Indie Ignores Rockets…Unless Israel Fires Back

Included in a story from The Independent focused on Israeli former foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman's reaction to a volley of…

By Simon Plosker June 25, 2013

Included in a story from The Independent focused on Israeli former foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman’s reaction to a volley of rockets fired from Gaza into Israel is the following (emphasis added):

His [Lieberman’s] comments came as the Israeli Air Force attacked targets in the Gaza Strip after six rockets were fired from Gaza into southern Israel into the early hours of Monday morning. No one was injured. It was the first ceasefire breach since April. 

Except it wasn’t the first ceasefire breach since April.

In fact, The Independent’s own “Related Stories” column in the same story includes a link (see red arrow) to a report from as recently as June 19 on the firing of three Grad rockets from Gaza at Ashkelon!

In addition, even if one was to ignore a spate of rocket and mortar attacks from Gaza that occurred during April, that still leaves two mortar shells fired on May 2 and another on May 15, all of which landed in the Eshkol Regional Council area.

While these rockets mercifully landed in open areas, causing no injuries or damage, is this not a breach of the ceasefire? Or is a ceasefire only broken if Israel responds to a rocket attack?

That’s what The Independent evidently believed based on the original headline it used to report on the very rocket attacks that Avigdor Lieberman was commenting on:

independent240613ii

The headline was later amended to something more palatable but the original is still present on the “Related Articles” box (highlighted with the blue arrow) of the Lieberman story.

So, in The Independent’s world, Palestinian rocket attacks constitute “relative calm,” something that can only be broken by Israeli counter strikes.

No wonder that Israel is perceived to be the aggressor. You can thank media outlets such as The Independent for that.

[sc:bottomsignup ]

© Divuach Ne’eman R”A, 2025

Simon Plosker

Simon Plosker

With over two decades of experience in various non-governmental organizations in the UK and Israel, Simon Plosker returned to HonestReporting in October 2022 as Editorial Director having previously been part of the organization’s management team from 2005 to 2020.

Prior to his first spell at HonestReporting, Simon worked in Israel for NGO Monitor, BICOM, and served for a short period in the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit. He was Managing Editor of the Geneva-based NGO United Nations Watch for two years before moving back to the frontline defending Israel from media bias.

Simon has a BSoc.Sc in International Studies and Political Science from the University of Birmingham and an MSc in History of International Relations from the London School of Economics. He immigrated to Israel in 2001 from London.

Discover More

Get clear, reliable Israel news and tools to fight media bias.

Subscribe