BBC's shameless 'apology' for its biased reporting
I know - it's been a long time since I posted anything. I've been working - pays much better than blogging. But I don't want to let the blog die entirely, and I wanted to share with you what has to be one of the worst media bias stories from Western media in recent years.
I am sure that many of you saw the headline above. On Friday night, an Israeli policewoman, 23-year old Hadas Malka HY"D (May God Avenge her blood) was murdered by three 'Palestinian' terrorists who conducted coordinated attacks in two places along the outside of the Old City's wall. The headline above sat on the BBC's website and in its Twitter feed for many hours. The bias in the headline is obvious - the 'deadly stabbing' didn't happen itself. It was perpetrated by the three 'Palestinians' who were shot. A more appropriate headline would have been 'Israeli policewoman murdered by three Palestinians.' Even Maan's headline was less biased.
This morning, the Beeb 'apologized' for its headline. No, not really, but they posted a response to outrage in the virtual world that included Donald Trump Jr., the US President's son. Here's the Beeb's entire 'apology.'
BBC Response: We accept that our original headline did not
appropriately reflect the nature of the events and subsequently changed
it. Whilst there was no intention to mislead our audiences, we regret
any offence caused.
They don't regret the headline. They regret the 'offence caused.' They accept that it didn't appropriately reflect the nature of the events, but they don't apologize for writing it, nor for leaving it up for many hours.
Makes it sound like there's no connection between the Israeli's death and the 'Palestinian' attackers' assault - they just happened to occur around the same time.
And you wonder about the origins of the #FakeNews epidemic?
Four Saudi security officers killed by suicide bomber in Medina
Four Saudi security officers were killed by a suicide bomber who said he wanted to eat iftar (the meal that breaks the Ramadan fast) with them.
Four Saudi security force members were killed on Monday after a
suicide bombing took place in Madinah near the prophet’s mosque, the
Al-Haram Al-Nabawi, regarded as one of Islam's holiest sites.
Al
Arabiya News Channel’s correspondent said the suicide bombing took
place in a parking lot between the city court and the mosque, visited by
millions every year. The channel showed images of fire raging in a
parking lot with at least one body seen nearby. The suicide bomber also
died in the attack.
The attack near the
prophet's mosque took place during Maghreb prayers, the time when
Muslims break their fast during the holy month of Ramadan.
Al
Arabiya News Channel’s correspondent said the suicide bomber targeted
seven security officers when he pretended that he wanted to break his
fast with them.
Security forces have cordoned off the area.
Two
million visitors have so far arrived at Al-Haram Al-Nabawi during
Ramadan to finish recitation of the Quran. The correspondent said the
visitors were undeterred and were heading to perform the Isha prayers,
which take place soon after the inital fast-breaking prayer.
There were two other suicide bombings in Qaif today and a foiled attack in Jeddah. Sounds like the Saudis need a little help coping with all the terrorists they've supported over the years.... Oh wait.... These are probably Shia terrorists backed by Iran.... Hmmm....
Report: Hamas' al-Aqsa Television station hit, Hamas asks for 24-hour truce beginning at 2:00 pm local time
IAF attacked Hamas's Al Aqsa TV station moments ago.
— Daniel Nisman (@DannyNis) July 27, 2014
And perhaps that has something to do with the fact that Hamas has now asked for a 24-hour truce beginning at 2:00 pm, which would cover much of the Eid-el-Fitr holiday marking the end of Ramadan.
Hamas Islamist militants have agreed to a 24-hour humanitarian truce in
its conflict with Israel in the Gaza Strip that should start within the
hour, the group's spokesman said on Sunday.
"In response to UN intervention and considering the situation of our
people and the occasion of Eid, it has been agreed among resistance
factions to endorse a 24-hour humanitarian calm, starting from 2 p.m. on
Sunday," Sami Abu Zuhri told Reuters.
There was no immediate word from Israel, which called off its own
24-hour truce earlier in the day after Hamas fired a volley of rockets
into southern and central Israel.
The request was made through UN Middle East envoy Robert Serry, and Israel's cabinet is meeting on it at this writing. Although it's unlikely, I would love to see us say no.
The United States Postal Service has issued a stamp in honor of Eid-al-Fitr, the Muslim holiday that falls at the end of Ramadamadan.
The first stamp to honor Eid-al-Fitr was issued ten days before the 9/11 Islamic terror attacks on the United States. But there have been several stamps issued since. More here.
How many stamps were issued in honor of Japan during the ten years following Pearl Harbor? Answer: None.
'Moderate' Rohani: 'Zionist regime a wound on the body of the Islamic world... and should be removed'
So much for the 'moderate' Hassan Rohani who becomes President of Iran on Sunday. In a statement to Iranian television on Friday, he said that “The Zionist regime has been a wound on the body of the Islamic world for years and the wound should be removed,”
Let's go to the videotape. More after the (Persian language) video.
Netanyahu said in a statement that Rohani, who won a landslide
victory in Iran’s June 14 presidential election and is seen by some
Western analysts as more moderate than his predecessor, had “revealed
his true face sooner than expected.”
“This is what the man is thinking and this is the Iranian regime’s
plan of action,” Netanyahu said in a statement Friday. “This statement
should awaken the world from the illusion some have taken to
entertaining since the elections in Iran.
That statement could be seen as being aimed at U.S. President Obama
and a number of U.S. lawmakers who have said Rohani’s expressed
willingness to make Iran’s nuclear program more transparent should be
tested.
“The president was replaced but the goal of the regime remained
obtaining nuclear weapons to threaten Israel, the Middle East and the
safety of the world,” Netanyahu said. “A country which threatens to
destroy Israel must not have weapons of mass destruction.”
Rohani made the statement at the annual 'Quds day' rally in Tehran. 'Quds' day is a day of rallies against Israel throughout the Islamic world and is held on the last Friday of Ramadamadan.
'Palestinians' protest 'Palestinians' being allowed into Israel
As many of you probably know already, it's Ramadamadan. Trying to keep the 'Palestinians' happy, Israel has granted hundreds of permits for 'Palestinians' to pass through the 'security fence' and enter those parts of Israel that are within the 'security fence.' The 'Palestinians' are seething about it. Yes, seething.
West Bank markets have suffered as Palestinians head to Israel to go shopping.
Jamal
Jawabreh, secretary-general of the Chambers of Commerce and Industry,
said the Palestinian economy was already suffering from a lack of
liquidity, while salaries have dropped and the cost of living has
increased.
Jawabreh said Israel was granting Palestinians access on all days except the days of prayer to encourage them to shop in Israel.
He
said Israel was trying to counter its own deficit. The Chambers of
Commerce has discussed the issue but is unable to stop Israel granting
permits, he added.
Economic analyst Yasser Shahine said the
permits were directly affecting Palestinian markets, and that
Palestinians were buying even basic goods like dairy produce from Israel
due to lower prices.
Shahine said the lack of trade rules
exacerbated the problem, as Palestinian merchants bought goods from
Israel and sold them at a higher price in West Bank markets, rather than
trading in local produce.
I think that's what most of you would call a market economy. What they don't mention is that the reason people don't buy the 'Palestinian'-made products is that they're crap. When was the last time you bought something that was 'made in Palestine.' That's why the European threat to boycott Judea and Samaria is effective. The only things people want to buy from there are things made in the Jewish-owned factories.
Ramadan Kareem: 200 civilians trapped by Assad's troops in suburban Damascus mosque
200 civilians are trapped inside a mosque in the Damascus suburb of Qaboun, where they are being fired upon by Bashar al-Assad's troops.
Syria's main Western-backed opposition said Sunday that 200 civilians
are trapped in a mosque in a suburb of the Syrian capital as fighting
rages outside between rebels and forces loyal to President Bashar Assad.
Meanwhile, Syrian activists said mortar shells landed in three separate
Damascus districts, killing one person and wounding several others. The
attacks coincided with Syrian army strikes on the Yarmouk camp for
Palestinian refugees on the edge of the city, according to the
Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
...
The Syrian Coalition called on the United Nations in a statement to
send "a strong warning" to Assad that he "must immediately release" the
civilians trapped in the mosque in the Damascus suburb of Qaboun.
It did not say if the 200 had sought refuge in the mosque or were already there praying when fighting began.
It warned that thousands of civilians in Qaboun could be "massacred" by
Assad's army, as armoured vehicles and elite forces move into the
neighbourhood.
200 civilians trapped in a mosque and the UN Security Council hasn't so much as even called a meeting. Remember how many meetings there were when 'Palestinian' terrorists holed up in the Church of the Nativity and Israel surrounded the place without opening fire?
I'm telling you - no one gives a damn when Muslims kill Muslims. Only when Jews are involved.
Shavua tov, a good week to everyone. This post is being set up on Friday afternoon, which is a good thing, because at the actual time it posts, I will probably be cleaning the synagogue up from our Kiddush for my son's Bar Mitzva.
Here is Soccer Dad's Middle East Media Sampler for Friday, August 10.
1) Embattled democracy
Next week, Mahmoud Abbas will enter the 92nd month of his 48-month term, and now has Yasser Arafat’s record in sight. Arafat was elected president of the Palestinian Authority in 1996, running essentially unopposed (his opponent was a 72-year old woman with no political party). In 2004, in the ninth year of his four-year term, he left office on account of death. His second-in-command was elected president less than two months later, running essentially unopposed (Hamas boycotted the election). Abbas is now midway through the eighth year of his own four-year term, almost certain to break Arafat’s record if he can just stay healthy.
My analysis is the following: If Iran becomes a nuclear state, the entire equation in the Middle East will change. In such a case, Syria would have to be steadfast – even if a war of attrition is waged against it – in order to accomplish this goal, because this [nuclear] weapon is meant for Syria too, not just for Iran. The viewers should not interpret this as if Syria is serving an Iranian agenda. This nuclear weapon is meant to create a balance of terror with Israel, to finish off the Zionist enterprise, and to end all Israeli aggression against the Arab nation.
Six people have been arrested and one sentenced to a month in prison for eating in public during the month of Ramadan, according to the official Palestinian Authority daily newspaper. Under Islamic law, eating is prohibited from sunrise until sunset during the entire month. In addition, the Chairman of the PA Supreme Court for Shari'ah Law said PA law should prohibit even non-Muslims and those who cannot fast for health reasons from eating in public during the month. Sheikh Yusuf Ida'is explained: "Our streets are Islamic," and formal legislation should be enacted to "severely punish" anyone who eats publicly during Ramadan. Sheikh Ida'is was appointed Chairman of the Shari'ah court by presidential order of Mahmoud Abbas in January 2012.
On July 27, 2012, Ziad Al-Bandak, an advisor to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud 'Abbas on Christian affairs, visited the Auschwitz concentration camp, laying a wreath at the Death Wall and lighting a candle in memory of the Holocaust victims.[1] The visit was at the invitation of a private Polish foundation promoting tolerance. Several days prior to the visit, he met with Polish Undersecretary of State Boguslaw Winid. Al-Bandak's act sparked furious responses from Hamas and Hamas supporters. The movement's spokesman, as well as columnists on websites affiliated with it, stated that the visit served the interests of Israel, which presents itself as a victim by spreading the "lie" of the Holocaust.
The Shin Bet prevented a series of planned Hezbollah terrorist attacks recently, after a group of Israeli Arabs helped smuggle 20 kg. of high-grade explosives into the country. On Wednesday, eight residents of Nazareth and the town of Ghajar – half of which is in Israel and the other half in Lebanon – were charged in the Nazareth District Court with helping to smuggle the explosives. Most of them are believed to be drug dealers.
Over the years, the IDF sent 15 aid delegations to over 14 countries struck by natural disasters, where IDF doctors set up field hospitals and immediately began their rescue efforts. Overall, medical care was given to more than 2,300 people in afflicted areas, and 220 were saved from certain death.
Four months ago the husband of Suhila Abd el-Salam Ahmed Haniyeh – the sister of Hamas Prime Minister in Gaza Ismail Haniyeh – suffered a serious cardiac episode which could not be treated at any hospital in Gaza. He and his wife were taken to the Beilinson Hospital in Petah Tikva where he received urgent treatment. After being hospitalized in Israel for a week, his condition stabilized and the couple returned to Gaza. Ismail Haniyeh attacks Israel at every opportunity, and the terror group he heads does not recognize Israel’s right to exist.
He is a man very much shaped by his father, and his father’s worldview has helped shape the Israel of today. But there is an opportunity: Benjamin Netanyahu, precisely because he is the son of a man like Benzion, is the only Israeli politician today who could deliver the majority of Israel’s Jewish population to a painful compromise with the Palestinians. He is also one of the few whose endorsement of a deal between Tehran and Washington over the Iranian nuclear program -- a deal that would allow the Iranians to have a supervised civilian program, for instance -- would allay the concerns of even more hawkish Israelis. The average Israeli trusts that Netanyahu would not sell out their interests for a Nobel Peace Prize. Israel’s security depends in part on Benzion Netanyahu- style vigilance and militancy. But it also depends on recognizing that the Jews of today are not the Jews of 1938, and that Jewish history is not preordained to repeat itself forever.
Goldberg achieved the result he sought. He wanted to show that Netanyahu could make peace with the Palestinians and endorse some sort of containment deal to prevent Iran from gaining nuclear weapons without attacking. So Goldberg did. He argues that now that Binyamin Netanyahu's father is now dead, the Prime Minister need not be bound by his father's paranoia. (Early in the article, Goldberg wrote that Netanyahu had dismissed his arguments as "psychoanalysis." I think that Netanyahu had a point.)
But Goldberg ignores that it is the Palestinians that refuse to make a deal or that a nuclear Iran is a real danger and that if sanctions don't work Israeli will be forced to act. Netanyahu doesn't operate in a vacuum. Whether or not there will be peace in the Middle East, is not a function of Netanyahu's actions or reactions, but the actions of other actors in the region.
Read Bibi - son of Benzion by Rabbi Meir Soloveitchik for a straightforward reading of the father's influence on the son, untainted by wishful thinking.
For Benzion Netanayahu, Spanish Jewry’s complacency, and their embrace of a convenient narrative, reveals “man’s natural reluctance to draw radical conclusions which imply uprooting oneself from a comfortable spot.” Just as German Jews “failed to foresee Hitler’s rise to power at any time during the period preceding that rise, so the Jews of Spain failed to notice, even a few years before the expulsion, the mountainous wave which was approaching to overwhelm them.” The failure by one of the greatest communities in Jewish Diaspora history to sense this threat was “nothing short of proverbial.” Now, the son of this scholar leads the Jewish state and must decide how seriously to take the anti-Zionist and anti-Semitic rhetoric of Iranian leaders, as they seek the ability to build a weapon of which the ancient and medieval enemies of Jerusalem and of the Jews could only have dreamed. As it happens, Benjamin Netanyahu has written with reverence of his father’s scholarship, and of its underlying lesson. The Tisha B’av expulsion from Spain, as he sees it, is an eternal warning to Jews that one of the great threats to their wellbeing is their own complacency.
Morons: Egypt admits it ignored Israeli warnings of attack
Israel had intelligence information last Friday about that attack on an Egyptian border police station that happened on Sunday. And it passed the warnings on to Egypt. But Egypt is now admitting that it ignored the warnings. And wait until you hear why....
Egypt’s intelligence head admitted Tuesday that he received prior warnings of Sunday’s deadly attack on a border police station in Sinai, but did not believe such an event could take place during Ramadan.
Murad Muwafi said Israeli warnings of the deadly border attack were ignored because authorities couldn’t fathom that Muslims would kill each other during the Ramadan fast, the Turkish Anadolu news agency reported.
“Yes, we had detailed information about the attack, but we never imagined that a Muslim would kill a Muslim on the hour of breaking the fast in Ramadan,” Muwafi said following a meeting with Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi on Tuesday.
Let's think about some more things that pious Muslims tell us that Muslims would never do. Develop nuclear weapons? Check. Carry out terror attacks? Check. Carry out suicide bombings? Check. Need I go on?
The untold story of the "Arab Spring" is that the Obama administration secretly helped bring Islamofascists to power. Consider this timeline:
2009: The Brotherhood's spiritual leader — Sheikh Yusuf Qaradawi — writes an open letter to Obama arguing terrorism is a direct response to U.S. foreign policy.
2009: Obama travels to Cairo to deliver apologetic speech to Muslims, and infuriates the Mubarak regime by inviting banned Brotherhood leaders to attend. Obama deliberately snubs Mubarak, who was neither present nor mentioned. He also snubs Israel during the Mideast trip.
2009: Obama appoints a Brotherhood-tied Islamist — Rashad Hussain — as U.S. envoy to the Organization of the Islamic Conference, which supports the Brotherhood.
2010: State Department lifts visa ban on Tariq Ramadan, suspected terrorist and Egyptian-born grandson of Brotherhood founder Hassan al-Banna.
2010: Hussain meets with Ramadan at American-sponsored conference attended by U.S. and Brotherhood officials.
2010: Hussain meets with the Brotherhood's grand mufti in Egypt.
2010: Obama meets one-on-one with Egypt's foreign minister, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, who later remarks on Nile TV: "The American president told me in confidence that he is a Muslim."
The ruling party has been boycotting Israel for the past few years and excluded Syria from the guest list this year due to tension between Damascus and Ankara over the uprising in the country and Syria’s recent downing of a Turkish plane.
All country's ambassadors except Israel and Syria were invited to the fast-breaking dinner at which Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is expected to give a speech.
The dinner will be held at the AKP's headquarters in Ankara and famous musicians will take the stage, the reports said.
I'm sure the Israeli ambassador will be happy to have the night off. At least it won't matter if they make it this Saturday night.
'Preparing for peace': 'Palestinian Authority' Television 'Best Mothers' program visits suicide terrorist's mother
In preparation for 'peaceful coexistence' with Israel, and in honor of Ramadamadan 'Palestinian Authority' Television's Best Mothers program visits the mother of a suicide terrorist.
On occasion of the Ramadan, PA TV has launched a new program called The Best Mothers. Every day, the edited 10-minute program shows a different Palestinian mother in her home, talking about her children.
Last week, PA TV chose to visit the mother of Darin Abu Aisheh, a suicide bomber who blew herself up at a roadblock in 2002, wounding three Israelis.
Let's go to the videotape.
That ought to encourage them to prepare for two states living side by side in peace and security, no?
I am an Orthodox Jew - some would even call me 'ultra-Orthodox.' Born in Boston, I was a corporate and securities attorney in New York City for seven years before making aliya to Israel in 1991 (I don't look it but I really am that old :-). I have been happily married to the same woman for thirty-five years, and we have eight children (bli ayin hara) ranging in age from 13 to 33 years and nine grandchildren. Four of our children are married! Before I started blogging I was a heavy contributor on a number of email lists and ran an email list called the Matzav from 2000-2004. You can contact me at: IsraelMatzav at gmail dot com
