On Saturday, NewsBusters asked two important questions: “Will Media Report Palestinians Fleeing Gaza For Israel,” and will they address the theft of Yasser Arafat’s Nobel Peace Prize by Hamas looters?
At this point, the answer to the latter is a resounding “No.” The answer to the former is “Not much.”
To be more specific, extensive searches of Google News and LexisNexis have identified that no major American media outlet with the exception of the New York Daily News bothered to report the theft of Yasser Arafat’s Noble Peace Prize:
One of the strongest symbols of the Fatah Party, the Gaza Strip home of its founder, Arafat, who died in 2004, was torn apart. Frenzied Hamas members carted away furniture, wall tiles and Arafat's personal belongings - even his cherished Nobel Peace Prize.
"They stole almost everything inside the house," Fatah spokesman Ahmed Abdel Rahman told the Jerusalem Post," including Arafat's Nobel Peace Prize medal.
Yet, despite the fact that the Drudge Report linked to the Jerusalem Post article at 4:47 PM EST Saturday, the Washington Post totally ignored this development. It appears the same can be said for USA Today.
By contrast, three major media outlets – the New York Times, the Associated Press, and the Los Angeles Times – did indeed report the looting at Arafat’s home in Gaza. However, they chose not to share the news about his Nobel Peace Prize.
For instance, this was the last paragraph about the situation in Gaza presented by a Times piece on page 4 Sunday:
A day after looters sacked the official presidential compound and other Fatah buildings in Gaza, the house in Gaza of Yasir Arafat, the Palestinian leader who died in 2004, was also entered forcibly. But guards protected the house of Mr. Abbas, raising the green Hamas flag over it but preventing looting — even leaving in place a photograph of Mr. Abbas with President Clinton at the signing of the Oslo peace accords in 1993.
No mention of Arafat’s Nobel Peace Prize.
Same for the AP, which also decided to report the looting in the final paragraph of its article Sunday with no mention of the Prize:
Symbols of Fatah control, including the Gaza City residence of the late Yasser Arafat were looted. Abbas' office said looters took furniture, including a bed, as well as presents the legendary leader had received in four decades at the helm of Palestinian politics. Hamas security forces later arrived and locked the house. Hamas denied anyone had broken into the building.
Ditto the LA Times which placed the following paragraph toward the end of its Sunday piece on the fighting in Gaza (page 3):
Gaza remained relatively calm for a second day after ferocious fighting that had spanned the length of the impoverished enclave. Looters ransacked the home of the late Yasser Arafat and overran a police outpost once operated by Fatah on the Palestinian side of the Erez crossing with Israel.
Once again, no mention of Arafat’s Nobel Peace Prize. Why?
As for the issue concerning Palestinians fleeing embattled Gaza for Israel, some of these outlets addressed it, but with very little focus. For instance, here were paragraphs five and six of the aforementioned New York Times article:
On Saturday morning, hundreds of Fatah supporters tried to flee Gaza through the Erez crossing into Israel. Many made it through, according to witnesses and Israeli radio, but others scattered after Hamas gunmen, who had set up roadblocks to prevent people from leaving, fired over their heads to scare them away.
“We all ran away after Qassam shot at us,” said Said Badawi, 23, a driver who said he was at the checkpoint at the time. He was referring to the Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas.
And, this was the only mention of Palestinians trying to flee Gaza for Israel in the AP’s piece:
Hundreds of other Gazans rushed to the border crossing with Israel to try to escape Hamas rule, but found gates locked. Israeli troops briefly fired warning shots.
On the airwaves, some kudos need to be expressed for the “CBS Evening News” for its coverage of this event Saturday night. Although there was no mention of the looting, or Arafat’s Nobel Peace Prize, the “News” gave a lot of focus to the events in Gaza, and correspondent Richard Roth stated the following:
For a handful of people who got through the roadblocks, Israel opened its border. Israel says it plans to let in humanitarian aid but not quite yet.
As its second story of the evening following the announcement out of North Carolina involving Mike Nifong, the “News” also brought on former ambassador Dennis Ross to discuss the turmoil in the region.
This is compared to ABC’s “World News Saturday” which didn’t pay a lot of attention to the goings-on in Gaza, and mentioned nothing about Arafat’s Prize or Palestinians trying to flee the region for Israel.
As for the “NBC Nightly News,” the airing of golf’s U.S. Open pre-empted this broadcast on the east coast.
Adding it all up, it seems quite obvious that America’s media were completely disinterested in the Arafat Nobel Peace Prize story, and for the most part gave little focus to Palestinians fleeing Hamas-controlled Gaza for Israel.
The question remains: why?
For more coverage on recent events in Gaza, please see Little Green Footballs and Gateway Pundit.
*****Update: Please see Jules Crittenden's coverage on this issue, as well as new items posted by Gateway Pundit and LGF.
*****Update II: A Fark member created the following fabulous picture:
—Noel Sheppard is the Associate Editor of NewsBusters. Follow him at Facebook and Twitter.
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I'm surprised that his &quo
June 17, 2007 - 12:29 ET by happyuscitizenI'm surprised that his "wife" didn't take it to Paris along with the Swiss Bank Account Numbers and passwords. Let me guess the looters discovered Arafat's peace prize hidden at the bottom of the box labeled "FRAUD". How ironic, a thief's palace looted by a bunch of thieves.
After seeing this debacle unfold, how can any sane person with a straight face argue Israel should negotiate with these cretins? Wait I'll answer that, the EU, UN, somehow it is Israel's fault this happened.
This is old-media's nod to 'v
June 17, 2007 - 12:59 ET by dmntd1This is old-media's nod to 'verification before reporting'. Jerusalem Post isn't a good enough source, so they need to interview a few terrorists prior to reporting that arafat's peace prize, and the fleeing of Palestinians to Israel were actually occurring. Granted, it might take a few years to verify that, so don't hold your breath...
I really think that questioning others' masculinity is a game probably better left to people who haven't had more cock in and out of them than a Tyson Chicken regional distribution center. AceOfSpades 06162007
It doesn't fit their "Is
June 17, 2007 - 13:06 ET by mattmIt doesn't fit their "Israel as bad guy" template. The situation in Gaza repudiates Oslo and the whole concept of "land for peace."
The Arabs must accept Israel's existence or there won't be peace (until the 2nd Coming, that is.)
As for the theft of the Peace
June 17, 2007 - 14:49 ET by Dave RAs for the theft of the Peace Prize, the MSM isn't really interested in making any Palestinian group look bad in the eyes of the world, as the illusion that these are all just mistreated and abused people that the Western media has spent so long cultivating, would be more difficult for them to maintain.
As for the lack of coverage of Palestinians fleeing to Israel, one of the dirty little secrets the Western media has tried to hide for years is the fact that an Arab who is an Israeli citizen actually has more rights than if that person were living under Palestinian rule.
If that were to get out, it would not be helpful to those who make their livings blaming Israel for the problems of the Palestinian people.
One thing I have not heard
June 17, 2007 - 14:52 ET by sarcasmoOne thing I have not heard mentioned is that looting of this sort can effectively cover-up evidence of corruption/criminality. (I know, as if the world actually needed even more proof Arafat was slime...)
JMR
sarc you're a step ahead again
June 17, 2007 - 15:13 ET by Cool ArrowI wouldn't have thought of that, glad you shared it. Not that there was anything for the Arafat group to hide, mind you.
Yeah, the thing is, maybe i
June 17, 2007 - 15:24 ET by sarcasmoYeah, the thing is, maybe it's too-obvious anyway. Hamas came to power, at least in part, due to rampant Fatah-corruption, which was apparently a decades-long tradition -- albeit little-covered in the news media. The irony, for me at least, is that the petty-corrupt people would end up more prosperous without the corruption.
JMR
Arab Israeli citizens
June 17, 2007 - 15:31 ET by austinhookDave R. says: one of the dirty little secrets the Western media has tried to hide for years is the fact that an Arab who is an Israeli citizen actually has more rights than if that person were living under Palestinian rule.
But other dirty little secret is that Israel will not return full rights to Arabs who have been forced out of Israel proper. Nor will it allow Arabs to have their full democratic rights in the West Bank or Gaza. Israeli and US pressure, with money and arms, has toppled the Hamas majority parliament in the West bank, causing a coup against it, with only Gaza remaining in Hamas control, and only by force of arms, and not by excercise of civil law, -- as if Hamas had any other choice.
It's all a vicious chess game. May as well understand it if you are going to kibitz and make partisan comments.
austinhook, please tell me
June 17, 2007 - 15:39 ET by Cool ArrowThese Palestinians who were forced from their lands, where are they now?
I hope you aren't referring to what the MSM calls "refugee camps"
Fleeing to Isreal
June 17, 2007 - 15:54 ET by PAPA LThe article said the Palastinians are fleeing to Isreal, is that right? Aren't these the same people that crowed the streets with Hamas colors and banners, shouting death to Isreal and death to America? Aren't these the same people that were so proud of thier voting Fatah out and voting in Hamas? We Americans could take a lesson from them.......you might not be happy with what you vote for (ie. Dem controlled Senate and House).
Palestinian flight
June 17, 2007 - 16:12 ET by Cool ArrowThere is that economic factor some Palestinians are considering. Along with the will to live and the realization that if you ain't strappin' on som plastique you ain't snot with HamAss.
These are youths who've figured out the truth about the "refugee camps". Their Parents and Grandparents weren't pushed, they went running to the camps to get the best seats at the show.
Funny thing happened at the show, though. The Jews didn't get pushed into the Mediterranean. Small wonder these gullible "refugees" weren't invited back to Israel.
Austin
June 17, 2007 - 15:56 ET by Noel SheppardAustin,
That is nonsense. You need to take a look at the history of this conflict and realize that the overwhelming majority of so-called "displaced Palestinians" left Israel prior to the Six Day War in 1967 at the encouragement of Egypt and Syria. They left of their own valition without any force by Israelis.
Instead, they were informed of imminent attacks from Egypt and Syria, and were promised to be able to return after Israel was destroyed. As this did not occur, the reality is that these folks backed the wrong horse, and now claim that they were pushed out.
Nothing could be further from the truth, and this is one of the key misnomers concerning this conflict that has been continually misrepresented and repeated by idiots in the media who know little about the history of the world.
Please do us all a favor and keep your ill-informed anti-Israel positions to yourself, or travel to DKos and DU where such sentiments are more welcomed.
Please be advised that you won't get a second warning concerning this matter. Folks here will NOT tolerate pro-Palestinian propaganda. Is that understood?
ns
Thanks Noel.
June 17, 2007 - 16:15 ET by Cool ArrowAnother underreported stat is the number of Jews who actually were forced from homes in the Arab countries with nothing but the little they could carry. Just doesn't fit in well with the mean Jew story that's been told for so long.
Also worthy of mentioning is
June 17, 2007 - 20:28 ET by stratmanAlso worthy of mentioning is the fact that the entire Arab world has left the Palestinians to sink or swim in the "refugee camps" instead of absorbing their "dear brothers and sisters". Arab states have forcefully turned back Palestinians from the borders.
The Arab world would rather have the Palestinians rot on display in exchange for embarassing Israel and the US than truly help them live and thrive. What the Arabs couldn't accomplish in war against Israel is being attempted with the football known as the Palestinians.
And then there is the fact that the Palestinians have FUBAR'ed every single opportunity to change their existence. It's no wonder the middle east is such a charlie foxtrot.
Yassir that's my baby
June 17, 2007 - 20:37 ET by Cool ArrowRemember the baloon of hope floating over the compound when Arafat went Tango Uniform?
If I'm not mistaken, much of what we now know as Jordan was set aside for the Palestinians. But they were too busy being crybabies to claim it. Trans Jordan?
Arafat - toes up... couldn't
June 18, 2007 - 00:17 ET by stratmanArafat - toes up... couldn't have come soon enough.
The balloon was an appropriate metaphor for that rat's rotting gasbag of a carcass. Amazing no one lit him up in his coumpound after his personal leadership role in the terrrorist murders of the Israeli athletes during the 1972 Munich olympics, which included one athlete from my home town in the States.
Yes, the Arabs that lived in British Palestine, then Palestine plus Trans-Jordan, then Jewish Palestine plus Arab Palestine plus Trans-Jordan, are from common ancestry and culture. Jordanians are in fact Palestinians but for the artifice of borders and one river (Jordan). For an easy historical description check out http://www.masada2000.org/historical.html.
Complex debates
June 17, 2007 - 20:45 ET by austinhookNoel,
Thanks for the response. I'm aware of the controversy over right to return. Personally I think it still applies, despite the length or time past. Just seems right to me, regardless of the intent of those caught in the middle at the time. I dont think the broader public takes it into account much anymore. I couldn't possibly engage the full debate at this point. So we'll leave it as a private opinion.
I don't know what DKos or DU are.
The question of what is opinion and what is propaganda is always an interesting one. I have never been kicked off a forum before for expressing my opinion. On the other hand I'm sure if I walked down the streets of Gaza today I likely get shot for mouthing off to Hamas, whom I strongly doubt the tender mercies of, so getting kicked off this forum would be a relatively gentle punishment by comparision.
I believe in hard reality, real politik as it were. If such things still matter to "Palistinians", then it is still part of the equation.
austin
June 17, 2007 - 20:57 ET by Cool ArrowThe debate is complex because the truth of the actual events has been filtered through the eyes of many people who hate Israel.
If both my neighbors slipped off for the weekend because they knew I was going to be murdered in my house, and I somehow survived but lost a few family members, do you think I'd just let bygones be bygones when the neighbors returned?
Let's get real
austin, don't be a BS'er. It doesn't smell good.
June 17, 2007 - 21:07 ET by Dave RI don't know what DKos or DU are.
Then, perhaps you might wish to take some time and educate yourself.
Austin
June 17, 2007 - 22:11 ET by Noel SheppardAustin,
Before I spend any more time on this, do you agree with the historical fact that the vast majority of "displaced Palestinians" left Israel on their own accord in 1967 because they thought Egypt and Syria were going to be victorious in the imminent war which would allow them to return to an Arab state that they would control?
ns
Noel:Several hundred thousand
June 18, 2007 - 00:27 ET by stratmanNoel:
Several hundred thousand "Palestinians" knowingly and willingly fled uncoerced prior to the Arab invasion of Israel in 1948 (one day after Israel declared independence), based on promises and lollipops that their fellow Arabs would vanquish the Jews and the "Palestinians" would return to reap the spoils of war. This was the first large egress resulting in "refuge camps".
slipping away
June 18, 2007 - 00:28 ET by austinhookNoel,
Thanks for the perspective. No I didn't ever hear it expressed quite that way. It sounds like an awfully difficult perspective to prove. It involves getting into their heads and knowing what they were thinking. It sounds conceivable, if not for all, then at least for some. I wouldn't be surprised if one could find some documentation to back up some cases of such a thing. More difficult to show that it was the exact and universal motivation.
And it's somewhat different from them running away just to avoid conflict. And it is somewhat different from what I heard originally. The criticism I heard long ago, back when it happened, was that they were deliberately panicked into leaving by the people in control of the soon to invade Arab armies. Has that now been deprecated?
Anyway, my personal opinion is that you cannot treat a million people in the same way that you treat an individual. Past sins cannot be put upon a people in that way. And, as I was saying, as long as it matters to them, it has to be taken into consideration. So that's why the comment about citizenship rights seemed particularly insensitive to me, as perhaps my comments did to you.
I was afraid for a moment there that certain viewpoints were just taboo here. Choruses of "praise the lord" kind of liberal bashing, even when a good justified point is made, do get a bit boring in my opinion. I like to learn something once in a while even if I have to bring up an unpopular perspective.
Austin
June 18, 2007 - 08:42 ET by Noel SheppardAustin,
You've basically just proven my point as to why you are dangerous. On the one hand, in your previous post, you claimed you were familiar with issues surrounding Palestinian rights of return. Yet, this is the first time you've heard that Palestinians left Israel before the Six Days War at the suggestion of Egypt and Syria. Frankly, this means you know nothing about the history of this area. Yet, you feel worthy to spread ill-informed propaganda about it at message boards.
This is not a perspective. This is historical fact. It doesn't require divining of past ethos. It is well-known by folks that have studied this history, and it is quite obvious you have not.
This is not a viewpoint. One plus one equals two. The Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. JFK was assassinated on November 22, 1963. And, massive amounts of so-called "Palestinians" fled Israel before the Six Days War at the encouragement of Egypt and Syria. These are immutable facts.
However, folks like you want to view such things as "perspectives" in order to revise history to fit an agenda you are trying to advance. This is what makes people like you VERY dangerous.
With that in mind, as you can't accept historical facts as being such, we have nothing to discuss. Debates require a foundation of facts to build from. Once I encounter someone who refuses to accept known history as fact, I realize the futility of engaging said person. Frankly, I have much more important and beneficial things to do with my time. Adieu. ns
Noel,Don't be so hard on Aus
June 18, 2007 - 11:08 ET by pbanks7Noel,
Don't be so hard on Austin. At least he's willing to listen to other perspectives. That means, if he keeps an open mind and is willing to look at the facts, he will soon join us 'right-wing extremists.'
I'll gladly welcome him into the fold. It only took my brother 15 years years of convincing.
Ignorance is bliss. It's easier to repeat a mindless slogan than to do some actual research.
PB
June 18, 2007 - 11:34 ET by Noel SheppardPB,
I think you're missing the point. Facts aren't a perspective. One plus one equals two. That is a fact. When you come across people willing to debate facts, you should immediately recognize the futility of the discussion and walk away.
I'm not 18-years-old sitting on a bean-bag chair in a college dormitory with unlimited amounts of time at my disposal to philosophically discuss the meaning of the world. Possibly like you, I have two careers, two kids, and all the responsibilities associated with such. As a result, I must pick my battles, as time has become a commodity not a luxury. And, once I identify someone looking to discuss facts as perspectives, I move along.
If you care to debate facts as perspectives, that is your right. I wish I had that much free time. :-) ns
Noel, I'm 100% behind your take with Austin.
June 18, 2007 - 11:21 ET by acaiguanaNoel, I'm 100% behind your take with Austin.
This guy cannot possibly be familiar with the Middle Eastern Palistinian question. His attempt to paint the Israelis as Apartheid government is so transparant that even my daughter knows the difference.
Israel won the war. Israel did not make any 'right of return' comment or commitment to these refugees.
If Egypt and Syria were nations of honor, they would have allowed the Palistinians citizenship and rights long before this time.
I personally could not have answered this guy any better.
ACA
...
Quoted from: 'Acaiguana Notes from the Bomb Shelter' (soon to be a movie at theaters near you)
AC
June 18, 2007 - 11:38 ET by Noel SheppardAC,
Exactly. The nations of the Middle East likely could have resolved much of this dispute decades ago if they had taken responsibility for urging the Palestinians to leave Israel. They chose not to, and, instead, turned their backs on these folks.
In reality, it is the Arabs in this region that have been harsher to the Palestinians than the Israelis. An honest press would have depicted such years ago, and might have furthered a lasting solution rather than fanned the fires of discontent. ns
Why do liberals love Palensti
June 17, 2007 - 16:07 ET by zfWhy do liberals love Palenstine so much? After all their leadership violates all the "principles" the lefties claim to hold so damn dear.
ZF
June 17, 2007 - 16:25 ET by Noel SheppardZF,
I'm not sure if you were asking rhetorically, but in case you weren't, I'd like to offer a few answers
First, I think that liberals are more likely to believe what they see on television and read in magazines and newspapers than conservatives. Conservatives seem more interested in researching current events and history beyond the force-feeding of falsehoods from the drive-bys.
For instance, the vast majority of liberals believe that the Palestinians were forced out of Israel. As you know, this is nonsense. Yet, because the media regularly disseminate this detritus, the liberals buy it hook, line, and sinker.
Furthermore, though Israel is a tiny nation surrounded on all sides by enemies looking to destroy her, because she is supported by America, liberals view her as being the bad guy in the region. Even though she is dramatically outnumbered, these idiots actually see the Arabs and Palestinians as being the underdog.
What incredible nonsense. Alas, the people with such ill-informed views are the same ones that believe history in the region began when America invaded Iraq in March 2003, and that ALL EVENTS PRIOR are to be summarily ignored.
I hope this helps. ns
It was rhetorical, but I like
June 17, 2007 - 16:28 ET by zfIt was rhetorical, but I liked your responce anyway. <g>
lib***ls believe the wackiest things
June 17, 2007 - 18:28 ET by Jack Bauerns -- don't forget while most lib***ls believe Saddam Hussein had nothing to do with Islamo-terrorists.... or weapons of mass destruction despite all the evidence and dead bodies.
Now almost 40% of Democrats actually believe Al-Kayda had nothing to do with the 9/11 murder of 3000 people!
These people are just really odd.
Not to mention cranky as hell
June 17, 2007 - 21:11 ET by zfNot to mention cranky as hell. For all their crowing about how nice and pure they are (despite theire equal insistence they is no such thing as black and white morality) I've found most lefties to be unpleasant, miserable and generally angry people.
Noel,I completely agree with
June 17, 2007 - 21:25 ET by Dave RNoel,
I completely agree with your assessment, but there very well may be one more factor to consider:
There is a rather potent strain of anti-Semitism, as well as anti-Americanism, among many on the left in this country. Many Muslims in the region have expressed a deep-seeded hatred for the US as well as Israel, expressing a desire to see both countries either destroyed, or at least brought low.
I have to believe that, deep down, many of the more radical liberals here tend to agree with this position, which is why, despite the atrocities these people have carried out against others, especially women and children, these acts are consistently overlooked by the left.
After all, have we not seen liberal college students carrying "Death to America" signs at anti-war protests right here in this country?