‘How Could It Be Otherwise?’

Al Jazeera’s Israeli bureau chief, Walid al-Umari defends his network’s coverage. Asked about controversial comments by editor-in-chief Ahmad al-Sheikh a few weeks ago, al-Umari told Haaretz:

“Al Jazeera is an Arab medium that broadcasts to an Arab audience, and in this audience Israel is perceived as an enemy. When one side is living under an occupation and the other side is the occupier, it’s clear that what is reported is negative. How could it be otherwise?”

Al-Umari is an Israeli-Arab citizen.