Bias in Media Aimed at Jews

Rockets are sent across the border into Israel everyday and we get a picture of a three Palestinian teens throwing a rock from behind a plaster barricade at Israel troops who are “unseen”. Massive homicide bombs are strapped to Palestinian women, children and young men to kill or wound Jews 50 to 100 at a time and we get a picture of a Palestinian youth with a rock in a sling aiming at Israel troops who are “unseen” in the picture. Thousands of automatic rifles, grenades, mortars and tank busters are sent to Hezbollah and Hamas terrorists and we get a picture of a Palestinian youth using a wrist rocket with a rock as ammo at Israel troops “unseen.” Do you think that maybe the media is being used, perhaps willingly, as a propaganda tool of Israel’s enemies?

I would like nothing more than to have peace in the Middle East but do not believe the media is doing justice to the situation and the bias shown can only add to Israel’s sense of isolation. They are a powerful force and if they get their backs against the wall, they will strike out. How would we feel if enemies were sending rockets across the Canadian border on a daily basis with the objective of killing as many Americans as possible? Would we allow our leaders to sit by idly while our fellow citizens are being killed and maimed? Maybe if the media spend an equal amount of time detailing the terrorist’s efforts to kill Jews and the results of their attacks the Palestinians would feel some pressure to enter into and keep peace agreements as well.

The Middle East gives us one of the oldest and bloodiest conflicts of history. It dates back to biblical times but the current problems can be traced most directly to 70AD when the Romans reacted to Jewish revolts against their foreign rule by destroying Jerusalem, exiling the Jews from their homeland and renamed the country of Judah and Samaria to Palestine. No matter how we cut it the Jews have the first dibs on this land, followed by the Christians and then the Muslims. The Christians have been forced out almost entirely but after the Holocaust and other persecutions around the world, we cannot expect the Jewish people to give up the only country that has fought to protect them, their own!

There are solutions to these problems. That was proven when Israel and Egypt entered into a peace treaty in the 1970s that still holds today. The problem is that little pressure is put on the Palestinians and much is on the Jewish people. Until we recognize all atrocities in this area we can expect the problems to continue. The United Nations never said a word when missiles were flying into Israel killing Jews but now is suddenly up in arms because Israel has struck back. Just as the media turns a blind eye to atrocities against the Jews and highlights any real or faked atrocities in the Gaza, the situation will continue. We need to have outrage at all those who advocate violence in the Middle East. We also need to stop supporting those who allow this conflict to continue by supplying the terrorists with weapons and explosives. Israel seems willing to negotiate but this is hard to do when your people are being killed and your opponents continue to advocate your total destruction.

Let us be true advocates of peace by having outrage at all atrocities and only supporting those parties which have a true desire for peace and demonstrate their desire for peace with actions towards ending the carnage. Jerusalem is considered a Holy City by the Jewish, Muslim and Christian people. Surely we can find a way to live there in peace. Surely both the Jews and Palestinians can have their own homeland and there must be a way for these people of the Middle East to find a life of security where futures can be planned and most live to see their grandchildren thrive.

We should all work for peace by realizing that all parties should have a hand in making that peace happen, praying for that peace and by being unbiased and fair in supporting negotiations. We have to ensure that the Israel people are secure but can still be a good mediator for peace. We can’t do this though if the media allows itself to be manipulated as it currently is and government bodies react only to the carnage caused by one side while the other is given sympathetic coverage.

Father Steven Foppiano