What Israel has learned since the al-Dura incident
Nearly eight years ago, 12-year old Mohamed al-Dura was allegedly killed by Israeli fire outside the Jewish town of Netzarim in Central Gaza. Israel rushed to take the blame for al-Dura's 'death.' It has since been discovered that al-Dura could not have been shot by Israeli troops, and that his 'death' may in fact have been staged. But Israel had aleady damaged itself by taking the blame, and nothing that has happened since has prevented al-Dura from becoming a rallying call for Islamic terrorists around the world.In that light, Israel's silence regarding the death of 'Palestinian' photographer Fadel Shana in Gaza yesterday is entirely appropriate. There is really nothing that can be said until - as called for by David Schlesinger, Reuters' editor in chief, in the video you are about to see - a full investigation takes place.
I have now seen four different versions of this video online. To be totally honest, I chose the one I am about to show you because it includes the reaction of Danny Seaman, the director of Israel's government press office. What Seaman says cannot be understated. The role of the media - and especially of 'Palestinian' stringers working for the foreign media - in Israel's conflict with the 'Palestinians,' has often turned the media into a combatant. Who can forget the images of photographers standing on the side photographing staged stone throwing? Who can forget the images of 'fauxtography' in Lebanon and Gaza? Who can forget the videos of 'Palestinians' using ambulances to transport terrorists and weapons? Did that Israeli tank crew see the TV sign on the SUV far off in the distance near El-Bureij yesterday? And if the tank crew saw the sign, did they believe it was real?
Watch the video and listen to Schlesinger's and Seaman's remarks and be grateful that this will apparently not be another al-Dura 'incident.'
posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 10:50 AM
2 Comments:
why doesn't israel film/report the journalists? if not israel doing it, where are the independent reporters that could cover the staged incidents?
israel can talk and complain all day, but if there is no second-hand footage of the reporter's actions (wouldn't footage of the al-dura incident by someone filming the reporters be helpful?) then no one will listen to israel's complaints at all. israel needs to be proactive about this.
it's a monumental task to undertake but what other choice is there?
Abu Yussif,
The IDF does film its own engagements; it has a unit who does that. But much of their filming is done by drones and it will take a day or two to clear the military censors. I don't know whether this particular incident was filmed, but hopefully it was.
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