It All Started When Israel Fired Back… Again!
October 31, 2011 14:08 by Simon Plosker
IAF Targeting Terror Facilities (Photo: IDF Website)
Haven’t we been here before? Palestinian terrorists launch or attempt to launch rockets from Gaza on to Israeli towns and cities and Israel responds.
So who is ultimately responsible? And which side is engaged in aggressive acts and which is carrying out defensive measures? You’d think it was obvious.
But not to some of the media covering a barrage of Palestinian missiles that killed one Israeli, injured a number of others and brought terror to the residents of Israel’s south.
Indeed, HonestReporting’s new slideshow “Defending Israel Against Claims of Excessive Force” contains many examples of the kinds of reporting repeated below.
Source: IDF Spokesperson's Unit
MORE BBC BIAS
The BBC News site reported:
Five Palestinian militants have been killed in a number of Israeli air strikes on the south of the Gaza Strip.
The violence is the most serious since a major prisoner exchange deal earlier this month between Israel and Hamas, the Islamist militant group that governs in Gaza.
Melanie Phillips is on the case:
No mention of the Palestinian rocket attack on Ashdod last Wednesday. No mention of the 35 rocket attacks on Israel during the past day, nor the Israeli killed in Ashkelon. Instead, the BBC has given the false impression on its website that the Israelis initiated the attacks — and the only casualties it reported were Palestinian.
This website report was timed as ‘last updated’ at 1412 on Saturday. But even on the midnight Radio Four news bulletin just now there was still no mention of the rocket attacks on Israel over the past day, nor the murdered Israeli, nor of last Wednesday’s Grad attack – merely a vague and weaselly reference to Israel accusing the Palestinians of ‘carrying out recent rocket attacks’.
Phillips followed the progression of headlines and story updates on the BBC:
Anyone going to the BBC website a little later, however, will have seen this item, last updated at 08:38 GMT:
‘Ten killed in Israel-Gaza attacks
An Israeli man has been killed by a rocket attack from Gaza after nine Palestinian militants were killed by Israeli air strikes on the south of the Gaza Strip. ‘
This was of course quite wrong. The Israeli was murdered in Ashkelon by rocket fire from Gaza following a sequence of events which started last Wednesday with a Grad rocket attack from Gaza on Ashdod. That was followed by an Israeli strike on Gaza targeted at the Islamic Jihad cell which Israel said had carried out Wednesday’s attack and which, it said, was preparing to fire more long-range rockets. That strike in turn was used as the excuse for the barrage of rockets from Gaza yesterday which killed the Israeli in Ashkelon.
So anyone clicking on the BBC News home page and just scanning the headlines there would have received the entirely false impression that the Israeli had been killed because the Palestinians were retaliating to aggressive Israeli attacks.
FAULTY CHRONOLOGY
According to the Financial Times:
The weekend escalation was triggered by an Israeli air strike on Saturday that left five members of the Islamic jihad militant group dead. …
The initial Israeli air strike was apparently connected to the firing of a Grad-type rocket at Israel by an Islamic jihad cell three days earlier.
Just how many rockets does it take for the FT to be convinced that Israel is within its rights to take action?
HORRENDOUS HEADLINES
Some headlines engaged in promoting a narrative of “exchanges of fire” or “back-and-forth violence”:
- Officials: 10 killed in Gaza, Israel in back-and-forth violence – CNN
- Israel-Gaza exchange rocket and air strikes killing 10 – BBC
- Israelis, Palestinians exchange rocket fire; 11 dead – Globe and Mail
Other headlines employed the active tense to describe Israeli measures while describing Palestinian terrorists (or “militants” in media-speak) in passive terms, leaving the reader under the impression that Israel is the chief aggressor:
- Israeli airstrike kills militant in fresh Gaza violence – Washington Post
- Israeli air strikes kill nine militants – The Guardian
- Israeli air strikes kill 10 in Gaza – ABC (Australia)
- Tension high after Israeli air strikes kill nine in Gaza – Irish Times
And if an Israeli air strike targets terrorists about to launch rockets, who exactly has broken a “ceasefire”?
- Israeli airstrike breaks brief Israel-Gaza cease-fire – Christian Science Monitor
- Israeli air strike kills militant in Gaza Strip after truce announced – Daily Telegraph
THE “CYCLE OF VIOLENCE” AND FALSE MORAL EQUIVALENCE
According to The Guardian, violence just seems to occur in some sort of vacuum:
A spiralling round of Israeli air strikes and rocket fire from Gaza claimed the lives of nine Palestinian militants and one Israeli civilian on Saturday following weeks of relative calm.
And in a later article:
The weekend’s cycle of violence began when the Israeli air force targeted a group of militants in southern Gaza on Saturday, claiming the militants were preparing to launch long-range missiles into Israel.
According to CNN:
At least 10 people are dead in Gaza and southern Israel, in a wave of back-and-forth attacks between the Israeli military and Palestinian militants, according to medical and military officials.
Credit to Tim Marshall of Sky News who, in his usual informed manner, says:
Dozens of Grad missiles had been fired into Israel since last Wednesday killing one man and wounding several other civilians. About a dozen cars were destroyed and several buildings damaged. …
After Islamic Jihad fired the first salvo in this latest round of violence Israel responded with air strikes.
VIDEO: TERRORIST SQUAD PREPARING TO LAUNCH ROCKET FROM GAZA
Once again, some media have failed to note that rockets from Gaza are regularly fired into Israel. Those that land in open or non-urban areas or are successfully intercepted by Israel’s Iron Dome anti-missile system rarely register on the media radar.
Source: IDF Spokesperson's Unit
So it’s no surprise when an uninformed readership is presented with half the story that presents Israel as the aggressive force responsible for escalating violence in the region.
If your local media has engaged in this mode of reporting, make sure to take the time to send your emails and letters making it quite clear where responsibility for the violence lies – squarely with the terrorists firing rockets and Hamas, which is ultimately responsible for everything that goes on in the Gaza Strip.
Raul Hector Urban
4:31 pm
Oct 31, 2011
A BBC Brasil noticia 12 palestinos mortos “Desde sexta-feira, 12 militantes palestinos foram mortos em ações israelenses para impedir o lançamento de foguetes de Gaza para seu território.” Nada dize sobre o numero de ataques, ou onde eles ocorreram. Brasil votou a favor do reconhecimento como membro pleno da Palestina na UNESCO. O povo Brasileiro NÃO fala nem lee Inglês. Please. Create a Portuguese version for Brazil. Brazil is South America reference. Thank you.
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Meir
4:33 pm
Oct 31, 2011
Dear HR:
Perhaps we should come to the conclusion that we don’t give a rat’s _ _ _ about the BBC, CNN or any of these idiot savants that call themselves reporters. Hashem knows the truth, SOME reporters do, and we know the truth. The only way any of our efforts succeed is if CNN, BBC, etc. see their ratings, sales, plummet. Or perhaps the efforts of Barrister Trevor Asserson, who takes on the BC head-to-head.
BBC probably gets some form of support from Saudi Arabia and other wealthy arab countries to skew the news. The skewing of the news against Israel has been going at least since the first intifada. This “re-writing of history” is the imprimatur of the arabs.
Israel has to do what it needs to do to protect itself; ZEH HU!
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Jiri Adler
10:20 pm
Oct 31, 2011
Although I understand your intent when you call them “idiot savants”, I would still suggest that they are simply idiots – that is unless we would like to consider their malice, dishonesty, etc. to be some type of uncanny ability.
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angelo
4:35 pm
Oct 31, 2011
Now I am asking myself, why oh why your government isn’t doing something about this situation while endangering the lives of its citizens?
Is it because it promised something top someone? Or is it because it is afraid of something? or is it for another reason?
No one knows….for sure missiles are pouring into southern Israel and the stars are looking to what is happening.
So tell your YOUNGSTERS to organize something for the well – being of the southern communities instead of trying to emulate the OWS (Occupy Wall Street) Movement,
Otherwise it will be too late…for you and for us the ex-rich, fat eurogerontocrats (actually I am 54…but still….and thin…but still…)
Angelo
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Eric
4:45 pm
Oct 31, 2011
Who Really Started First?
Thank G-d for Google News and its archiving platform. If you search Google News for “rockets” or “missiles” from gaza for Oct 23 – 25 you wont see any relevant results. However when you look at October 26 the headlines displayed in Google News shows you very clearly who fired the first round of rocket fire. This is proof that the news outlets above are clearly biased in their reporting.
Here are the two links:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&gl=il&tbm=nws&btnmeta_news_search=1&q=rockets+gaza&oq=rockets+gaza&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&gs_sm=e&gs_upl=181239l190261l0l190485l35l35l11l19l26l0l193l765l0.5l5l0#q=rockets+OR+missiles+gaza&hl=en&gl=il&sa=X&ei=l7GuTs-gNc_Ssga3-9XyDw&ved=0CBcQpwUoCw&source=lnt&tbs=cdr:1%2Ccd_min%3A23%2F10%2F2011%2Ccd_max%3A25%2F10%2F2011&tbm=nws&fp=1&biw=1280&bih=933&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_cp.,cf.osb&cad=b
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&gl=il&tbm=nws&btnmeta_news_search=1&q=rockets+gaza&oq=rockets+gaza&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&gs_sm=e&gs_upl=181239l190261l0l190485l35l35l11l19l26l0l193l765l0.5l5l0#q=rockets+OR+missiles+gaza&hl=en&gl=il&sa=X&ei=z7GuTv6VF8bHsgaJzrSYBw&ved=0CBcQpwUoCw&source=lnt&tbs=cdr:1%2Ccd_min%3A23%2F10%2F2011%2Ccd_max%3A26%2F10%2F2011&tbm=nws&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_cp.,cf.osb&fp=5869e3fcdebbd678&biw=1280&bih=933
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Dale Albertson
5:23 pm
Oct 31, 2011
I guess if ya wanna play tiddly winks ya gotta know the rules.. What rules?? Seems the rules are only one sided,, when one hears or reads the “news”.. I say we just gotta use bigger tiddlies,, or explain the rules of “winkin” better.. Oh, well, life’s a ditch, then ya fall in. I say, if ya don’t like winkin, don’t read this.. I say also, if the enemies keep turnin up the hear,, just provide them a glowing warmth..
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Mike Pearl
5:30 pm
Oct 31, 2011
The Baltimore Sun also had a similar, misleading headline in Sunday’s paper, p. 13, (10/30/11), as follows: “Israel bombs Islamic Jihad base, killing 5 New Gaza strikes, attack last week call truce into question” NOTE: The headline does not indicate that the “attack last week” was initiated by the Palestinians in Gaza against innocent Israeli civilians.
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Esther
5:56 pm
Oct 31, 2011
All this makes me sick. I don’t think that we should be quiet and apathetic to this. I think that we should unite and fight this with all of our might. Demonstrations are in order, and our brothers and sisters in Britain could demonstrate in front of BBC, and we could demonstrate in front of CNN. We should make our voices heard.
The Muslims in Europe are terrorizing all of Europe, and the cowards are giving in to their demands. If necessary, we should be loud and present.
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Mickey Oberman
6:05 pm
Oct 31, 2011
When oh when will Israel take the definitive action necessary to put a final and decisive end to these terrorizing rocket attacks?
To allow them to continue when they can be halted is a crime against the Israeli people. The longer they go on the more fodder they provide for the anti-Israel/anti-Semitic world press to vilify the Jewish state.
The Arabs have set the value of each Arab with the exchange agreement for Gilad Shalit – 1000 to 1.
This last round of violence saw one Israeli killed and only 10 Arabs. They have the time and the bodies. We do not. We are slowly losing the battle to survive.
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Teddy Bear
8:07 pm
Oct 31, 2011
Since yesterday, the BBC have embarked on a new angle to this story:
New Israeli air strike into Gaza after ‘ceasefire’
It immediately tells us ‘One Palestinian was killed in a new Israeli air strike in Gaza, hours after Egypt apparently brokered a ceasefire.’
So the gist is – even after ‘peace-loving’ Egypt brokered a ceasefire, the aggressive Israel launched another strike on peaceful Gaza.
Only way down in the article to we get to
‘Israel said at 38 rockets and mortars were fired into southern Israel since Saturday, killing one man in the coastal city of Ashkelon. Four other people were wounded by the attacks.’
Then further down we get to ‘The spokesman said that the first attack, about midday local time, specifically targeted a cell responsible for a long-range rocket attack on Wednesday that exploded deep inside Israel. That attack had caused no casualties.’
So ultimately we get to the real sequence of events – but in no way are these headlines, much less the article, intended to convey this at all.
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Cliff Ross
8:15 pm
Oct 31, 2011
Israel can stop these attacks. Then there will be no ‘unfair media coverage’. Israel manufactures U A V’s. Use them to see terrorist cells setting up rockets. Then hit them with massive artillery strikes. Destroy the entire area where rockets and mortars get set up. Keep doing that . Attack all known locations of weapons. Attack all known tunnels.
Stop all traffic between Israel and Gaza. Force Gaza to get electric and water and food from Egypt. Then they’ll see what their ‘brothers’ think of them.
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Stan Corbett
8:56 pm
Oct 31, 2011
There will not be peace for Israel because the Moslem world does not want peace.
It will be a continuous war until either Israel or Palestinians are completely destroyed.
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Ny terror mot Israel! « Sapere Aude!
8:58 pm
Oct 31, 2011
[...] HonestReporting, Dagen, SvD. Dela/Spara oktober 31st, 2011 | Tags: antisemitism, Ashdod, Gaza, Grad, Hamas, [...]
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suzette ross
10:04 pm
Oct 31, 2011
Yes, I agree Stan….peace is not what they want…..they want Israel completely destroyed and the jews to be no more……what belies belief is why the western world can be completely fooled by their, to me, pretty obvious intentions.
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Alan
10:23 pm
Oct 31, 2011
Sad, even the respected Wall Street Journal published a moral equivalence piece today from the AP using “Gaza Militants Trade Fire” instead of the more truthful “Terrorists incite Israeli Response”. Terrorists target no one but civilians to terrorize. Israel in a measured targeted response to the perpetrators.
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Leah C.
5:16 am
Nov 01, 2011
I am particularly saddened about the WSJ, which has always been my favorite newspaper, the one I relied on for truthful and intelligent reporting. I am also worried about the WSJ changing course and joining the rest of the media in this kind of misleading news reporting…
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Armand Kidouchim, Los Angeles CA
10:56 pm
Oct 31, 2011
CNN, BBC and the rest of the SCUM Leftist Media supported by its ”useful idiots” will continue to support the ”PEACE LOVING” muslims because of their sheer Jealousy for the success of ISRAEL in all fields where intelligence is key.
From Science to Industry and humanitarian behavior, ISRAEL is an example for mankind.
Now BBC, CNN and the rest of you NITWITS in the mainstream media, go and ”EAT YOUR HEART OUT” you are standing for EVIL and you will pay for it at some point.
GOD BLESS ISRAEL and all fair minded people.
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Marauder
12:25 am
Nov 01, 2011
If I were to wake up to the news that Israel had converted the whole territory of the Gaza Strip into an unpopulated ceramic ashtray, I would be absolutely delighted to see that the entire animalistic herd of inbred paleostinians had received exactly what they’ve been asking for. Shalom, brethren.
Hot debate. What do you think?
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Adam
2:49 am
Nov 01, 2011
That’s a pretty disgusting comment and plays right into the hands of those who hate us. Please withdraw it.
Hot debate. What do you think?
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Leah C.
5:25 am
Nov 01, 2011
While it is true that this comment “plays right into the hands of those who hate us”, one could be forgiven for harboring these feelings, particularly if one had been under the rocket fire…
@ Marauder: In a way your wish is coming true. Look at all these suicide bombers and killings all over Muslims lands… This is Karma. The beginning of justice. They are getting what they wished us.
Am Yisrael Chai
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FresnoJoe
12:54 am
Nov 01, 2011
God Bless Israel ~ “Deliver me from the workers of iniquity, and save me from bloody men.” Psalms 59:2
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Daniel Moskal
1:13 am
Nov 01, 2011
For many years,most of the media and specially the bbc,are not saying the truth about what is going on in Israel,and nothing helps they describe Israel as the villain,and they will continue to so,why I do not now.The only thing that will help is that Israel,strikes back not like now they have to be much more aggressive,because unfortunately,that is the only thing they might understand,and Bibi can make a hundred speeches at the UN that won’t help.Israel have to show strenght and no restain what so ever.
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Stanley J Singer
2:43 am
Nov 01, 2011
During my years in Israel (1960-1980), no Arab state, or non-state, would have dared to commit these acts since it would have been war of the utmost severity. Today, we look to the so-called “peace” makers of the US, Western Europe, and those stateless entities to decide our fate. Dado, Raful nor even the peaceful Rabin would have not acted. Throwing a few bombs their way doesn’t do the job. We should have learned this from the hesitant war we fought in Lebanon.
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jacob
8:54 am
Nov 01, 2011
As GOD is my witness, I will never be able to understand why doesn’t ISRAEL repay such
attacks in kind, with smilar rockets that can be built at any sheet metal working shop at a
fraction of regular ordnance and fire it indiscriminately on GAZA the way HAMAS does on
on Israel, instead of risking pilot lives, costly aircraft and ordnance and hopping HAMAS
doesn;t get lucky one of this days and downs a plane, as this time we will have an enlarged
and enhanced edition “de l’affaire SHALIT” …
Whether such an attack will cause GOD only knows how many fatalities due to GAZA’s
population density, is a fact that should have been pondered by HAMAS before embarking
in such attacks and no one could blame Israel for repaying the attacks in kind….but seems
Israeli leaders read in a different book, starting from the fact that it charges Israeli employers
of Arab workers a payrol tax, whose millions are turned over to the Palestinian Authority…
and which it, together with the jewel of Secretary General the rotten and corrupt UN sports,
consider already an “Acquired Right “…..
Now please somebody tell me it is not plain asinine….as well as the recent exchange…
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