HR Comment: Egypt Exposes Media Hypocrisy
February 7, 2011 16:52 by Simon PloskerThe intense coverage of the uprising in Egypt – covered by nearly every journalist in the region – has revealed a significant double standard in the media’s coverage of Israel. The relative decline in coverage of Israel draws attention to the vastly disproprtionate amount of attention Israel receives in the world press, at the expense of coverage of other parts of the Middle East. As a result, relatively minor events in Israel are reported, discussed and analyzed well beyond their importance, while entire movements in places like Egypt are ignored entirely.
The question needs to be asked – is the mainstream media giving its readers the best coverage of the region?
At any one time there are some 450 foreign journalists permanently resident in Israel, not to mention the hundreds of support staff such as photographers, researchers, producers, freelancers and stringers. Over the past couple of weeks, there has been something of an exodus as many journalists have left Jerusalem and headed to Cairo.
Indeed, many of those Jerusalem-based journalists are responsible not only for covering Israel but also the neighboring Arab countries of the Middle East, including Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria. This is particularly the case as news organizations seek to cut back on costs and reduce the numbers of foreign bureaus or expand the geographical reaches of existing ones.
Compared to her neighbors, Israel is a paragon of democracy, human rights and virtue. Paradoxically, however, these are just the things that Israel finds herself attacked over in the media and elsewhere. Of course, when so many journalists are stationed in such a small country, any indiscretions are likely to be magnified and turned into international news.
Indeed, an Israeli misdemeanor can make headlines while comparable or far worse incidents from Arab states will go completely unreported. So why is it that the mainstream media has only just discovered that a real human rights abuser in the form of Egyptian President Mubarak has been oppressing his people for nearly three decades?
There is certainly a double standard at play when it comes to the reporting in the Middle East. Why is it, for example, an international news story concerning Israeli measures to stem a wave of African migrants crossing the Egyptian-Israeli border? Could it be that such a story fits a narrative that portrays Israel as a racist, apartheid regime more concerned with Jewish particularism than caring for black Africans? Could it be that those who were persecuted and murdered by the Nazis are no longer prepared to save those who are persecuted today?
Sadly, this is a potential angle in the back of the minds of some who file such a story despite the fact that the issue of immigration is a sensitive one in both the US and Europe and is certainly not unique to Israel. What the media has failed to highlight, however, is the treatment that these migrants receive en route to Israel through Egypt, where tales of theft, murder, torture and rape abound. Where is the outrage that women and children are being shot by Egyptian border patrols as they run towards the one country that they believe offers them a better future? Where are the stories of how IDF soldiers actively rescue these people from certain death, physically pulling them over the border and out of reach of Egyptian guns?
Stories are emerging from Egypt of foreign journalists being harrassed and even physically attacked, so much so that this has prompted protests from Western governments, including the US administration. A list of incidents so far compiled by media analyst Tom Gross makes for shocking reading for those of us concerned with press freedom.
Yet why is this news? After all, even in the “moderate” authoritarian regimes of Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and the Palestinian Authority, journalists are regularly threatened, harassed, beaten, arrested and even murdered. But you won’t hear about such incidents. After all, one of the most important things for a journalist is access. So it doesn’t pay to complain to the regime or to publish the story lest such access is withdrawn.
In Israel however, a recent incident made news in a number of media outlets and prompted a complaint from the Foreign Press Association after an al-Jazeera reporter was asked to take off her bra to go through a security check at a journalist event hosted by Prime Minister Netanyahu. Putting aside the rights or wrongs of the incident, consider the following:
While the undoubted humiliation and inconvenience of an Al-Jazeera reporter makes headlines, the many stories of foreign journalists inconvenienced, detained, threatened and sometimes worse, are never reported simply because the foreign press is unprepared to publicly take on autocratic regimes that may impose sanctions that may negatively affect the ability of journalists to gather news.
Consider also the example of Al-Jazeera, the Qatari station that has proven its politicized agenda with its reporting of the Egyptian crisis and the recent Palileaks papers. Its offices attacked in Cairo and Ramallah while it is still free to operate in Israel of all places where the worst that can happen is the humiliation of one of its reporters at a security check.
Only now as the Mubarak regime starts to crumble do the journalists make a story out of their treatment in an Arab country, not to mention the revelations that Egypt, despite being a Western oriented ally in the region, is not a liberal or virtuous place for its citizens to live. Thus, thanks to the disproportionate coverage given to it, Israel can be perceived as a major violator of human rights, while her neighbors who are actually engaged in very real human rights violations and misdemeanors are able to carry on free from press scrutiny. Such is the double standard in reporting from the Middle East.
The Egyptian story offers us a case study in media double standards when it comes to coverage of Israel as part of the Middle East. Israel’s neighbors are not held to account as it doesn’t suit the journalists to do so. Instead, Israel, by virtue of her freedom of expression and access becomes the villain of the region while Western publics fail to appreciate Israeli security concerns in what has proven to be in the past few weeks, an illiberal, unstable and dangerous neighborhood.
Will the foreign press reflect on what they have seen upon their return to the relative idylls of Israel? It’s high time that journalists stationed in Israel stop abusing the comforts of their home base to disproportionately focus on Israel at the expense of neighboring Arab states, which truly deserve to have the spotlight focused on decades of human rights abuses, corruption and mismanagement.
r.eluchans
3:46 am
Feb 08, 2011
I do not believe the media these days tell the truth. They are totally biased and report whatever they think, or the reporter side’s…but not facts: examples of that?: BBC, The Guardian, McLean, and others. Pretty sad, but it appears that is the reality; the media in my view has a tremendous power, particularly with not informed people and more dangerous with those who use the media bias to their advantage.
Well-loved. Agree or Disagree:
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BUTSeriously
4:23 am
Feb 08, 2011
All Media and Journalists must be licensed, more astringently than doctors and lawyers, with greater penalties applying. Ths is not possible today, even as a world war can result by false media. But ultimately the humanity will awaken by the chaos and the pursuit for truth will prevail. The BBC and Guardian have become akin to Al Jazeera – even worse. The blame rests on their governments who lie it is a form of freedom. The BBC and Guardian are free to call a 3-state as a 2-state and Muslims as Palestineans: but their govs have invented such stuff!
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Ragged Claws
4:43 am
Feb 08, 2011
Good article, which asks: “Indeed, an Israeli misdemeanor can make headlines while comparable or far worse incidents from Arab states will go completely unreported. So why is it that the mainstream media has only just discovered that a real human rights abuser in the form of Egyptian President Mubarak has been oppressing his people for nearly three decades?”
Mainstream media has just discovered a real human rights abuser in Egypt because it is hard to miss when two million people are protesting in the streets. Also, to be fair, mainstream media is NOT just discovering this. If they were, I would not have known of it, and of course I do.
What is actually going on is that mainstream media is reporting on what others say. Anti Israel forces are continually charging Israel with racism, apartheid, Nazism, etc.. It is a concerted campaign.
But are Israelis conducting a media campaign in which they continually charge her enemies with the same? (Perhaps she should.)
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Neal
6:09 am
Feb 08, 2011
“Anti Israel forces are continually charging Israel with racism, apartheid, Nazism, etc.”
Yes, and so are all too many Israelis, which is part of the problem. The foreign press seizes on every such slander. Fredom of speech means freedom to say any damn fool thing you want, but it doesn’t mean freedom to do so without regard for the consequences. (That’s why there are libel laws and the famous U.S. Supreme Court justice’s statement that freedom of speech doesn’t include the right to yell “fire” in a crowded theater.)
Some Israelis will accuse their own country of the most-outrageous crimes, either oblivious to the fact that their words will be heard and read outside of Israel, or not caring that they will. And because the allegations come from Israelis, they appear to have credibility even when they have no basis in fact.
In a democracy, people are free to criticize their society, their government, its policies and its leaders. But that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t use their wits when doing so. There’s a huge difference between criticizing a nation’s policies and slandering the whole nation.
If Jews don’t appear to support Israel, why should anyone else?
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BUTSeriously
12:49 am
Feb 10, 2011
“The Jews, bear in mind, are major players in world economic affairs and control more of the world’s money than most people remotely imagine. ”
The term ‘CONTROLLED’ has been misused – it means there was no robbery but help as dependabe, honest accountants. The robbers are the Regimes installed by the British and those Europeans who support those regimes. Their victims are the Muslim peoples and this is deflected on the Jews to hide the crimes of the real robbers. Jews have been the primal doctors, lawyers and accountants for numerous ancient naions, including Egypt, the Islamic kingdoms and medevial Europe. Jews initiated traveller’s cheques and modern banking. There should be a Nuremberg II Trial for the regimes who boast of billions in their personal bank accounts and those Europeans who support them. Jews have never done any harm t Christians and Muslims.
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Max
8:08 am
Feb 08, 2011
The people of Israel and the city of Jerusalem have been the focus of attention for centuries. Anti-Semitism began centuries before the days of Hitler’s Germany and may be traced as far back as the 3rd millennium BC. Sad to say the Christian church is as guilty of Anti-Semitism as any other religious body.
Yes, anti-Semitism has been around for thousands of years and every nation and religion – including Christianity – is guilty. Today the eyes of the world are again on the people of Israel; simply because an all-out war in the Middle East would drag the whole world into war; not to mention its catastrophic effect on the economies of all nations. The Jews, bear in mind, are major players in world economic affairs and control more of the world’s money than most people remotely imagine. Surrounded as she is by her enemies, Israel is a nation living under constant threat. Never a week passes but Israel is in the news. Why is this? What makes Israel so important? How has this tiny nation become the centre of attention to the whole world? What hypnotic power does Israel possess with God and man? The answers are many and amazing to say the least.
Modern Christians, in other words, are no better than the people of ancient Israel. They too are rejecting Yahweh’s law and polluting His Sabbaths just as Israel did. All nations are guilty of lawlessness, of sin. All have come short of the glory of God. So do not secretly look down on the Jew as though he were a spiritually inferior person, because we Christians are no better than the Jews.
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BUTSeriously
11:32 am
Feb 08, 2011
One much needed potential hovers. All the regimes installed by Briton and supported by the EU and UN could begin to tumble by a force of their own. This will free Muslims from their shakles and the poison fed them against Israel and Jews as the diversion tactic – they will do so when outside information like the internet is opened to them. They will come to realize that regimes cannot boast of having billions in their private bank accounts, while deflecting all woes to the Zionists. Basically, Muslims will have to learn that freedom fighters must start at home.
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Israel: Läsvärt | Kim Milrell.se
12:52 pm
Feb 08, 2011
[...] HR Comment: Egypt Exposes Media Hypocrisy på Honest [...]
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BUTSeriously
9:58 pm
Feb 08, 2011
Yes, I agree the Israelites were Canaanites, born and incepted in that land. They were one of nine Canaanite groups, being a Hebrew Canaanite people. In a big domestic war, two of the non-Hebrew Canaanite groups sided with Joshua against the other six groups and prevailed the genocide goal sounded by the six – these groups were Egyptian proxies.
What is not reailsed is that there were no Arabs existing at this time. Today’s Arabs became an identifiable ethnic group some 600 years BCE ago, assuming prominence after Greece conquered Persia. There is no connection of Arabs with Abraham or Ishmael, nor did the pre-Islamic Arabs ever follow the Abrahamic or Mosaic beliefs. Prior to 600 BCE there was no Arab person, king, nation, city, monument, writings, cross-reference writings, etc. The Greeks called them Arabs as a generic reference to Arabia, which are not the same thing. Jews are Arabian but not Arab.
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Yisraelit
6:10 pm
Feb 09, 2011
The Israelim originated with Yacov, Avraham’s grandson. Avraham came directly from Shem somewhere beyond the Euphrates. The Canaanites came directly from Ham and, in the book of Yashar and/or Jubilees, it says that the sons of Canaan PURPOSED to take Shem’s alloted land and did not care about the curse that would follow them if they did this. That is why they had to be destroyed. And this is why the Israelim CANNOT be Canaanites. They were chosen by God because Avraham CHOSE to serve God – and raised his children to choose Him as well! This is where we come from…and ALL the land of Israel (and it was promised “everywhere the soles of your feet tread” was given to Israel) was promised BY GOD! When Israel chooses to serve Him, things go well with them! When they trust in men, things don’t go so well. Nevertheless, Israel IS the apple of God’s eye and He can NEVER take His eyes off her!
If everyone in the world would simply recognize that love for Israel will give you blessings, there wouldn’t be a need for us to have to keep defending ourselves!
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BUTSeriously
12:39 am
Feb 10, 2011
Israel originated from Yacov; the nation of Israel began with Moses following the cencus. Only a specific amount of land was given Israel, namely the bounderies given to Moses, not that told to Abraham, with the instruction not a cubit of the nations must be taken [which Jews have always abided by]. Canaanites may have started with Ham, but the Israelites were still Hebrew Canaanites who were born and incepted in that land and have legitimate sole, historical rights to the land.
Those who say this small land must be divided or internationised are commiting grave sins and crimes, and are those who foster the demise of Israel – as seen with their past deeds. Jews who subscribe and align to these demands are today’s Dathans. God fearing Christians and Muslims must reject the serial demands for 2-states in Palestine as well this name being applied to anyone but Jews: they are supporting genicide again.
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Brent Pudsey
2:34 pm
Feb 08, 2011
Excellent commentary on the bias of the world news services. I commend Honesty Reporting for noting how the international community responds in favor of other nations than Israel.
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ARLINE MATHEWS
8:26 pm
Feb 08, 2011
Our very best friends are Christian fundamentalists but we have failed to give them the tools they need to combat the Islamic and other anti- Israel propagandists. Among these tools are talking points enabling them to write to media, get on talk shows nd speak before their churches on a truthful history of the geographic area first called The land of Canaan, then Palestine and then Israel, Jordan, Iraq and Lebanon-Syria. Canaan went all the way to the Euphrates River in Iraq, DNA studies prove that the ancient Israelites were Canaanites but as followers of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel worshiped only one God.
Arabs do not have the same DNA. They were mostly Nomadic. THE SHEIKS THAT OWNED LAND IN PALESTINE SOLD IT TO THE JEWS EVEN BEFORE THE BRITISH LEFT THE AREA. EUROPEAN JEWS BOUGHT 98% OF THE LAND FROM THE ARABS.
The European Jews brought farming- especially Citrus, industry and JOBS thereby attracting
Arabs to settle there.
After World war 1 the British and French took over the League Of Nations, divvying up land between them. In order to get the right to be a “protectocrate” of Palestine the Brits signed a Mandate to the League, in which they promised to “return” Palestine to the jews. They lied.
They also lied to the Turks who surrendered to them after the war Conditionally. The Turks in giving up Palestine enacted a promise that Palestine would be returned to the Jews.
Now History has been distorted as if History began in 1968 when land was recaptured from
Jordan. When the U.N. gave the sliver of Palestine that was left after the British gave away
most of the land to the Arabs thereby creating new Kingdoms Iraq and Jordan or Arab Palestines, the Arabs from every Arabic country attacked and seized East Jerusalem and the West bank where Jesus once was born and lived. He, his family, the Apostles, and his followers, some of them died by being eaten by lions, were all Jews.
The story can’t al be told at once. But let us at least make a beginning. And just as Quatar
funded Al Jazeera, we need media including networks of T>V> and radio. as well as our own news reports distributed to networks- especially non- profits worldwide.
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» Mideast Revolutions Spread: More Hypocrisy Exposed Freedom Alert!: Defending American Freedom by exposing Radical Islam, Socialist, Liberals, and all the Enemies of Freedom, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness!
5:51 pm
Mar 01, 2011
[...] Spread: More Hypocrisy Exposed Posted in March 1st, 2011 by admin in Media Bias HonestReporting recently commented on how the coverage of the Egyptian uprising had revealed a significant double standard in the [...]
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Mideast Revolutions Spread: More Hypocrisy Exposed | The Conservative Papers
7:55 am
Mar 06, 2011
[...] recently commented on how the coverage of the Egyptian uprising had revealed a significant double standard in the [...]
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MarkWeston
7:21 pm
Mar 24, 2011
In the musical The Man of LaMancha, it is stated taht when the stone hits the pitcher or the pitcher hits the stone..it will be bad for the pitcher. Israel once again as if it every stood otherwise is now entering a new phase of terror. Whatever peace agreemeents with a few of its neighbors now stand in jeapordy. Over 30 years of peace with Egypt is hardly
a safe bet with the new uprisings. Now more than ever Israel must be vigilant and not complacent. Have you ever wondered what their neighbors lives would be, if they, like
Israel built for humanity instead of choosing swords instead of their plowshares.
Yes, looking across borders and seeing the Israelis progress in such a short time
certainly must vex the emirs and terrorists.who make their citizens mostly live in hovels
and dilapited houses. Let alone the progress in medical and social tiers. I fear that
not only Arab nations but the world isn’t through with its anti-Semitic attacks.
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HR Comment: Egypt Exposes Media Hypocrisy | Honest Reporting
11:50 am
Feb 13, 2012
[...] The intense coverage of the uprising in Egypt has revealed a significant double standard in the media’s coverage of Israel. Read HonestReporting’s latest communique: “HR Comment: Egypt Exposes Media Hypocrisy” [...]
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HR Comment: Egypt Exposes Media Hypocrisy | Honest Reporting
12:23 pm
Feb 17, 2012
[...] The intense coverage of the uprising in Egypt has revealed a significant double standard in the media’s coverage of Israel. Read HonestReporting’s latest communique: “HR Comment: Egypt Exposes Media Hypocrisy” [...]
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