Quarterly Impact Report
April – June 2023
Laura Cornfield
Director, MediaCentral
Dear friends,
In the second quarter of 2023, Israeli citizens continued to come under attack by terrorists – the most notable being the fatal point-blank shooting of Lucy Dee and her two daughters Maia and Rina. Four others were brutally killed in June near the settlement of Eli while eating at a restaurant. MediaCentral took journalists to the site of this attack to speak firsthand to witnesses at the scene and officials from the region.
MediaCentral also took foreign media outlets on exclusive tours to hotbeds of terror activity, including Nablus and Jenin, to get an up-close look at what Israeli security forces are facing and how they are addressing the threats. The northern border also came under threat from Lebanon – and MediaCentral took journalists there to see how residents are prepared for possible attacks.
Wherever news is happening, MediaCentral is working to connect reporters with local and foreign experts who can provide them with the nuance behind the sound bites.
We greatly appreciate the ongoing support of all our partners and supporters who empower us to make a tremendous difference in Israel’s portrayal in the international media.
Laura Cornfield
MediaCentral Director
This quarter:
103
Articles Tracked
27
Events
222
Event Participants
61
One-on-One Services
Top-tier outlets participating in our events:
Field Tours:
Field tours
5
4
FIELD TOURS
What is a Field Tour short blurb …
63
Field Tours
192
Participating Outlets
Tour to the Northern Border
In mid-May, two high-ranking officials addressed the fragility of the situation along the northern border. IDF Chief-of-Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi said that Hezbollah “thinks it understands how we think, which can lead it to dare and challenge us in scenarios where we won’t go to war,” and the IDF’s Military Intelligence Directorate chief Aharon Haliva assessed that Hezbollah is “close to making a mistake” that could spark a regional war.
Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah swiftly responded, saying in a speech: “You are not the ones to threaten a big war, we are the ones who threaten you with it.”
With Hezbollah’s recent daring in carrying out a bombing at the Megiddo Junction inside Israel, and allowing rocket fire from Lebanon in areas it controls, it seems there is a clear change of policy. Does this mean a war is closer than ever?
FIELD TOUR
Crime in the Arab Sector
The Arab Israeli community is witnessing an unprecedented increase in crime in its cities and towns, raising serious concerns within its 1.7 million population.
More than 100 Arab citizens have been killed by organized crime gangs in these different towns and cities. MediaCentral took journalists on a field tour to Umm Al Fahm and Jaffa of Nazareth to address the surging crime rate.
FIELD TOUR
Aftermath of Eli Terror
The last few months have witnessed an escalation in terror attacks in the West Bank against Jewish community residents.
On June 20, Hamas terrorists killed four Israelis in a shooting in the Eli settlement. Just days after the attack, MediaCentral took almost a dozen journalists to the site and arranged for them to speak to the governor and the director of the Binyamin Regional Council along with the owner of the restaurant where the murderous rampage took place.
Journalist Services:
Journalist Services
12
Escalation on the Northern Border
On April 6, the first day of the Passover holiday, Lebanon fired over 30 missiles at Israel’s northern border – the largest barrage of rockets in over 17 years. As the missiles were falling, MediaCentral was the only media service that immediately addressed the attack with a Zoom conference hosting Maj. Gen. (res.) Amos Yadlin. Among the two dozen outlets who joined the call were bureau chiefs from The New York Times, Reuters, NPR, and CBN.
“It is the largest barrage of rockets from Lebanon since 2006,” said Yadlin, a former head of Israeli military intelligence.
SPECIAL BRIEFING
Operation Shield and Arrow: Apprehension Builds as Israel Waits for PIJ Response
In mid-May, the IDF targeted three senior Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) figures, declaring the launch of Operation Shield and Arrow. Following their deaths and those of several civilians caught up in the Israeli air strikes, Israel anxiously awaited the threatened Palestinian response.
The issue was so intriguing that journalists from top-tier outlets, including The New York Times, Bloomberg, BBC World News, Wall Street Journal, VOA, CBN, and The National all joined the MediaCentral briefing to hear from former deputy head of the National Security Council, Col. (res.) Itamar Yaar, who explained the possible repercussions.
