pm
Apr 24, 2012
Bob Simon’s ‘report’ on Christian residents in the West Bank a disgrace to CBS! It was a one-sided slam making Israel the villain behind all the Palestinian’s ‘woes.’ As HR points out, there was no Israeli side of the story; no attempt was made to verify the Palestinian claims; and there was no attention paid to the well documented Muslim anti-Christian actions across the entire Middle East. Ambassador Oren had it exactly right: the piece was indeed a ‘hatchet’ job. Bob Simon is a yellow journalist of the first rank, and is totally unfit for serious reporting.
I have to say I was disappointed in Oren’s responses during the interview; his defense of Israel was weak. Then again, had he made any effective counter-points, those would likely have been edited out, too.
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Les Gilbert
9:15 pm
Apr 24, 2012
I have been in Israel many times, and have done some substantial business with Christian Arabs, universally they were afraid of the radical factions in the Arab community. The more moderate people have to go with the flow, or else. Until Israel took over the Christians were radically restricted as to where and how they were allowed to conduct their religious services. And Jews, forget about it. All Jewish holy sites were off limits. Religious freedom is now guaranteed for all under Israeli law even to the muslams who restricted religeous worship for all except themselves.
The media here is such trash, if you get the truth it is purely accidental , i do not believe that 60 minutes has ever stumbled on the truth, nor am i sure they would recognize it if they did. Apparently, hate sells air time, 60 minute sponsors will get none of my money, if they condone this biased crap I see no reason to support them or their products, let the Arabs support them.
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fred
1:02 am
Apr 25, 2012
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aaron levy
1:47 am
Apr 25, 2012
Yes, We know where Fred is coming from…His hatred spews forth, unbridled, with a sever lack of intelligence.
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fred
4:44 am
Apr 25, 2012
Is that it? What not using the old tired anti semitic card. Dispute 80000 Palestinians Christians were ethnically cleansed in 1948 with some facts and I might take you serious. If not I will treat you as the hasbaraist merchant that you are.
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Michelle Wayne
3:27 am
Apr 25, 2012
“Fred ?” How there you say you are a christian? layer!!You are a lying Muslim who would say anything anywhere if it comes against the Jews even if it was right in front of yours face, you would do the same if it was the other way around, just to say “Zionist” proves what you are inhuman full of hate well it goes with Islam invented cult.Real God is one for everybody the same for Jews and Christians he don’t hate anybody just love and teaches to love while yours invented god Allah is hateful and full of vengeance.The first Testament is also a Jewish Torah the Christians who believe in first and second bible but than you wouldn’t know beckose you are not a christian go and worship yours Satan you know who the terrorist, murderer,and pedophile.
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aaron levy
9:33 pm
Apr 24, 2012
Bob Simon should be ashamed of himself for such Shoddy reporting. 60 minutes continues to lower itself to shoddy reporting. Totally disgusting!
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Laura Spector Heinzel
9:43 pm
Apr 24, 2012
Why am I not surprised! CBS – 60 Minutes is blatantly antisemitic, always has been, is and always will be.
Their hatred of Jews is not even historically accurate. I am sick of them & most of the Media.
NEVER AGAIN
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Sid Borison
10:17 pm
Apr 24, 2012
It has been a long time since I stopped watching 60-minutes. I only watched this time because the subject was of interest. I am deeply disappointed with the one-sided reporting by Bob, and, I guess it will either be a long time, or never for wathcing another 60-minutes episode.
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Chaim
10:58 pm
Apr 24, 2012
Its ok ,they owe us 2000 years worth
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Daniel Cohen
11:40 pm
Apr 24, 2012
Two observations: One relates to Bob Simon the Other to Israel Ambassador Michael Oren. Bob Simon, in just one of his iniquities in this clearly hostile program betrayed, not only his duty to present balance in his reporting, but also clearly betrayed the credo of any professional liar worthy of that title. Namely to at least incorporate some element of truth in a lie so that it may be swallowed. One outrageous instance was when a Chritian cleric pronounced (I paraphrase): ” The ONLY thing ever to be exported from “Palestine” is Christianity”.
First of all there never was in all of history any country called “Palestine”. It was a label stuck on after the Romans exiled the Jews from Judea and Samaria. So the man was talking about Judea (present day Israel) when he “forgot” all about the basis for all of the civilized word’s legal systems, the Ten Commandments and the Torah, shown to the world by Judaism – the religion of Jesus. Bob Simon let that pass unchallenged – which of course was the whole point of the program.
Ambassador Oren, eloquent as he was while under attack, and perhaps because he was under attack ommitted to say the single most important sentence anyone can say in response to these accusations by Christians: He should have pointed out the clear, unequivocal fact that, in all of history, only under Jewish sovereignty have the holy places of all faiths been totally accessible to the adherents of those faiths unfettered. This should be repeated in every single interview with any Israeli official – as a mantra.
Under the most recent previous occupation by Jordan, not only could Jews not visit their holy places, they were totally desecrated and many dozens destroyed.
Under the British, even during the darkest years of WW2, Jews needed special permission to visit the Western Wall (of the ancient Jewish Temple Mount).
Finally, but not comprehensively, it should be noted that Bob Simon actually resorted to extortion when he pointed out (though in the form of a question) that Israel had better watch out because her best friend, America, has an overwhelmingly Christian majority.
Bob Simon should be aware that many of those are truly Israel’s friends and can read him as clearly as his initials.
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fred
1:04 am
Apr 25, 2012
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BUTSeriously
3:56 am
Apr 25, 2012
“Israel’s fundamental basis is as a racist state built for Jews only,”
You mean unlike Saudi Arabia and almost all 57 Islamic states which refuses entry to Jews? Spoken like a typical Muslim Arab non-Palestinian. There is no requirement for Israel to even consider entry of those who know no other chant than DEATH TO ISRAEL, which occurred recently in the despicable people of Egypt. There is no requirement to consider others when Jews have no place to run from persecution and vilification. But as it is, Israel is lumbered with zombie Muslims who pretend their land is stolen.
Muslims get away with these blatant falsehoods because of European antisemitism and their Heil Hitler salutes at the UN the past 60 years. 60 Minutes comes under the same category. But these atrocities will backfire – all that is planned for Israel will come on the perpetrators – the are as far from any true belief and Gdliness as is possible..
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Jim
11:47 pm
Apr 24, 2012
60 Minutes lost credibility with me years ago. This further confirms my opinion.
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Jean Terry
12:19 am
Apr 25, 2012
I don’t watch 60 minutes any more. Don’t trust them. Used to watch the show years ago.
What a shame they are so biased. It never ceases to amaze me how obvious it is that the problems come from the Arab side and not from Israel, who bends over backwards and then some to make peace with these folks. We must pray their hearts are changed and for the protection of Israel.
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FRAN DUFF
12:29 am
Apr 25, 2012
Shame on you 60 Minutes in that the Christians have nothing to fear from Israel. If you had
any knowledge at all you would know that many Muslims do not fear Israel either in
that they have a better standard of living there than if they were in other areas of the
Middle East. I keep wondering what is your motive of denigrating the people of Israel
in that they want peace but will defend its people if missiles are fired at its people
which I would hope our leaders would do if another nation was attacking America.
I used to love to watch 60 Minutes but since you have begun to use it attack Israel
I have decided I do not have time for it anymore and I had been brought up as a
Christian. If Christians are leaving than could it be what is happening in Egypt,
Libya, Syria, and possibly Iran with the fear of the leader there. Of course, let us blame
Israel as usual.
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BUTSeriously
4:15 am
Apr 25, 2012
“I have decided I do not have time for it anymore and I had been brought up as a
Christian. ”
There has not been a single Christian who rose up against the crimes against Israel, not even by the most pro-Israel Christians. Saying YES to a 3-state, the splitting of Jerusalem and the negation of Hebron, is a death sentence of Israel. IMHO, even if Israel does not demand it, Christians will face great tribulations if the Balfour is not restored and Britain taken to task – this is for the welfare of Christians, not Jews. Consider the crimes of Christian silence and whether they can pass GO by their own Lord of it:
1. The corruption of the Balfour, when the Jews were totally helpless in W.W.II. This crime occured after 22 vast Islamic states were created. Christian Britain used the term 2-STATE COMPROMISE when some “80%” of a tiny landmass was carved off for Jordan. What if your Lord asks you: WHAT % IS NOT A COMPROMISE?
2. Britain’s WHITE PAPER, which barred Jews fleeing Europe from even the 20% swamp and desert left for Jews. Boat loads of Jewish refugees were sent back to the camp.
3. Transferring the name Palestinians from Jews on to those panting for another Holocaust. Rocket science what it means, but its very poor history: your own ancestors dumped this name on Jews for 2000 years.
4. Shamelessly calling a 3-state in the same land as a 2-state. Very poor maths.
60 Minutes is a direct result of Christian silence. Truth be told, the pollution is not with the climate – it is resting squarely on Christian shoulders today – you have loose/loose situation before you: if Israel goes down you face Islamism, while you act like Israel’s existence is an affront to you.
Jews must care for Christians – they are the only group who took on the Hebrew bible – never happened before. Saving Christians means telling them the truth. And the truth is that all problems Israel faces is the result of Christian silence to the greatest post-W.W.II Christian crimes.
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Nathan Zafran
12:41 am
Apr 25, 2012
The former Christian majority triangular enclave of Bet Jala, Bet Sakhur and Bet Lekhem (Bethlehem), near Jerusalem have become dominantly Muslim, due to threats and harrassment by Jihadist and Hamas thugs, which have forced the Christians out. The plight of the Christians across the Islamic world is well known. Even inside Israel, the authorities failed to tackle the oppresion and sheer threat to Christians in the village of Tura’an, near Tiberias, and out of despair they turned to the arch-terrorist, Yassir Arafart to help them. To accuse Israel for the Christians’ plight and oppression, in the Muslim world, is pure antisemitic blood libel and the kissing of Muslim behinds.
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HM
12:43 am
Apr 25, 2012
Maybe Israel should start treating the reporters like the arabs do.
Let them make their reports, from any where but Israel.
After all, you can make up stories no matter where you are.
As cbs has said they will only use the information they chose,
the rest is not important.
Remember there is an election in the u s this year,
guess who cbs, backs.
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Marta
2:53 am
Apr 25, 2012
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Anne M Johnson
1:31 am
Apr 25, 2012
60 minutes with Bob Simon, and CBS are and always have been a bunch of dishonest reporters, who cannot be believed. This is a hate fueled attempt to hurt Israel, and make the Palistanians look like good people which they are not. The ones I distrust the most are the Palistinians
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Michael
2:04 am
Apr 25, 2012
Luckily, TV viewership is in a free-fall. TV is no longer taken seriously as a source of news. It is mostly entertainment. Bob Simon sees the writing on the wall-His career is coming to an end. Now he can blame it on the universal scapegoat-the Jews.
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Brent Pudsey
2:19 am
Apr 25, 2012
Excellent analysis by Honesty Reporting. There are many people becoming Christians all over the Middle East despite persecution.
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Leonard Ressler
2:19 am
Apr 25, 2012
CBS has had previous problems in relation to reporting about Christians in the Middle East:
“Now in regard to the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople he was interviewed on CBS’s “60 Minutes” about one year ago and it seems that the usual suspects at the Turkish Embassy in Washington wrote to CBS protesting the interview and that what he said was “all lies” and he was even allowed to meet with the Prime Minster of Turkey to discuss the problems of the 4000 Christians still residing in occupied Constantinople and the fact that the only school of theology was closed in 1971″ or on the history of the Christian Armenians
“Right after the broadcast, the Assembly of Turkish American Associations (ATAA) and the Federation of Turkish-American Associations (TADF) sent a joint letter to CBS protesting the program, while also launching a campaign among Turkish-Americans to protest the channel for broadcasting the program, which they said was “a subjective propaganda tool” for Armenians, particularly at a time when there is the aforementioned scheduled vote on the issue on Thursday.
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Harry Lax
2:23 am
Apr 25, 2012
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Gilead
3:26 am
Apr 25, 2012
Reply to Harry Lax. I have no doubt that your knowledge about Israel is minimal, let alone the Judea and Samaria areas. bob Simon does not have the intelligence to digest statistical data and analyse any biases. Both of you can get lost, and fast. None of your opinions will change Israel. If Israel were behaving like many Christians did during WWII, there would not be even one Christian left in Israel. The Jewish state give full freedom to all religions. Not so was the situation during the Jordanian time pre-67. The Arabs who try to portray that they are friends of Christians are all false. Islam does not respect Christianity or Judaism. Best example is Saudi Arabia. once again, Bob Simon, it is time for you to get lost. you are a shame for CBS (anyway CBS is considered failure since long time).
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