When Israel attacked Palestinian targets following the discovery that three kidnapped Israeli teenagers had been murdered, the way TV outlets characterized the Israel actions on their July 1 newscasts was instructive.
ABC World News and NBC Nightly News adopted the same language:
Framing Israel’s actions as a form of retaliation is problematic, since the airstrikes, arrests and house raids are directed at people who had nothing to do with the murders. Israel has named two suspects in the crime, Marwan Qawasmeh and Amer Abu Aisha. As the New York Times (7/1/14) and other outlets have reported, these two West Bank residents may not have a significant connection with Hamas, despite the official Israeli insistence that the Hamas government in Gaza should be held responsible for the killings.
It should go without saying that the killings of the Israeli youths do not justify the killing of innocent Palestinians, any more than the six Palestinian children killed by the Israeli military so far this year legitimize the murder of the Israeli teens.
But the US networks nonetheless framed Israel’s attacks as retaliation. “The response by Israel was quick and powerful,” NBC anchor Brian Williams declared, saying the series of airstrikes in the Gaza Strip were “in apparent retaliation.”
An ABC World News report (7/1/14) by correspondent Alex Marquardt began with this: “Striking back. Israel hitting hard overnight with 34 precision airstrikes on a Hamas compound.”
As FAIR has noted in the past (Action Alert, 4/4/02), the US media tends to overwhelmingly prefer a narrative of Palestinian attacks and Israeli retaliation. As FAIR noted:
This disparity is meaningful. The term “retaliation” suggests a defensive stance undertaken in response to someone else’s aggression. It also lays responsibility for the cycle of violence at the doorstep of the party being “retaliated” against, since they presumably initiated the conflict.
In this case, the brunt of the Israeli “reaction” is being borne by Palestinians who had nothing to do with the crimes that were committed.
But we all know that this is the “Black/White” of the U.S. Media. Actions committed by the enemy are atrocities, while actions committed by our troops and allies (even if the same heinous actions) are ‘necessary’ or ‘honorable’.
If it’s on the news, then let it snooze because none of the Corpse-press can tell truth, except by accident.
I guess the difference is between criminal action and act of war. It is frowned on (though often forgiven) to seek personal revenge against someone who killed a member of your group. The correct response is to call the police and let the justice system handle it. If the killing is across national boundaries by a nation who has declared itself an adversary, that is often considered an act of war and, indeed, a provocation which requires a violent act in return. After all, there is no justice system response here. Should the parents call the Hamas police?
Your option, of non-violent response, is spiritually sound, but rarely politically savvy. It only worked for Gandhi and MLK because they knew there was a more powerful ally who would be inspired to be violent on their behalf.
“In this case, the brunt of the Israeli “reaction” is being borne by Palestinians who had nothing to do with the crimes that were committed.”
Like the Afghans who had nothing to do with 9/11 yet are paying for that since nearly 13 years…
Whenever it gets to Israel and media we have to remember the case jewish lobbies being catched by distribution of 250 m USD to US media NOT to report about Palestinia unless it´s a pro Israel version of the truth. We also have to remember lot more in order to have a fair understanding and judgement in regard the eternal occupation and surpression of Palestina. People are in misreable estate and it might not wonder some “hot” youngsters or fanatics getting mad on Israel. Best thing to do is to resolve Israel and to create the United States of Arabia, because that is what it is and always was: Arabian territory.
One Palestinian child has been killed by Israel every 3 days for the past 13 years
1,518 Palestinian children were killed by Israel’s occupation forces from September 2000 up to April 2013. That’s the equivalent of one Palestinian child killed by Israel every 3 days for almost 13 years. The number of children injured by the Israelis has now reached 6,000.
9,000 Palestinians under 18 years old have been arrested since the end of September 2000. Almost two hundred and fifty Palestinian minors are being held in prison by Israel; 47 of them are children under 16 years of age.
In addition to Palestinians being described as attackers and Israelis as retaliators, a Palestinian killed or wounded in conflict is often called a militant, whereas an Israeli who does that killing or wounding is not. He’s referred to as an Israeli soldier, but aren’t soldiers militants?
Initially the “retaliation” was Israel’s response to hundreds of rockets being launched into Israel during the previous several days – this was before the Israeli teens were killed. I would like to see the Israelis find the peson who killed the Palestianian boy and bring him/her to justice. Conversely – I would also like to see the Palestinians find the persons who murdered the Israelis and bring them to justice.
Israel is just plain striking at anything they can. There has not been any proof submitted of Hamas being responsible for the 3 Jewish boy’s deaths.
Further, Israel knew almost immediately that the 3 boys were dead but withheld that info from the public? Why? Obviously to milk the situation for sowing dissension and terror amongst the Palestinians and keeping the Israeli pop hyped up, angry and frightened. And aside from the immediate disruption they have created, Israel is clearly trying to influence the world to once again hate Hamas. But it is backfiring on them. It is clear the Palestinian boy was tortured and burned alive; such hatred has not been associated with the 3 Jewish boys’ deaths. So even here there is a moral inequity against Israel. I found myself questioning whether Israel was creating a false flag with these 3 boys to further promote their agenda of Palestinian displacement, ethnic cleansing and genocide. Since the kidnapping Israel has arrested over 400 people in West Bank, continued ongoing bombing of Gaza, a number of children’s deaths, and dozens, of house demolitions in West Bank.
As part of the Zionist disinformation and manipulation program, I can’t recall over the past few days ANY acknowledgment in the MSM that the three Jewish settlers had NO BUSINESS (blame their parents, among others?) strolling through illegally Occupied Palestine land in the West Bank — even as the Palestinian boy was legally walking on his own turf within feet or minutes of his family home.
I have never seen Israel as having a confusing foreign policy -in their dealings with terrorism emanating from boarder areas.They hit back hard and fast.Every time.Without fail.Is it right?Does it work?Go to it my armchair warriors…………….
Funny how some people even believe the Israeli Government, the sad thing, Israel is the only illegal country that was created by the UK and USA, against the will of the Palestinians, and the rest of the world.since it was created 1948, it has been making excuses killing Palestinians destroying their homes, building homes for Jews Who never knew Israel existed in Palestine, brought people from Russia, some against their will, brought Jews from Africa and many other countries to increase the Jewish population, while reducing the Palestinian population, by killing, deporting force refugees on Jordan Lebanon, Egypt, Syria and many other countries. Israel always called the Palestinians, Terrorists and Muslims, the majority of Christian people in the world in the world don’t know that there was over 40% Christians in Palestine, Israel does not care about Christians, Muslims or even Jews, those Jews they brought from outside Native Palestine are disposable, they are used to fill in for annexation, when the Majority count is Jewish it will be Israeli land, The UN is Corrupted the US is Controlled by the Jewish lobbyists. Israel would not listen to any one, and no one can stop them, not the UK nor the USA, they have 300 Nuclear Missiles, most powerful military in the world. If I was a Palestinian living in Palestine I would would organize the 4 or 5 Million Palestinians and move to England, and Save the world of Destruction and annihilation of man kind. Israel does not follow the UN Charter, the UN is irrelevant, Israel used Cluster bombs in Janine, the west bank, gaza and even Lebanon, in 2002 In Janine, 2006 in Lebanon invasion, white phosphorus 2008- 2009 in Gazy, Every time Israel invaded an area, used those illegal weapons made in the US, UN accepts the US Vito, and every one forgets about it. No Sanctions no UN troops to monitor. When Russia help and protect it’s people in Ukraine and cleverly secure Crimea without killing any one or firing a shot. The US and NATO move their troops into Ukraine, make sanctions on Russia, freez Russians Assets and bully them. Where is the Fairness in all that? We destroyed Iraq and Libya, almost did Syria, If we did not use the Terrorists to do our Job, and if Syria was not aware of what happened to Iraq and Libya, and if Putin did not side with Assad, we would have gotten away with it. but we are so determined to hegemony the world, we are willing to go to WWIII and destroy this Earth. The mad Policy of the US and Israel and the Elite is: If we can’t have it all, no one will. and we call ourselves Christians.
I agree wholeheartedly that Hamas was not responsible for the gruesome murders. The responsibility rests with these rogue followers. That being said, if these fools were trying to sabotage the cease fire, why didn’t Hamas track them down and take care them? Did I miss something? Fill me in.