Here’s a followup to our recent communique ‘When the Photo is the Story’:
IsraPundit has a very nice summary of the general problem of media bias against Israel, then focuses on the problem of photo-based distortions. The author interviews ‘IDF Dave’, the reservist whose photos of the altogether warm relations between IDF soldiers and Palestinians we included in the communique:
Q: How have you seen the media distort the reality of Israel’s checkpoints?
A: Like they distort every other event that happens in Israel or Iraq. They take photos and provide no context. The photographers wait all day at our checkpoint to try and get the photo that makes us look as bad as possible. The IDF show so much restraint that sometimes there can be a shouting and shoving match because those confronting the soldier realize that he is not going to do anything. Therefore when a situation like this happens it’s very easy to take photos of a little pushing and shoving and giving someone the impression that IDF soldiers are harassing people. It’s quite the opposite from what I see. The IDF soldiers are usually the ones on the receiving end of the abuse and I really have respect for our regulars (non-reservists) out there who have spent many months manning checkpoints. Most of them are 18-19 years old—guys and girls who show a restraint unlike any other army in the world.
