Israeli PR machine in frenzy over CBS report on Christians

[Purveyor]

When the Israeli government and its embassy in Washington discovered that CBS News show 60 Minutes was going to run a segment on the increasing departure of Christians from the West Bank, they felt obligated to step in. With Prime Minister Netanyahu’s advice and blessing, Ambassador Michael Oren decided months ago that before the show even aired, he must speak with the network’s chairman in order to make sure the report included an Israeli reaction, delaying the report’s airing from last Christmas to this last Sunday.

The Ambassador claimed he had information the 60 Minutes story was going to do a “hatchet job” on Israel which, apparently for Israeli leadership and diplomatic officials, means any mention at all of the possible suffering of Christian Palestinians in places like Bethlehem, due to the separation wall towering over their homes, or the myriad other hardships and violations committed by Israel’s military occupation.

In this clip from the full 60 Minutes report, Bob Simon tells Ambassador Oren that he has never in all his years of journalism been confronted with such interference in his reporting, before a story even aired.

More...

http://972mag.com/cbs-report-on-christians-and-israel-propel-ambassador-oren-to-do-damage-control/43295/

[azurnoir]

1. thanks interesting piece Israel doing damage control in the the exact way we see it done here

pointing the finger and crying "but but they do it toooooo, why don't you do a story on them"? However Ambassador Oren apparently doesn't pay attention because news services have done stories on Christians in the Arab world, perhaps they should cover Lebanon where 1/3 of the population is Christian and holds seats in the Lebanese government albeit Ambassador Oren most likely didn't have that one in mind

eta perhaps the next 'flytilla' should be scheduled to coincide with a major Christian holiday

[shira]

3. You love the delegitimization, don't you?

The reason Oren brings up Islamist actions influencing Christians throughout the mideast is because it's absolutely true. And as you saw from all the articles linked, that applies to the territories as well. When 60 minutes ignores that, it's a hatchet job. Calling it for what it is isn't damage control. It's legit criticism.

As for Lebanon, since you brought it up, the Christian population has dwindled significantly. From some 80% down to 40% now. But that has zero to do with Christians in the territories, right?

[azurnoir]

5. what 'delegitimization'?

and yes I saw your CAMERA, Israel ministry of Foreign Affairs, PalWatch, ect links and already commented on them but and predictably I may add when an actual Palestinian Christian speaks and confirms what the CBS documentary said you claim it was out of fear we've seen that ploy before if fact anytime a group disproves Israel's claims my favorite being Iranian Jews but If indeed they live (any of them) live in so much fear why not stay silent why speak out at all?

[Crunchy Frog]

13. It's anything anyone says about Israel that Shira doesn't like.

That's pretty straightforward isn't it?

[shira]

23. No. I'm certain you know very well what delegitimization is....

It's not legit criticism, but demonization that often utilizes old antisemitic tropes that go back centuries (Jews control too much, have dual loyalty, etc.

The goal of delegitimization is to undermine Israel and bring about its demise. It's why antizionists have a pathological obsession demonizing Israel like no other nation on the planet.

Now imagine I obsess night and day about Saudi Arabia. A country that could easily win the distinction of being the moral anus of the world. There'd be plenty to criticize both night and day. WITHOUT having to exaggerate or demonize anyone. Now imagine I went further and made up shit, made obvious bigoted references, and blamed Saudi Arabia unfairly - while stating very clearly Saudi Arabia has no right to exist. And I'm obsessed about it, constantly going on and on about Saudi Arabia...

You think that's legit criticism?

Or demonization/delegitimization?

I want a serious answer, but I won't hold my breath waiting...

[bemildred]

17. "delegitimization" == "criticism"

Near as I can tell. The more accurate, the more it "de-legitimizes", but it's a strange sort of legitimacy in question, because it about global PR (Uncle Sugar in particular) rather than Israeli politics.

[oberliner]

18. Major differences

Criticism: Israel is wrong to continue to hold occupied territories and build and expand settlements there.

Delegitimization: The entire underpinning of the existence of Israel as it is currently constituted, i.e. Zionism, is inherently evil and must be eradicated completely.

[bemildred]

19. Yes, but the two are often conflated?

Those distinctions are real and important, what is being argued against is the failure to make those very proper distinctions, not that those distinctions do not exist.

[shira]

22. Unfair criticism that is mostly bullish!t & half-truths...

1. I must have cited at least 10-12 different sources. You think all are questionable? Seriously?

2. What the actual Palestinian said (about reasons for leaving) may well be true. I've never denied that. But it's more than likely just one of many factors, not the main reason.

3. There is no question Islamists make life difficult for Christians, not only throughout the rest of the mideast but also within the territories. That you deny fact speaks volumes.

4. As for Iranian Jews, do you know of any who live in the USA? I know quite a few and all will tell you that life in Iran is miserable for Jews. Of course the ones in Iran won't say that publicly. They're not stupid.

[TomClash]

2. It was an extraordinary piece

Highlighting the plight of Christians in occupied Palestine.

I was especially struck by Ambassador Oren's haughty manner.

[shira]

4. LOL. n/t

[Leftist Agitator]

6. I know why Israeli officials are upset...

Any reminder that not every Palestinian is a Muslim terrifies Israeli leaders, because many Americans have come to see Muslims as the enemy. Pointing out that "fellow Christians" are suffering because of Israel's blatantly racist policies must not be permitted.

[oberliner]

7. Showcasing the impotence of Israel with respect to influencing anything in the US

This piece was aired in spite of the harsh protestations from the highest levels of government in Israel as outlined in the OP.

And yet the myths live on, even on this board.

[Jefferson23]

8. If they are not 100% successful each and every time, they have never influenced at all.

Officials in the Prime Minister's Office said that, on the contrary, the attempts to affect the article proved successful. "The broadcast of the article was delayed for several weeks because they reexamined the entire report," officials said. "The article was malignant and harmful, but the wording was much softer than in the original version."

[TomClash]

10. Bingo

I should have read your response first.

[Jefferson23]

12. Everything you added in your post is spot on imo. n/t

[oberliner]

14. Exactly right

I'm sure if any other US ally expressed similar feelings in a similar situation they would receive a similar delay.

[Jefferson23]

26. Yea, it's all the same level playing field.

You bet blind oberliner.

[TomClash]

9. Except the piece was delayed

And Oren got to say his piece.

And the article you posted about this was factually incorrect in its description of Simon's piece.

And Israel gets the unrequited love and extraordinary largesse from the US Congress.

And on this Board Palestinian news sources are banned but extremist, pro-Israel publications flourish.

I'd say you do your job quite well.

[oberliner]

15. As would be the norm with any US ally

The article that I posted was not factually incorrect. It was an op-ed piece with one person's opinion about the story and the reaction to it.

The love Israel gets from the US Congress is by no means unrequited.

Palestinian news sources are not banned on this site. Ma'an is posted regularly, including by me. In fact, I wish there were more Palestinian sources in English available online so we can get a better window into that POV.

Extremist pro-Israel sites do not flourish. Quite the opposite, they are routinely mocked and criticized when posted, including by me. In fact, I have repeatedly requested for Arutz Sheva to be banned.

I don't know what you think my job is other than to support reasonable discourse in a courteous atmosphere.

[TomClash]

20. Not so

The article claimed that "you would think Islamist parties like, say, Hamas play a negligible role in contemporary Palestinian politics." In fact, "Islamic extemism" was discussed by Oren and then the Palestinian CocaCola franchisor.

Further, nothing about the story attempted to be the story. The story was Christians are leaving and that could be bad for Israel-US relations and tourism. If that means the story was the story then that's true of every actual news segment that discusses the potential consequences of any action - NYT and WSJ do this in almost every story.

Really? What do the American people - who the Congress is supposed to represent - get in return for the 3+ billion in aid to Israel? Not a lot.

You are right - Ma'an can be posted. But nothing else. Why is Israelnationalnews.com ok to post but not ISM? You posted from the Tablet, which is not a news source. I don't care but there is a double standard. If it were a Palestinian blog or website it would be banned.

[Scurrilous]

11. Kairos Palestine responds to Amb. Michael Oren (March 20, 2012)

(On March 9, Israeli Ambassador to the US, Michael Oren, contributed an article entitled, "Israel and the Plight of Mideast Christians," which was published in the Wall Street Journal. There have been several responses to that article from Palestinian Christians and others. The following response was issued on March 17, by Kairos Palestine.)

<snip>

"Kairos Palestine, a group of Palestinian Christians who co-authored the document “A Moment of Truth,” denounces Michael Oren’s recent op-ed published in the Wall Street Journal (9 March 2012). In this inaccurate and manipulative text, Oren, Israel’s ambassador to the US, blames the plight of Palestinian Christians on oppression at the hands of Palestinian Muslims -- rather than at the hands of the illegal Israeli occupation itself, as is our reality.

We add our voices to several other recently published responses that have emphasized this reality and the ways in which Oren’s op-ed attempts to mask it. Indeed, contrary to his assertions, Christian persecution is caused mainly by the occupation that systematically degrades all Palestinians, restricts our movement, confiscates our land, devastates our economy, and violates our rights -- including the very basic right to a decent life.

We are particularly troubled by Oren’s attribution of migration within the Palestinian Christian community to ill-treatment by Palestinian Muslims. This damaging analysis wilfully ignores the underlying political oppression that afflicts Christians and Muslims alike. In the case of Bethlehem, for instance, it is in fact the rampant construction of Israeli settlements, the chokehold imposed by the separation wall, and the Israeli government’s confiscation of Palestinian land -- largely Christian-owned land in the Bethlehem area -- that has driven many Christians to leave. At present, a mere 13% of Bethlehem-area land is left to its Palestinian inhabitants.

Oren’s article also reveals a disturbing conception of democracy itself, especially as he insists on emphasizing Israel’s democratic character. In attempting to highlight ways in which Israel supposedly seeks to protect the survival and encourage the prosperity of the Christian community, Oren implies the Israeli state’s lack of interest in ensuring the same for Muslims. Democracy is not selective. Any democratic state that bothered to implement its own ideals -- and, moreover, any ambassador to such a state -- would be ashamed of such an evidently distorted attitude toward its inhabitants and their rights."

http://globalministries.org/news/mee/kairos-palestine-responds-to.html

[oberliner]

16. Thank you for posting this

It's amazing the impact the three major religions have had and continue to have on this region. Nothing brings Muslims and Christians together quite like Israel.

[TomClash]

21. "Nothing brings Muslims and Christians together quite like Israel."

What does this mean?

[oberliner]

24. Explanation

It means that the shared disdain for the policies of Israel in the West Bank have created unity between Muslims and Christians in a way not generally found elsewhere in the region where Israel is less directly involved in people's lives.

[Crunchy Frog]

27. Nothing brings two parties together quite like being occupied by a third party.

[oberliner]

28. Exactly so

You don't really see Muslims and Christians getting along nearly as well in other countries in the region.

[shira]

25. Ahh, the Kairos Document....making clear the Palestinians have the right to terrorize & murder...

...innocents. Yes, yes, Palestinians have this "right" to resist occupation by all means necessary.

I don't see how anyone here on a liberal/progressive board can defend the Kairos people.

I guess 60 minutes forgot to include that little tidbit of info.