The Jewish Chronicle has reported the launch of yet another pro-Israel media lobbying organisation. The report highlights fears by some pro-Israel activists that the new organisation will overlap with the work of existing lobby groups. If only the biggest problem facing the Palestinians were too many lobby groups supporting them!

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New Israel lobby 'not taking on Bicom'
The Jewish Chronicle, 11th Jan 2008

A new London-based organisation dedicated to monitoring and analysing press coverage of Israel is to be launched shortly with a full-time staff.

A spokesperson said that staff were being recruited and the aim was to ensure a "professional, dedicated effort" to examine whether Israel receives fair coverage in the media.

The organisation, which is yet to be named, was in the "early stages of development", she added. It would not compete with other Israeli lobbying groups such as Bicom, the Britain-Israel Communications and Research Centre, which seeks to present Israel's case to journalists. It would be keen to co-operate with communal organisations.

Among its senior staff will be Israeli lawyer Elisheva Mironi, who in 2002, with London lawyer Trevor Asserson, produced a ground-breaking report on the BBC's coverage of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Zionist Federation president Eric Moonman, who has run a media monitoring group, said: "There is a lot of work to be done at the formal level of contacting editors of national newspapers which Bicom is doing. But there is a greater job to be done at the grass-roots level. I get calls every day from people doing that as volunteers.

"If the set-up being considered will bring together all the volunteers, it can be only be to the credit of the organisers.

"This organisation is not in any way a rival to Bicom. It will be doing a different job. It doesn't mean Bicom has failed or succeeded. The job that has not been done for 18 months or two years is to strengthen the grass-roots and that will now be addressed."

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