‘Radios Play At Incitement’

AP describes how Palestinian radio stations are fueling Gaza’s civil war:

During two weeks of violence, Hamas’ Aqsa Radio and Fatah’s Radio Shabab enraptured listeners as they reported fierce clashes and angry marches, and gave air time for their respective leaders to abuse their opponents. Callers routinely incited loyalists against rivals.

On Radio Shabab, callers described Hamas gunmen as “child killers” — a reference to the drive-by shooting — or as “the mullahs” — a barbed jab at the Islamic group’s close ties to Shiite Iran.

Hamas’ Aqsa Radio rarely reported aggression by Hamas gunmen, despite deadly assaults on Fatah targets. The broadcasts regularly labeled opponents as “mercenary death squads” and “coup plotters.”

One senior Hamas official called his rivals “Zionists” — a virtual death sentence in Gaza’s militantly anti-Israel society. In another report, an Aqsa correspondent reported — falsely — that Fatah gunmen were firing at their own supporters in the southern town of Khan Younis.

“Radios play at incitement,” said Daher. “There’s no neutral radio in Gaza, it’s all factional.”

Seen it, done it, been there.

(Illustration from Gates of Vienna)