The Independent has made no secret of its one-sided “campaigning journalism”. Most recently, the paper failed to retract Robert Fisk’s false accusation that Israel had used a “secret uranium bomb” in Lebanon. Now, the Independent’s seasonal appeal, featuring a variety of international charities, also focuses on the Palestinians. In a 23 December appeal, Johann Hari employs emotive religious symbolism, asking “What would happen if the Virgin Mary came to Bethlehem today?”
In a bizarre and false historical parallel, Hari describes the Virgin Mary as a “Palestinian refugee in Bethlehem”, and present-day pregnant Palestinian women as “21st century Marys” who “have been giving birth in startlingly similar conditions to those suffered by Mary 2,000 years ago.”
Hari paints a picture of Israeli malevolence towards pregnant Palestinian women, despite the very necessary security measures that have limited freedom of Palestinian movement in the West Bank. The 2002 arrest of a Palestinian terrorist recruited to carry out a suicide bombing disguised as a pregnant woman is a graphic reminder of the depths that terror groups will sink to in their efforts to bypass Israeli security.
Equally, the well-documented Palestinian abuse of medical facilities, vehicles and equipment is also a problem that has contributed to the increased searches of ambulances at checkpoints. Hari, however, fails to mention this. While attributing the decline in medical services to the world’s denial of funding to the Hamas-led Palestinian Authority, Hari also omits the Hamas refusal to recognise Israel, renounce violence and acknowledge existing agreements that has led to financial sanctions.
Charity for improving the lives of expectant Palestinian women is certainly legitimate. Johann Hari and the Independent have, however, politicised this seasonal appeal into a one-sided attack on Israel.
Please send your considered comments to the Independent – [email protected]
AMBASSADORS BLOGGING FOR ISRAEL
HonestReporting.com featured the appearance of HR’s British-born Joe Hyams at a conference entitled Media as Theater of War, the Blogosphere, and the Global Battle for Civil Society, part of the prestigious Annual Herzliya Conference on the Balance of Israel’s National Security. Over the past year, the blogosphere, including HR’s very own Backspin, has had a major impact on the mainstream media, particularly coverage of the Mideast.
HonestReporting UK has supported the pupils of JFS in NW London taking part in the Ambassador competition designed to find a winning advocate for Israel. The Ambassador Media Track finalists had to produce an online blog, which their peers and external judges voted on. Check out the two finalists – IsraeLite and the eventual winner Blog it up 4 Israel. Congratulations to all who participated.
MANCHESTER EXCOMMUNICATES NETURAI KARTA
The last HonestReporting communique addressed the wholly unrepresentative nature of those Neturai Karta members who attended Iran’s Holocaust denial conference. The Jewish community of Manchester have made it quite clear to Neturai Karta’s Ahron Cohen that he does not represent them. As community leader Joy Wolfe writes:
“once Ahron Cohen decided to attend the Holocaust denial conference in Teheran and was pictured shaking hands with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the man who has publicly declared he wants to see the elimination of the Jewish state, that was one step too far.
The Manchester community from the haredi to the secular has made it very clear this man is a disgrace, and brings disrepute to us all.”
to media bias.
