Rockets Fall But Where’s the Coverage?
September 10, 2012 12:28 by Simon Plosker
“If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?”
This philosophical question could well be applied to the media’s treatment, or lack of, concerning the latest barrage of rockets to be launched from Gaza at Israeli population centers.
- Three Grad rockets exploded in southern Israel Saturday night and early Sunday morning, prompting Beersheba and Ashdod mayors to shut down the local school systems on Sunday.
- Three people were hurt while running for shelter and four were treated for shock.
- A Netivot home sustained extensive damage but, remarkably, a resident, alone at home at the time of the hit, was left unhurt.
But unless you are Israeli or follow the Israeli press, the likelihood that you have heard of the weekend’s events is close to nil. Despite the international media being around to hear the tree falling in the forest, it still made no sound as none of the major media outlets bothered to report on it.
Not the New York Times, which preferred to focus in great detail on Gaza’s poverty, omitting any mention of rocket fire. Not The Times of London, which insultingly published a trivial and irrelevant story on Israeli ultra-orthodox women adopting Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, as a fashion icon.
And not the BBC, CNN, LA Times or Washington Post.
Also unsurprising that smaller news outlets failed to note the weekend’s events considering that the Associated Press wire service that feeds stories to a huge number of other media, gave the story a mere five sentences.
You can bet, however, that any major Israeli military operation in defense of its citizens to put an end to rocket fire, that results in loss of Palestinian life, terrorists or otherwise, will make headlines.
Why is this important? In the eyes of the general public, Israel is perceived as the aggressor, striking out at Palestinians in Gaza with little provocation. Wouldn’t they see it differently if the media bothered to report on the fact that so far in 2012, terrorists in Gaza have fired at least 557 explosives at Israeli civilian targets?
Indeed, since 2001, Hamas and the other terrorist groups have fired over 13,000 rockets and mortars at Israeli towns and cities, killing dozens of civilians.
Just because this has been going on for far too long, it does not absolve the media from acknowledging that it is happening. Because without the coverage, the context behind the next story vanishes.
The likely result is one where, according to the media, It All Started When Israel Fired Back. Instead of giving an accurate timeline of events and a realistic assessment of cause and effect, the story begins with
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Motti
9:31 pm
Sep 10, 2012
I belive that since Barmy Obama became President of the USA, america has lost respect and fear among her so called allies, friends and in particular, her enemies. Without doubt, the world is lot more dangerous today, than it was for example underr Reagan
when I first saw Obama being shownand interviewed on tv in the UK, I remember saying that he wilkl be a calamity for the uSA, the world and Israel. He was another Tony Blair. Atttractive to the women, lots of meaningless talk. All veneer and no substance. Cameron is another today in the uK
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Jean Terry
10:38 pm
Sep 10, 2012
I fail to understand why the news does not report these things. I haven’t even heard it on Fox. There is so much news that you would never know about if you didn’t subscribe to some news reports like this one. We live in a glass bubble in some ways here in the US. Local news doesn’t report anything about the world we live in and the big networks just report some of it.
I pray that Mitt Romney is elected our new president. Mr. Obama is on a learning curve at the taxpayer’s expense, not to mention concern about his ideology that is affecting us so much. I do believe we have lost a lot of respect in the world. It is best if states like Iran fear us as fear.
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Paul Tenenbaum
11:23 pm
Sep 10, 2012
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ArnieJag
3:21 pm
Sep 11, 2012
Kool Aid drinker remarks. Avoid the facts and spew your nonsense.
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suzette ross
11:40 pm
Sep 10, 2012
You will only hear on the news if Israel responds to these attacks…and then it will be run in such a way as to blame Israel. That’s how they do it….again & again.
Yes Jean…lets pray that Romney is successful…he is not perfect…but none of us are.
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Paul Tenenbaum
2:10 am
Sep 11, 2012
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Howard F
2:31 am
Sep 11, 2012
Paul, I agree with you regarding the President. People really need to be informed about American political actions when it comes to Israel (have they ever heard of the Iron Dome). The rockets from Gaza, however, do not come from heavy foilage areas like in Nam. Security measures can trace where these come from, but cannot respond as quickly as we like, especially when rockets are also fired from civilian populated areas. I do not believe that Israel would militarity use of any chemicals to defoliate.
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Howard F
2:20 am
Sep 11, 2012
It is so unfortunate that the news agencies in the US do not cover all the serious news happening in Israel, especially when rockets fall on the opnening day of school. However, the presidential election does not run the news agencies. Pres. Obama could and should be much more outspoken for Israel. Mitt Romney does not and has not offered Israel much. As an Israeli/American (note which is first), the press around the world has not exactly been on our side. But the word gets our around the world through Honest Reporting.com, Jerusaelm Online, and other agencies. Let’s keep American politics and news reporting separate. Fault the latter.
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Motti
10:48 am
Sep 11, 2012
Paul, I am short sighted enough to know that you have never visited the area around Gaza, for you to have made your comments that, Howard explained so well.
I am not a US veteran, though many years ago, I worked with the US military. I am, however, an IDF veteran. The Nam (I had a very close friend killed there) and northern Ireland for that matter have no resemblance to what is happening with Israel. They did not to slaughter every American or British protestant.
The US news shows and generally speaking, their coverage of sports, and the US scence is excellent. However, like so much of the international, it is very limited on what it reports and how it presents the news and comments
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Motti
10:56 am
Sep 11, 2012
I should further add that the Saudis are pouring $millions into their embassies to 1) convert infidels to Islam and 2) to slander/libel Israel in every which way they can. and it is successful.
The international news media must report very carefully. Correspondents (especially women) in Arab/Muslim countries need to be proptected. Anything said or suggested against Islam, or the Arab/Fakestinian cause puts your body and life in serious danger.
Of course let’s not forget $$$$$$. The news media relies a great deal on the financial contributions to the industry, whether it is advertising, social, cultural events, or back handers to stay alive.
Foliage? Yes, on the Israeli side!
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Brent Pudsey
1:30 pm
Sep 11, 2012
The media needs to change and become more aware of its biases. It needs to realize that in being so anti Israel they are alineating a peaceful nation.
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solinski
6:18 pm
Sep 11, 2012
Which Israeli company(nies) is making money, and how much by supplying Gaza with power and water.As to collective punishment, it’s an old argument, besides, Israel is not obliged to supply Gaza, especially since the border with Egypt is open.
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james kontos
9:40 pm
Sep 11, 2012
Where the Hell is politically correct CBC? Strangely silent. They are waiting for an Israeli response to the unprovoked rocket attack, to provide “In depth” coverage and in both languages, don’t ya know.
Shame!
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Martin Mallin
10:49 pm
Sep 11, 2012
The Times which insultingly published a trivial and irrelevant story on Israeli ultra-orthodox women adopting Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, as a fashion icon.
Oh come on HR, let’s not completely lose our sense of humour. It was a humourous, and quite interesting story. And for once, not negative.
The Times, which I now read, after dumping the appalling Guardian after 25 years, at least reports the conflict objectively. Please. let’s not lose our perspective.
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Howard F
11:20 pm
Sep 11, 2012
Martin: I read the NY Times as well as view PBS Newshour in the US. It seems that both are the only sources to rely upon to get the true, unbaised, reports when it comes to international news. Fox News, and especially CNN, do not have complete stories, seem to focus on Israel bashing, at times, and/or repeat old news footages in current news stories. I rely on Israeli news sources, also, to obtain the truth in news. Many of my neighbors have IDF sons and daughters working at the borders. I get first hand, day-to-day Honest reports. Maybe the news agencies should follow some of these troops.
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Motti
10:35 am
Sep 12, 2012
Howard, I just ticked agree at your last statement.
I no longer take too much notice of the international news media, except write letters of protest when the articles are blatantly anti Israel. I refuse to buy, the Guardian, Observer, Independent and produced items from Arab/Moslem states and their supporterive countries around the world.
Please check out the following DEBKAFILE (independent Israeli intelligence site), and if you want to know what is going on in the EU especially, try the Finnish pro Israel site TUNDRA TABLOIDS (some articles are quite amusing, too). The latter keeps a tally of all rockets/missiles/mortars fired at Israel. Quite astonishing really,
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PATRICIA JONES
11:26 am
Sep 12, 2012
Israel – damned if she does respond to rocket fire and damned if she doesn’t. Surrounded by baying DOGS OF HELL – and completely disregarded by the World media – unless she tries to protect herself. We are governed by weak minded individuals, intent on their own Glory and wanting to be seen to do what is popular. Where are the Churchill’s, Thatcher’s, Kennedys et al that we so very badly need today.
God is good – Baruch dayan emet. Be’ahavat Yisrael. Shalom.
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Motti
9:27 pm
Sep 12, 2012
Let’s be totally honest. Israel will always be left alone to decide it’s own fate and is usually let down by every country, including the USA and particularly Europe.
Obama, internationally has been a complete waste of space. The USA is not respected by her enemies as all Obama has done is to show weakness, and only towards Israel has he hardened his objectives. He has never had any intention in acting more authoritively towards the Arabs and Iran. this has been proven time after time.
I honestly believe that he does not only hate Israel and probably the Jews, too, he is jealous of Netanyahu who commands greater respect in Congress than he does. Aaah, shame.
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andrew o'shea
9:26 am
Sep 16, 2012
Each ‘country’ around the ‘world’ has it’s own government, senate, president etc, to deal with the ‘land’ they were elected in or ‘ousted’ by coup. In this present situation, Israel should simply look after Israel. The ‘arabs’ who preach hate and war should simply be left to fend for themselves, I see no reason, logically, scripturally or humanely why Israel should support them or ‘give them land’. I saw many Arabs working in Israel who seemed quite content with their lives, as for the rest, let their ‘nations of origin’ take care of their people. Accountability will be the only thing left for the Islamic people to see just how much/little their governments & clerics actually care about them
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martin
6:20 pm
Sep 27, 2012
the Finnish blog Tundra Tabloids has the number of rockets fired into Israel on its main page.
C’mon HR, you are doing a marvelous job, can you not copy TT and show the daily, monthly and weekly number of mortars, rockets and missiles being fired, with a total since 2001?
I believe readers will be shocked to learn of the actual number. They will then ask why a modern country like Israel actually puts up with it and just threatens and threatens. Oh yes, the airforce do claim that they knock out a site and occasionnaly kill the odd terrorist or two.
It is evident that the establishment is unconcerned about the daily trauma of their fellows. They will only act once Tel Aviv is the target
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