| Bulldozed by Al Jazeera |
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| Wednesday, 02 July 2008 | |
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Since its launch, Al Jazeera English has easily become my favourite choice of news coverage - a crusader for truth in the murky mass of Zionist influenced media. However, today the bubble burst. I was aghast at the blatant lack of balance in Al Jazeera's 5pm top news bulletin regarding the Palestinian bulldozer attack in West Jerusalem, and more shocked to be savaged by one of their representatives when I telephoned to give my feedback. No Live Interviews with Palestinian Representatives You need to see the TV coverage to understand my sentiments in full; I was genuinely sad about the needless loss of human life - three Israeli civilians dead and dozens injured. However, as I watched the coverage I became shocked at the pro-Israel bias, which included an interview with a representative of the Jerusalem Post. No such coverage was afforded to any Palestinian representative to negate the accusations of Palestinian ‘terrorism' nor did they provide any reference for contextual purposes, to the hundreds of Palestinians that have been killed since the start of the year. In fact, is there any official record of Palestinian deaths or are they just ‘collateral damage'? The bulletin's sole representation from the Palestinians: a statement from Hamas in which, according to Al-Jazeera's website Hamas called the attack:
Now whilst the Zionists are given the right to live interviews to spin their propaganda to make the attack seem like a regular daily occurrence, the Palestinians who are occupied and under daily attack by the Israelis are denied the right to have their position put on an equal footing. "Give me a break, lady" I phoned Al Jazeera English to air my grievance and the initial point of contact listened courteously, acknowledged my comments and then put me through to someone who I understand has some editorial control. She was rude, abrupt and downright aggressive. She barked "Give me a break, lady" and said they were still working on the story as it was breaking news (even though according to the Al Jazeera website:
This ‘editor' then advised me that they were showing pictures of the Palestinian's home and interviewing his family in later broadcasts. After a minute or two, she told me she couldn't spend hours talking to me as she had to work on the next bulletin and sarcastically said goodbye and hung up!! Clearly not Al Jazeera's greatest Public Relations asset. What a disgrace!! Little Changed in Later Bulletins On seeing these later broadcasts, my point remains - whilst the Jerusalem Post representative is allowed to use this tragedy to exude pity from the viewers for other non-related attacks that have occurred this year, Al Jazeera fails to balance this with the increasing number of Palestinians that have been killed during the same period, running in the hundreds. Even the BBC redeemed themselves on this occasion, with their 6pm bulletin quoting both the number of Palestinians and Israelis killed this year, being 29 Israelis and 400 Palestinians, which puts Hamas's statement into context somewhat. Our Right to Be Heard I am very disappointed by Al-Jazeera's response to my feedback, surely viewers of any reputable channel, have the right to give feedback and this should be welcomed and listened to in a polite and professional manner rather than resorting to verbally abusing listeners and hanging up. If you want to try your luck and give Al Jazeera some feedback (brave ole you) here's the telephone number to contact: 020 7201 2800. And So The Terrorism Continues Al Jazeera's web article concludes with:
We can only bow our heads in desperation as the victim-oppressor cycle starts again tomorrow - or knowing the Israelis, tonight.           Readers have left 19 comments.
fingal:
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The author of this piece would do well to read the background to this awful event. In spite of the wanton attempt to murder the nearest bystanders, as is usual in terrorist attacks, the perpetrator was mentally unbalanced, not because he wanted to be some kind of martyr but because of a failed love affair.
(1)
2008-07-03 02:22:42
mediocre:
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Al jazeera is not all that is cracked up to be; mediocre nonsense.
Try the Iranian based presstv.ir it’s not bad,
(2)
2008-07-03 07:05:19
ben dover:
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what is the point of bulldozing the house of the driver and his family all you are doing is making more palestinians homeless and crating more hatred
(3)
2008-07-03 07:55:38
RSD:
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The subtle changes in Al-Jazeera's reporting over the last couple of years represent the degree to which the average Middle east perspective has changed. Al Jazeera like all media organisations responds to its market, which is centred in the ME. Increasingly the ME populations are despairing of Palestinian leadership, and are increasingly resentful of the attention the Palestinians recieve.
It was notable that during the Rafah breakout that BBC etc failed to report that in those few days approx US$1,000,000 counterfeit currency was passed by the Palestinians. Where was the compensation for Egyptian traders for their losses???? It is not lost on people in the ME that while they have struggled in abject poverty, the Palestinians have enjoyed until recently better standards of living, education opportunities, health care and billions in aid. The people of the ME are sick of the wars and the bellicose language, and want nothing more than peace and the opportunity for a better life. They know that Israel is here to stay and can see the benefits to be accrued through peaceful co-existance. The idiot that drove a bulldozer into cars and buses, shooting wildly, did nothing more than set back the chances for peace, and did nothing to progress the establishment of a Palestinian state. Here in UK we can talk, shout & scream a good war in pursuit of the eradication of the "Zionazi" state, or it's expansion. We can raise money for the cause. BUT we don't have to live with the consequences of our actions.
(4)
2008-07-03 08:16:56
wendy mann:
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i dont understand your concern for al jazeera english since it doesnt have an arab - muslim bias but one that has more in common with cnn and the bbc.
when was al jazeera english ever anything else? how can it be if its editorial team is largely ex bbc sky and cnn who have supported the wars in iraq - afghanistan and hostile towards the palestinians. the lines between the autocues say much more than pro arab.
(6)
2008-07-03 14:46:52
Sam:
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When an Israeli goes on the rampage in a mosque, killing many more than this Palestinian did, nobody dares shoot him, instead he has a meaningless trial and then is seen as mentally disturbed and no charges are brought about. That's the difference - he has option to be tried for his crimes, with Palestinians the gun-ho Israelis shoot first (many bullets at that at point blank range) then asked questions later and as in this case probably bulldoze his family's home also.
Re. Fingal spreading rumours about the attacker having a failed love affair, he was married with 2 children and Al Jazeera do state I think on website article that a possible explanation was his wages had been withheld for long period. His actions must be condemned, however, easy for me to do so sitting here in UK, who knows how any of us would react if we were treated as sub-human by people who weasle their way into your country and then claim your home as theirs and deny your every basic human right and if you don't like it they'll bulldoze your home or build a huge monstrous wall around your home cutting off your land, hospitals, schools etc from your home and then claim your land as theirs as you didn't tend it, because of course you weren't given a permit to access it!! Re. Palestinians getting billions in aid, maybe Fatha enjoy the aid, so they can buy weapons to assassinate Hamas leaders, but ordinary Palestinians just want to work and be treatd with dignity. Need to point out too the shameful Egyptians who watch and conspire to keep the Palestinians locked in their concentration camp conditions, do so as they receive the next largest financial aid package next to Israel. Our muslim leaders worship Bush not Allah SWT, shame on them. Death and the day of Judgement comes to us, not even Bush can save them then.
(7)
2008-07-03 15:53:17
Goalshan:
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Aren't al-jazeera or one of it's national sub-divisions now owned by an American Network? If so, you're bound to get pro-Islraeli bias.
I believe al-jazeera has been "tamed" as a result of this acquisition.
(8)
2008-07-03 16:05:06
Sam:
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I've heard a reliable source has said Al Jazeera International (not Arab one) has some zionist ownership, which is why guess shouldn't be surprised by the reception the author received nor the report itself.
BBC report was v good and balanced, I saw it and thought was good journalism, can't say same for Al Jazeera on this occasion. Will have to look into Presstv, can prob get on internet, not launched yet on Sky etc platform. Hope it will be and Zionists don't block it!!!
(9)
2008-07-03 16:20:56
Quest:
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Aljazera was originally a breath of fresh air, with a new perspective on news reporting. Wether through external pressure they made a major arrear spending millions on foreign journalist, and now seems like an arab version of cnn.
(10)
2008-07-03 18:03:48
Clifford Ishii:
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Don't like the truth of Arab/Muslim terrorism huh?Even from Al Jazeera.
(11)
2008-07-03 18:54:58
RSD:
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Sam, Which Israeli went on a rampage in a mosque killing people and was then found insane? In the two incidents I know of the perpetrators were killed on site.
The accounts I read stated that the driver had a pistol and was firing at the police and others who tried to intervene.
(12)
2008-07-03 20:29:42
Kamran:
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Fox news corp purchased Al Jaewerrza !
On January 30, 2005 the New York Times reported that the Qatari government, under pressure from the Bush administration, was speeding up plans to sell the station.[54] However, as of 2008, the station/network has not been sold and it is unclear whether there are still any plans to do so.
(13)
2008-07-03 21:03:52
Kazan:
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Mpac are a bit hypocritical talking about biased response when they have recognised a fabricated Armenian ganocide.
(14)
2008-07-04 08:31:28
Liberator:
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Well Al Jazeera is the offspring of BBC Arab service. The bias is glaring. I think those missiles had an impact after all.
What i find most biased and ridiculous is the constant narrative being pushed down our throats about israeli innocents and israel here to stay. It's not. They are not innocents in israel and it is a facist racist state that must be dismantled. The huge efforts by the powers that be to normalise it's existence will never work. It is an illegal state created through the execution of the one of the 20th centuries worst man made disastors. Anyone who spins the usual diatribe of 2 state solution and israel's right to exist is an accomplice in ethnic cleansing.
(15)
2008-07-04 12:47:53
Zubair:
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Don't like the truth of Arab/Muslim terrorism huh?Even from Al Jazeera. — Clifford IshiiIt was a criminal act by an individual. The real issue is Israeli State Terrorism against an entire population in retribution for the actions of one individual.
(16)
2008-07-04 18:58:49
Alice:
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Will have to look into Presstv, can prob get on internet, not launched yet on Sky etc platform. Hope it will be and Zionists don't block it!!! — SamTry www.islambox.tv you'll need to register though.
(18)
2008-07-13 12:31:26
Al Jazeera is Zionist:
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To the author,
Would like to say that Al Jazeera Arabic & English are funded by Zionists. The Arabic one is targeted to those in the Middle East just to satisfy their concerns about the Palestinians. The invention of television was made for 2 things: to isolate us from one another & as an illusion that freedom of speech is there. In a country where there is repression, there is more potential for a revolution on behalf of people; but on the other hand if you (government) provide liberty, there is less to fear from your people. It is the same with Al Jazeera, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is shown, talked about etc, this satisfies the Arab viewers. But at the same time it 'veges' and stops them from getting together to mobilise. On the other hand with Al Jazeera English, in my opinion, is targeted to non-Arabic speaking Muslim audiences living in the West. And if this is true it is a tactic to separate Muslims living in the West from those Muslims that are oppressed in the Middle East. Because they know Muslims in the West have more influence with the democratic process to influence that country's foreign policy to the Middle East.
(19)
2008-07-13 12:44:23
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I'm not
really surprised when I see bias reporting on Fox, Sky, or even the BBC, but I
was taken aback with what I saw on Al Jazeera English this afternoon.
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