For the third day in a row, NBC’s Today turned to Chief Foreign Affairs Correspondent Richard Engel to provide the latest Palestinian talking points denouncing President Trump’s decision to acknowledge Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Reporting from the city once again on Friday, Engel warned of an “Israeli crackdown” against violent “day of rage” protests being encouraged by Palestinian leaders.
“Clashes this morning over Jerusalem....Palestinians tried to demonstrate, but Israeli security forces were ready for them. Police have moved in quickly to break up the protests,” Engel lamented. He portrayed the Israeli forces as villains crushing dissent: “The Israeli security forces are trying to prevent people from gathering, trying to prevent them from reaching the main street, trying to break up the demonstration before they’re able to congregate.”
Meanwhile, the Palestinians were the heroes of the story: “For the Palestinians, this is their way of showing that they don’t accept the Israeli claim to Jerusalem....And this isn’t just a battle over real estate, for many Muslims, this is an issue of faith and justice.”
Engel framed it all in the context of a broader “justice” movement throughout the region: “Across the Islamic world, the Al-Aqsa Mosque is revered. Protests have spread to Turkey, Pakistan, Jordan, and other nations where many believe President Trump is trying to give control of an Islamic holy site to Israel. A move, they say, they’ll fight.”
On Thursday, Engel proclaimed that the President’s Jerusalem announcement was a “betrayal” of the Palestinian people and had “killed” the peace process.
On Wednesday, he touted “Palestinians calling for three days of rage” over “what they say is a needless and provocative move by President Trump.”
Apparently NBC is not interested in objective coverage of the contentious issue with perspectives from both sides, but rather, just pushing the Palestinian agenda.
Engel’s Friday biased report was brought to viewers by Walmart, JCPenney, and Subaru.
Here is a full transcript of the December 8 report:
7:09 AM ET
HODA KOTB: Also on this busy Friday morning, we are seeing new violence and protests in the Middle East following President Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. NBC’s Richard Engel is right there in Jerusalem, in the thick of things. Richard, good morning.
RICHARD ENGEL: Good morning, Hoda. We are in East Jerusalem, at Damascus Gate. Behind me is actually Damascus Gate, and behind that wall is Jerusalem’s Old City, which is a maze of small alleys and streets. We were in the Old City this morning to cover Palestinian demonstrations against President Trump’s recent statements. And while we were there, we found ourselves in the midst of an Israeli crackdown.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: New “Day of Rage” in Middle East; Security on High Alert Amidst Violent Protests]
Clashes this morning over Jerusalem, in Jerusalem. The fighting broke out as Palestinians left the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem’s Old City. Palestinians tried to demonstrate, but Israeli security forces were ready for them. Police have moved in quickly to break up the protests. They are not allowing the protesters to move out of the Old City.
Breaking up the demonstrators with force, pushing and shoving down the narrow alleys. The Israeli security forces are trying to prevent people from gathering, trying to prevent them from reaching the main street, trying to break up the demonstration before they’re able to congregate. For the Palestinians, this is their way of showing that they don’t accept the Israeli claim to Jerusalem.
Zero tolerance for protests. Why? Palestinians want this Old City and its mosque to be the centerpiece of their future capital. But President Trump seemed to rule that out, backing Israel, which claims all of Jerusalem as its own. And this isn’t just a battle over real estate, for many Muslims, this is an issue of faith and justice.
Across the Islamic world, the Al-Aqsa Mosque is revered. Protests have spread to Turkey, Pakistan, Jordan, and other nations where many believe President Trump is trying to give control of an Islamic holy site to Israel. A move, they say, they’ll fight.
There have been other clashes this morning in Jerusalem and other Palestinian areas in the West Bank. We spoke to Israel’s police spokesman, he said that extra security forces have been deployed here in Jerusalem. He wouldn’t say how many, but said it’s enough to contain the situation. Back to you.
KOTB: Alright, Richard, thank you so much. Richard in Jerusalem.
