We believe that news organizations must cover Israel objectively. Given the media's ability to shape public opinion, we work to empower people to identify and respond to bias.
Join over 100,000 others demanding
fair media coverage for Israel.
Message
from the Managing Editor
The past three months will forever be remembered as a monumental period in Israel’s history. For the first time in a generation the Jewish state forged a peace agreement with an Arab state– the United Emirates. Shortly thereafter, Bahrain followed suit and now Sudan is primed to jump on the normalization bandwagon.
The trend leads to an inevitable conclusion: namely, that Israel is no longer viewed as a pariah by its neighbors, a massive paradigm shift that is opening up once-seemingly impossible potentialities for regional cooperation in areas ranging from technology and finance, to agriculture and defense. This should not be seen as a partisan issue, given that Israel has always longed for peace and has always counted on the United States, under every administration, to support this desire.
Nevertheless, many media outlets downplayed the importance of these developments, choosing instead to focus on biased arguments in favor of Palestinian anti-normalization campaigns against Israel.
HonestReporting has been at the forefront of holding the media accountable for manipulating the truth and significance of the ongoing geopolitical realignment that is changing the entire landscape of the Middle East. This, while continuing to monitor the news for antisemitism.
We have upped our output over the past quarter, even amid the coronavirus pandemic which recently forced Israel into a second nationwide lockdown. Our critiques have induced corrections from the likes of CNN and The Washington Post, and we have created both film and social media content that have engaged millions and millions of people.
Concurrently, our YouTube campaign continues to bear fruit, with more than 30 new videos having generated some 4,000,000 views since July. These efforts have been complimented by our involvement in campaigns that, for instance, prompted Facebook to adapt its hate speech policy to include a ban on posts that either deny or distort the Holocaust. We also launched a petition against Harvard University’s decision to hire Saeb Erekat that garnered nearly 10,000 signatures.
Overall, our reach and impact is growing, as HonestReporting continues to streamline operations in order to maximize efficiency while expanding its staff.
All of this would be impossible with you, our supporters.
We thank you all and look forward to many successes moving forward.
Sincerely,
Charles Bybelezer
HonestReporting marked 20 years of monitoring anti-Israel media bias, a remarkable journey launched by the “Picture that Started it All.” On September 30, 2000, Associated Press, The New York Times and other major news outlets published a photo of a bloodied youth huddled near an Israeli border policeman.
The caption identified the victim as a Palestinian, although the truth quickly surfaced: The person in question was actually Tuvia Grossman, a Jewish student from Chicago. The Israeli security officer was trying to protect him after he and two friends were pulled from their taxi by a mob in an Arab neighborhood of Jerusalem and severely beaten and stabbed.
The public outcry over the picture became a symbol in the struggle to ensure that Israel receives the balanced news coverage that every nation deserves. Two decades later, this remains HonestReporting’s core mission.
HonestReporting is applying pressure on social media platforms to adopt the world’s most-widely accepted definition of antisemitism, that of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance.
September 7, 2020, marked the sixth anniversary of when Israeli Avera Mengistu was taken captive by Hamas. A year later, the Palestinian terror group also took hostage Hisham al-Sayed. Meanwhile, Gaza’s rulers are holding the remains of two IDF soldiers. Little, if any, attention has been paid to the captives’ plight.
The moment Gal Gadot was cast in the iconic role of Cleopatra, social media was flooded with criticism that the Jewish-Israeli star had been chosen instead of an Arab actress. But one of Hollywood’s leading ladies is refusing to fall victim to “cancel culture.”
- 360 Degree View
of Israel and the Middle East
Our educational materials provide deep insights into hot issues about Israel and the Middle East.
For example, Israel’s historic new peace deals are on everyone’s mind. In response, we produced well-researched, nuanced, interesting pieces on the topic.
This is in addition to in-depth articles that were published during this period:
- HonestReporting
in the News
Daniel Pomerantz gave a presentation at what is widely considered one of the most important political and diplomatic gatherings of the year. He detailed HR’s work and how it helps people abroad feel safe when expressing their values and opinions.
“Over the past few weeks, in moves that were in equal measures galling, ill-timed and stunningly decontextualized, students at two prominent American universities — including my alma mater — voted in favor of divesting from Israel.”
HonestReporting CEO Daniel Pomerantz was invited to appear on the Israel-based ILTV news channel to discuss the intricacies – and difficulties – of celebrating the Jewish holidays under the coronavirus lockdown.
- Webinars
In July, 340 people signed up for HR’s webinar titled, How to Make Your Point and Keep Your Cool. During the presentation, CEO Daniel Pomerantz provided attendees with the tools necessary to more effectively communicate the Jewish state’s position on many issues.
One of the central messages was that fair debate requires respect for the other, while staying true to one’s own beliefs even when they come under attack.
Using personal examples from his many media appearances, webinar participants came away more confident and better equipped to support and defend Israel.
- Testimonials
Excellent presentation."
- Successes
HonestReporting exposed how an article by CNN obscured some basic facts regarding the history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. As a result of our swift action, the Second Intifada was thereafter mentioned, thereby highlighting the Palestinian terror campaign.
Following years of pressure from and engagement with Jewish and other organizations, Facebook, which also owns the popular social media platform Instagram, updated its hate speech policy to include a ban on content that denies or distorts the Holocaust. The move came after a campaign that included HonestReporting, which sent an open letter to Facebook’s board of directors.
“It’s quite hard to understand how a Washington Post piece could claim that Israel had ‘implemented a ban on protests’ when this patently was not the case. Israel has not banned protests. It has restricted them. There is a difference — and journalists should not conflate the two. The policy has been enacted in other countries around the world, including France, Australia and Sweden.”
- HonestReporting
Holding the Media to Account
Falsehoods concerning the Jewish state’s normalization of ties with Arab countries, along with other inaccuracies, prompted HR to respond.
Our media critiques exposed and deconstructed numerous examples of anti-Israeli bias disseminated by international news organizations.
Our articles set the record straight by highlighting the difference between objective and agenda-driven journalism, with the goal being to achieve corrections and ensure that writers stick to the facts.
Request Q3 Report
We believe that news organizations must cover Israel objectively. Given the media’s ability to shape public opinion, we work to empower people to identify and respond to bias.
Join over 100,000 others demanding
fair media coverage for Israel.
Message
from the Managing Editor
The past three months will forever be remembered as a monumental period in Israel’s history. For the first time in a generation the Jewish state forged a peace agreement with an Arab state– the United Emirates. Shortly thereafter, Bahrain followed suit and now Sudan is primed to jump on the normalization bandwagon.
The trend leads to an inevitable conclusion: namely, that Israel is no longer viewed as a pariah by its neighbors, a massive paradigm shift that is opening up once-seemingly impossible potentialities for regional cooperation in areas ranging from technology and finance, to agriculture and defense. This should not be seen as a partisan issue, given that Israel has always longed for peace and has always counted on the United States, under every administration, to support this desire.
Nevertheless, many media outlets downplayed the importance of these developments, choosing instead to focus on biased arguments in favor of Palestinian anti-normalization campaigns against Israel.
HonestReporting has been at the forefront of holding the media accountable for manipulating the truth and significance of the ongoing geopolitical realignment that is changing the entire landscape of the Middle East. This, while continuing to monitor the news for antisemitism.
We have upped our output over the past quarter, even amid the coronavirus pandemic which recently forced Israel into a second nationwide lockdown. Our critiques have induced corrections from the likes of CNN and The Washington Post, and we have created both film and social media content that have engaged millions and millions of people.
Concurrently, our YouTube campaign continues to bear fruit, with more than 30 new videos having generated some 4,000,000 views since July. These efforts have been complimented by our involvement in campaigns that, for instance, prompted Facebook to adapt its hate speech policy to include a ban on posts that either deny or distort the Holocaust. We also launched a petition against Harvard University’s decision to hire Saeb Erekat that garnered nearly 10,000 signatures.
Overall, our reach and impact is growing, as HonestReporting continues to streamline operations in order to maximize efficiency while expanding its staff.
All of this would be impossible with you, our supporters.
We thank you all and look forward to many successes moving forward.
Sincerely,
Charles Bybelezer
HonestReporting marked 20 years of monitoring anti-Israel media bias, a remarkable journey launched by the “Picture that Started it All.” On September 30, 2000, Associated Press, The New York Times and other major news outlets published a photo of a bloodied youth huddled near an Israeli border policeman.
The caption identified the victim as a Palestinian, although the truth quickly surfaced: The person in question was actually Tuvia Grossman, a Jewish student from Chicago. The Israeli security officer was trying to protect him after he and two friends were pulled from their taxi by a mob in an Arab neighborhood of Jerusalem and severely beaten and stabbed.
The public outcry over the picture became a symbol in the struggle to ensure that Israel receives the balanced news coverage that every nation deserves. Two decades later, this remains HonestReporting’s core mission.
HonestReporting is applying pressure on social media platforms to adopt the world’s most-widely accepted definition of antisemitism, that of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance.
September 7, 2020, marked the sixth anniversary of when Israeli Avera Mengistu was taken captive by Hamas. A year later, the Palestinian terror group also took hostage Hisham al-Sayed. Meanwhile, Gaza’s rulers are holding the remains of two IDF soldiers. Little, if any, attention has been paid to the captives’ plight.
The moment Gal Gadot was cast in the iconic role of Cleopatra, social media was flooded with criticism that the Jewish-Israeli star had been chosen instead of an Arab actress. But one of Hollywood’s leading ladies is refusing to fall victim to “cancel culture.”
- 360 Degree View
of Israel and the Middle East
Our educational materials provide deep insights into hot issues about Israel and the Middle East.
For example, Israel’s historic new peace deals are on everyone’s mind. In response, we produced well-researched, nuanced, interesting pieces on the topic.
This is in addition to in-depth articles that were published during this period:
How Israel’s New Peace Deals Could Neuter Decades of UN Animosity
The Truth Behind the Term Palestinian People
How 9/11 Conspiracy Theories are Weaponized on Social Media
- HonestReporting
in the News
HonestReporting CEO Addresses Jerusalem Post Conference
Daniel Pomerantz gave a presentation at what is widely considered one of the most important political and diplomatic gatherings of the year. He detailed HR’s work and how it helps people abroad feel safe when expressing their values and opinions.
HR Published in The Forward: BDS Resolutions on Campuses Represent Dangerous ‘Intersectionality’
“Over the past few weeks, in moves that were in equal measures galling, ill-timed and stunningly decontextualized, students at two prominent American universities — including my alma mater — voted in favor of divesting from Israel.”
The Intricacies of Celebrating Jewish Holidays During COVID-19
HonestReporting CEO Daniel Pomerantz was invited to appear on the Israel-based ILTV news channel to discuss the intricacies – and difficulties – of celebrating the Jewish holidays under the coronavirus lockdown.
- Webinars
In July, 340 people signed up for HR’s webinar titled, How to Make Your Point and Keep Your Cool. During the presentation, CEO Daniel Pomerantz provided attendees with the tools necessary to more effectively communicate the Jewish state’s position on many issues.
One of the central messages was that fair debate requires respect for the other, while staying true to one’s own beliefs even when they come under attack.
Using personal examples from his many media appearances, webinar participants came away more confident and better equipped to support and defend Israel.
- Testimonials
Excellent presentation.”
George Q., New South Wales, Australia “I appreciated the thought-provoking webinar. Keep up the great work. “
Marc H., Florida, United States
- Successes
CNN Revises Oslo Accords Fact Sheet After HR Pressure
HonestReporting exposed how an article by CNN obscured some basic facts regarding the history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. As a result of our swift action, the Second Intifada was thereafter mentioned, thereby highlighting the Palestinian terror campaign.
Facebook Updates Antisemitism Policy After Campaign Including HR
Following years of pressure from and engagement with Jewish and other organizations, Facebook, which also owns the popular social media platform Instagram, updated its hate speech policy to include a ban on content that denies or distorts the Holocaust. The move came after a campaign that included HonestReporting, which sent an open letter to Facebook’s board of directors.
Washington Post Admits Israel Did Not ‘Ban Protests’
“It’s quite hard to understand how a Washington Post piece could claim that Israel had ‘implemented a ban on protests’ when this patently was not the case. Israel has not banned protests. It has restricted them. There is a difference — and journalists should not conflate the two. The policy has been enacted in other countries around the world, including France, Australia and Sweden.”
- HonestReporting
Holding the Media to Account
Falsehoods concerning the Jewish state’s normalization of ties with Arab countries, along with other inaccuracies, prompted HR to respond.
Our media critiques exposed and deconstructed numerous examples of anti-Israeli bias disseminated by international news organizations.
Our articles set the record straight by highlighting the difference between objective and agenda-driven journalism, with the goal being to achieve corrections and ensure that writers stick to the facts.
COVID-19: New York Times Praises Hamas Response, Slams Israel
CNN Op-Ed Manipulates Israel-UAE Deal to Spread Vicious Lies
Al Jazeera Smears Prominent Arab-Israeli Video Blogger
- Social Media Impact
1 million
1 million impressions
1.2 million
1.2 million impressions
4 million
YouTube
32 videos were viewed nearly 4 million times
