Palestine Media Watch

Table of Contents

Introduction ………………………………………………………………………. 2

Palestine Media Watch

Mission ……………………………………………………….……. 2

Advisory Board members ……………………………………….……………………. 2

The Charlotte Observer

Editorial Board ………………………………………..……………………. 3

Foreign/National Desk Editor ………………………………..………………….. 3

Definition of terms used in reference to Opinion/Editorial pages …… 3

Findings – Op/Ed pages ……………………………………………………………………….. 7

Findings – News Coverage

Responsible reporting ……………………………………………………………… 7

Concerns

1. and 2. Use of biased terms .………..………………………………. 8

3. and 4. News items from Israeli perspective …………..………… 11

5. Imparity in reporting Palestinian deaths ……………..……… 16

6. Inaccurate information printed …………………..….....….. 19

7. Omissions ……………………………………………………………. 20

8. Incorrect descriptions of settlements ………………….…. 22

9. Use of politically-loaded terms …………………………….… 22

Conclusions and Suggestions ………………………………………………………….… 24

References ……………………………………………………………………………….. 26

APPENDIX A – Pie Charts/Data Sheets: Op/Ed content

APPENDIX B – A Guide: Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Territories

Foundation for Middle East Peace

APPENDIX C – Land and Settlements in Jerusalem

Jerusalem Watch

APPENDIX D – Resources

Executive Summary

This report details the findings of Palestine Media Watch (PMW), which conducted an analysis of how the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was covered by The Charlotte Observer in their Opinion pages and news articles between April 1, 2002 and May 31, 2002. The purpose of this report is to raise awareness of current news coverage practices and editorial policies regarding this conflict. Our aim is not to characterize or label The Charlotte Observer, but to examine its product and the quality and variety of what it is offering its readership.

PMW found sporadic examples of responsible reporting during this period: Within news articles, Israeli statements were being independently verified more often than before, instead of simply being reported as fact; more human rights organizations and NGO’s were being quoted or referenced; photos showing Palestinian suffering were printed, and a couple of stories were printed showing Palestinians as more than just militants, but also as human beings.

While PMW is encouraged to see the above, our findings have shown an over-whelming bias in presentation during our period of analysis when a pattern of partiality emerged regarding coverage of this conflict. Listed below are our major concerns. Please refer to report for more details.

Balance presentation of views: The Op/Ed pages of The Charlotte Observer presented the Israeli perspective over-whelmingly in their publishing of Forum letters, editorials, columns and cartoons. See page 6, Appendix A.

Use neutral terms: The words “terror”, “terrorist”, “attack” were used regularly to describe Palestinians or Palestinian violence. The words “in retaliation”, “in response to”, “following”, “extremists”, “crossfire”, “mistake” were used when referring to Israelis or Israeli violence. See pages 7 – 10.

Print recipricol articles: Human interest stories solely from Israeli perspective published much more often than human interest stories from Palestinian perspective. Articles written from “Palestinian” perspective very often portrayed them as angry, humiliated, and militant. “Israeli” articles portrayed them as fearful, peace-seeking, victims. See pages 10 – 16.

Use balance in reporting: Israeli deaths and injuries reported in vivid detail, with descriptions of personal aspects of victim’s life and the scene’s gruesome destruction. The death and injuries of Palestinians were consistently reported as statistics with dry, to-the-point lack of emotion. See pages 16 – 18.

Give background and context: Inaccurate information was printed as fact. Also, context was often left out, as well as, pertinent facts or background information. Sometimes not reporting the context or background information for the reader can be so misleading as to be considered falsification of facts by omission. See pages 19 – 22.

Avoid politically-loaded terms: The politically loaded and contentious terms “Jewish neighborhood” and “disputed areas” were used to describe settlements and areas within occupied territories. See pages 22 and 23.

I. Introduction

This report details the findings of an analysis conducted by the Palestine Media Watch – The Charlotte Observer team examining how the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has been covered in the opinion pages and news articles of The Charlotte Observer (TCO) between April 1, 2002 and May 31, 2002.

Our aim in preparing this report is to raise TCO’s awareness of its own news coverage and editorial content regarding this conflict. Our aim is not to characterize or label TCO, but to examine its product and the quality and variety of what it is offering its readership.

Questions or comments about this report may be directed to pmwatch@zworg.com

Questions or comments to The Charlotte Observer may be directed to opinion@charlotteobserver.com

II. Palestine Media Watch

Palestine Media Watch (http://www.pmwatch.org) is a grassroots media watch group that monitors the American media's coverage of the Middle East. To fulfill its mission of closely monitoring news and editorial coverage by major US media outlets and pushing for a more balanced and informed portrayal of the Middle East conflict, Palestine Media Watch (PMW) has officers across the United States, in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza, and boasts an active and growing membership both in the United States and internationally. PMW is a member of the American Media Watch Groups Consortium.

Palestine Media Watch’s Advisory Board membership includes a wide variety of academic and political experts in the region with varying backgrounds. The board includes:

§ Dr. Hanan Ashrawi, Member of the Palestinian Legislative Council and Secretary General of Miftah (Palestinian Initiative for the Promotion of Global Dialogue and Democracy) in Jerusalem. Former spokeswoman for the Palestinian delegation to the Madrid Peace Conference.

§ Professor Noam Chomsky, Professor of Linguistics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

§ Professor Norman G. Finkelstein, Political Science Professor, Hunter College, City University of New York.

§ Professor Edward S. Herman, Professor Emeritus, University of Pennsylvania.

§ Professor Tanya Reinhart, Professor, Tel Aviv University.

§ Dr. Salman Abu Sitta, Palestinian refugee expert and author. Former member of the Palestine National Council.

§ Dr. Mustapha Barghouti, President of the Union of Palestinian Medical Relief Committees.

III. The Charlotte Observer

The Charlotte Observer’s editorial board includes:

§ Ms. Jennie Buckner, Editor

§ Mr. Ed Williams, Editorial Page Editor

§ Mr. Jack Betts, Editorial Page Associate Editor

§ Ms. Fannie Flono, Editorial Page Associate Editor

§ Ms. Mary Newsom, Editorial Page Associate Editor

§ Mr. Stewart Spencer, Editorial Page Associate Editor

§ Ms. Jane McAlister Pope, Deputy Editorial Page Editor

§ Mr. Lew Powell, Forum Editor

The Charlotte Observer’s Foreign News Desk is headed by:

§ Mr. John Oudens, National/Foreign Desk Editor

IV. Definition of terms used in reference to Op/Ed pages

When PMW classifies Op/Ed pieces as Pro-Israel, Pro-Palestinian or Neutral in this report, we will be adopting definitions established in Eric Alterman’s "Intractable Foes, Warring Narratives", MSNBC, March 28th, 2002.

The first category, Pro-Israel, includes Forum letters, editorials, columns and cartoons that support Israel reflexively and without qualification or those that criticize Palestinians or Palestinian supporters. These pieces support Israeli security over Palestinian rights. The symbol (PI) is used to classify this category in the attached pie charts and data sheets in Appendix A.

Pro-Israeli articles are readily identifiable, since they reflect a well-defined worldview which rarely deviates:

§ Palestinians are primarily to blame for the violence;

§ Israel has offered major concessions;

§ Palestinians should have accepted Israel's Camp David concessions; and

§ Palestinian refugees should have no right of return.

Beyond that, pro-Israeli pieces are striking in their omission of extremely critical issues such as U.N. resolutions pertaining to the occupation and the findings of human rights organizations.

The Pro-Palestinian (PP) category is used to designate pieces that highlight the illegal nature of Israeli actions (e.g., settlements) and policies (e.g., political assassinations), relying heavily on internationally recognized agreements and standards.

Balanced columns usually avoid faulting either side; but when faulting, both sides are taken to task. Balanced columns tend to stress the morally obvious, the legally sound, and some very basic, factual realities. These are designated (N).

Below are the three points of view on some key issues. (Note that the key issues vary from one category to another).

Category PI (The Israeli Narrative)

§ Arafat…

- Is responsible for the violence and can stop it at will.

- Is using the violence to pressure Israel.

§ Israel…

- Is using reasonable, not excessive, force.

- Is under great danger and must defend itself.

- Should not cede more land to the Palestinians.

§ Peace process…

- Is a failure. It is dead.

- Has shown that Palestinians are not serious about long-term peace.

- Has been a ruse used by Palestinians.

§ Barak…

- Has been very flexible, even too flexible.

- Has been courageous.

- Should rethink his strategy.

- Has been politically immature.

§ United States…

- Should always side, unconditionally, with Israel.

§ Intifada…

- Was not spontaneous.

- Is being orchestrated by Arafat.

§ Sharon’s visit to the Noble Sanctuary/Temple Mount:

- Was an opportunity the Palestinians were waiting for.

§ Palestinians’ right of return…

- Spells the extinction of Israel.

- Is being used by Arabs to destroy Israel.

- Is not Israel’s problem. Arab states should take in the refugees.

§ Jerusalem…

- Is the indivisible capital of Israel.

- Is not the most important Muslim city.

- Is being used by Palestinians to stall final negotiations.

§ Subtext:

- Reduction of the entire Palestinian leadership to a few individuals – often only one: Arafat.

- No expression of sorrow over the deaths of Palestinian children – only Israelis.

- Rare mention of Arab citizens of Israel.

- Rare mention of Israeli extremists.

- No mention of human rights reports’ findings.

- No mention of U.N. resolutions relevant to the occupation.

- No explanation of why the U.S. must stand unconditionally with Israel.

- No explanation of the potential underlying reasons for the Intifada from the Palestinian point of view.

Category PP (Palestinian Narrative)

§ Right of return…

- Is a legitimate right of all refugees supported by the U.N. and international community.

- Should be recognized as a right, and is distinct from its actual implementation.

§ Settlements…

- Are illegal facts on the ground that exist in contravention of international law.

- Should be evacuated by Israel.

- Continue to be constructed and funded by the Israeli government.

§ Peace process…

- Negotiations should continue, using U.N. Security Council Resolution 242 as their basis.

- Negotiations have collapsed because of Israeli intransigence on key issues such as Jerusalem and refugees.

- Is hindered by the U.S., which is not the “honest broker” many claim it to be.

- Fell through at Camp David because Barak did not offer far-reaching concessions.

§ Sharon’s visit to the Noble Sanctuary/Temple Mount…

- Was an intentional, premeditated provocation.

§ Palestinian suffering…

- Is due to Israel’s 35-year military occupation of the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem.

- Is exacerbated by curfews, closures, and other movement-limiting policies.

§ Israel’s response to the Intifada…

- Has been disproportionate.

- Warrants an independent inquiry into the violence, preferably international monitors.

- Will only strengthen Palestinian resistance.

§ International law…

- Deems Israeli assassination of Palestinian political figures illegal.

- Deems Israeli settlements illegal.

- U.N. Resolution 242 should be the basis for peace negotiations.

§ Jerusalem…

- Should be an open city.

- Al-Aqsa is important for Muslims.

- Should not be used to transform a political conflict into a religious war.

Category N (Balanced)

§ Violence…

- Cannot be condoned from either side.

- Will not lead to victory for either side.

- Causing the death of anyone – Palestinian or Israeli – is condemnable.

§ Settlements…

- Are illegal, and construction should be halted.

- Were built as facts on the ground to compromise full Palestinian sovereignty.

§ Israel’s response to the Intifada…

- Has been excessive.

- Violence only fuels more violence.

§ Peace process…

- Offered Palestinians a homeland crisscrossed by Israeli settlements and Jewish-only bypass roads.

- Has failed due to Israel’s failure to implement many of its Oslo obligations.

- Has failed due to the PA’s failure to implement many of its Oslo obligations.

- Negotiations should resume.

V. Findings – Op/Ed pages

After monitoring the Op/Ed pages of The Charlotte Observer from April 1, 2002 to May 31, 2002 and classifying each piece pertinent to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as Pro-Israeli (PI), Pro-Palestinian (PP) or Neutral (N), Palestine Media Watch has found that The Charlotte Observer’s readers are being presented with a predominantly Pro-Israeli perspective. Please see Appendix A.

Only fifteen percent (15%) of the Forum letters, editorials, columns and satirical cartoons in TCO’s Op/Ed pages were pro-Palestinian. Fifty-two (52%) were pro-Israeli. The remaining thirty-three percent (33%) were classified as Neutral.

Of the 52% pro-Israel items, the columns were written by well-known, conservative columnists who use strident and extreme language. The newspaper the week of Monday, April 29, 2002 to Sunday, May 5, 2002 contained three (3) columnists that wrote over-whelmingly pro-Israel, anti-Arab, anti-Islam columns.

4/20/02, 15A, Walking back the Saudi cat by William Safire

5/3/02, 15A, Saudi Arabia’s no friend by Cal Thomas

5/5/02 (Sunday), 3D, Jenin: A phantom massacre by Charles Krauthammer

No reciprocal columns from a Palestinian perspective were published that week, the following week or until the end of the observation period May 31, 2002.

VI. Findings – News Coverage

Palestine Media Watch monitored and analyzed the news coverage offered by TCO from April 1, 2002 to May 31, 2002. PMW noted spots of responsible reporting during this period.

Although outside the analysis period, the March 31, 2002 Perspective section contained information that helped inform the general public about the Palestinians, the Israelis, Jerusalem and important, historical dates.

Worlds Apart, May 5, 2002 page 1A, related both the Israeli and Palestinian views to the Charlotte audience.

Parents try to halt suicide bombings, May 25, 2002 page 1A, reported the anguish and worry of Palestinian parents concerned that their children are being radicalized by current events and others’ voices. This kind of story is rarely seen or heard in the mainstream U.S. news.

PMW found that more and more, facts are being verified by independent and Palestinian sources and witnesses rather than relying on Israeli government, Israeli military, or Israeli sources solely. PMW believes this should be a consistent practice, but is encouraged to find it happening increasingly.

PMW is encouraged to see independent sources, such as human rights organizations being referenced or quoted more.

4/23/02, 6A, Standoffs hold, violence goes on, James Bennet.

5/3/02, 7A, Study: Jenin not scene of massacre, T. Christian Miller.

5/31/02, 4A, Diplomats arriving for new peace effort, John Kifner.

Photos showing Palestinians in their daily life have been included, such as the photo printed May 17, 2002 page 8A showing villagers traversing a road block.

5/26/02, 8A, Israelis kill girl, mother, Greg Myre. The headline stated the death of civilians (including a child), included a picture of a grieving relative, and verified information by both Israeli military and Palestinian witnesses.

While PMW was encouraged to see these examples of responsible reporting, there remain areas of concern. While PMW understands that an article, a photo, a caption, a paragraph cannot be pulled out, examined and conclusions reached on that one item, we feel that there is an over-all pattern that has emerged of partiality in the coverage of this conflict. This report outlines these concerns with examples from TCO pages from April 1, 2002 to May 31, 2002.

1. Israeli violence often referenced as “in retaliation”, “in response to” or “following” a Palestinian action. Palestinian violence repeatedly reported as “attacks” and rarely, if ever, described in context of an on-going conflict. [Note: Israeli offensives referred to as “attacks” a few times during this period, but usually when involving a direct, military target (implying attack justified).]

4/2/02, 1A, Israelis push further as suicides continue, Martin Merzer. “…retaliatory campaign into the West Bank …” – Israeli violence.

4/5/02, 5A, West Bank campaign brings intense fighting, Martin Merzer. “…no suicide bombing or other attack rocked Israel.” – Palestinian violence.

4/5/02, 5A, Bush sending Powell to handle crisis, Jodi Enda and Tim Johnson. “…suicide bombings … prompted Sharon to send tanks …” – Israeli violence.

4/15/02, 1A, Arafat tells Powell army must go first, James Bennet and Todd Purdum. “…Palestinian suicide attacks and Israeli reprisal raids…” – both examples in one quote.

4/20/02, 6A, Militants readied for Israelis, Elise Ackerman. “…militants of Jenin had launched bloody terror attacks …” – Palestinian violence.

4/20/02, 6A, Militants readied for Israelis, Elise Ackerman. “…the Israeli army to retaliate…” – Israeli violence.

4/20/02, 7A, Undaunted by Israeli retaliation, sub-title. – Israeli violence.

4/28/02, 1A, 4 killed in Israeli settlement, Sudarsan Raghavan. “…a military offensive to retaliate for …” – Israeli violence.

o 4/28/02, 5A, Pain of seder bombing cemented reprisal, Laura King. – Israeli violence.

o 4/31/02, 4A, Report: Israeli helped Palestinian attack, headline. - Palestinian violence.

o 5/7/02, 4A, Bethlehem church standoff lingers, T. Christian Miller and Mary Curtius. “…massive West Bank offensive March 29 in response to …” – Israeli violence.

o 5/8/02, 1A, Deadly bomb hits Israeli pool hall, Jason Keyser. “An attack on March 27 that killed 28 people set off Israel’s large-scale military offensive…” – both examples in one quote.

o 5/8/02, 1A, Sharon cuts visit short to return home, Ron Hutcheson and Warren P. Strobel. “[the suicide bombing] threatened to plunge the Middle East into a new cycle of violence.” This article was printed while the standoff at the Church of the Nativity continued, the Israeli military offensive into Palestinian towns continued and civilians (including children) were being killed in West Bank. – Palestinian violence.

o 5/10/02, 1A, Israel prepares to attack, Lee Hockstader and Edward Cody. – Israeli violence. Sub-title: Military action is reprisal for bombing that killed 15 Israelis - Israeli violence; and first sentence of article says, “Israeli forces prepared Thursday to launch an assault on the Gaza Strip in response to …” – Israeli violence.

o 5/11/02,1A, Attack on Gaza Strip is on hold, Steven Erlanger. – Israeli violence.

o 5/19/02, 1A, Blast kills 2 Israelis in produce market, James Bennet. Israeli response unclear – sub-title. – future Israeli violence.

o 5/22/02, 7A, Sharon fires cabinet ministers, Joel Greenberg. “…after an initial lull, the attacks have resumed.” – Palestinian violence.

o 5/23/02, 4A, Israeli attack kills militant leader, Mohammed Daraghmeh. – Israeli violence.

o 5/24/02, 7A, Police: Attack at nightclub thwarted, AP. – Palestinian violence.

o 5/25/02, 5A, Israeli soldiers raid camp, Jason Keyser. Response to attacks – sub-heading. – both examples in one sub-heading.

o 5/25/02/5A, Israeli soldiers raid camp, Jason Keyser. Article states that Israeli soldiers raided a refugee camp “…following attacks on Israel’s largest fuel depot…”. – Palestinian violence.

o 5/27/02, 8A, Israeli soldiers pull out of Bethlehem, Greg Myre. “…Israel’s high level of alert has thwarted some attacks…” – Palestinian violence.

[Note: During this two month period, there were one or two times that Palestinian violence was described in the context of an on-going conflict (e.g. 5/23/02, 4A, Bomber kills 2 in Israel;27 wounded, Jason Keyser. “The suicide blast, the second here in two weeks, followed a series of Israeli attacks Wednesday that left five Palestinians dead.”)

2. Palestinian attacks against Israeli civilians described as “terrorist” or perpetrators as “terrorists”. When Israelis targeted a Palestinian girls’ school and hospital, they were described as “Jewish extremists”. Also, when Israeli military or Jewish settlers kill civilians, their death is reported as a “mistake” or as accidental due to “crossfire”. These Israeli statements are rarely if ever challenged or reported as verified.

4/5/02, 4A, A humble Church of the Nativity bell ringer killed in the crossfire, sub-title.

4/12/02, 10A, Seige continues at Church of the Nativity, Ibrahim Hazboun. “The Israeli military acknowledged Thursday that an Israeli soldier shot an Armenian monk the day before, mistaking him for a gunman.”

4/17/02, 6A, Monk recovering from gunshot wound at Church, Jason Keyser. “An Israeli soldier shot the 22-year-old monk last week, mistaking him for one of the 200 or so armed Palestinians.”

4/20/02, 6A, Militants readied for Israelis, Elise Ackerman. “…militants of Jenin had launched bloody terror attacks …”

4/28/02, 1A, 4 killed in Israeli settlement, Sudarsan Raghavan. “Palestinian terrorists…”

5/6/02, 4A, Israelis kill 3 by mistake, no by-line.

5/13/02, 3A, Arab school bombing foiled, Davan Maharaj. “Israeli security says radical Jewish group had attack planned” sub-title. “…Jewish extremists…” used within article.

5/19/02, 9A, Israel arrests 6 Jews in bombing plot, John Kifner. Article fails to even call them “Jewish extremists”. The people who were planning to bomb an Arab girls school are reported as simple criminals.

5/27/02, 8A, Israeli soldiers pull out of Bethlehem, Greg Myre. “…soldiers wounded or killed people they mistakenly identified as militants.”

3. TCO printed news articles completely from the Israeli perspective. This included headlines as well as body content. Equal coverage not offered to Palestinian perspective.

4/4/02, 1A, As Israelis live in fear, Palestinians simmer, Martin Merzer. Although the headline is probably true for a segment of the population, it is just as true to use Palestinians live in fear, Israelis simmer as an alternative headline. This is a skewed practice when Palestinians have consistently been portrayed as “angry” and/or “humiliated”, but rarely if ever in a headline, as fearful even though they are a civilian population coming under a daily heavy, military offensive.

o 4/4/02, 4A, Israelis move war into Palestinian towns, Martin Merzer.

Although this story is suppose to be from the Palestinian perspective, it focuses on militants and refer to their anger repeatedly. The great majority of Palestinians in the West Bank are unarmed civilians who live in fear and worry about their children and basic daily needs such as food, water, electricity, school, yet are continually portrayed in the U.S. media as militant; even in articles presumably from their perspective. The prior article from the Israeli perspective, A city where everyone is a threat by Martin Merzer, is filled with examples of how Israelis cannot gather at restaurants and cafes without fear and other daily worries.

The “Israeli” article contains multiple quotes from average civilians. The “Palestinian” article focuses on the anger, Even among apparently calm residents, anger and resentment burn is the sub-title. The “average” Palestinian interviewed was described as “…seems like a reasonable man, but he simmers with a quiet fury.” [Note: Many stories printed during this period emphasize Palestinian or Arab militancy, (e.g. 4/21/02, 7A, Hezbollah giving warfare guidance to Palestinians, Sudarsan Raghavan; 4/22/02, 8A, Militants plan return to action, Daniel Williams; 4/22/02, 9A, Egyptian hatred grows louder, Michael Slackman; 4/25/02, 8A, Palestinian youths embrace death, image of martyrdom, David Rohde; and others.]

The “Israeli” article is completely devoted to that perspective with no reference to Palestinian suffering, but the “Palestinian” article includes, “The Israelis, shocked and aroused by the ghastly wave of suicide bombings, say they have no choice …”

Palestinian children are quoted as saying they would fight the Israelis with weapons. No Israeli or Jewish settler children are interviewed or quoted. The Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth, May 7, 2002 printed the article, Dear soldier, please kill a lot of Arabs, which reported the type of letters being received by IDF soldiers in the field written by Israeli school children. (Original story in Hebrew can be found at http://www.ynet.co.il/NonReg/Ext/App/Billing/Registration/CdaBillReg_LoginScreen/1,10075,,00.html) These angry quotes from children abound on both sides, its misleading to only present one side.

o 4/5/02, 4A, West Bank campaign brings intense fighting, map. The map shows suicide bombings in Israel and the Occupied Territories; chart breaks down how many Israelis have been wounded and killed; second intifada described as “…against Israel began September 2000…”. There is no comparable map showing where Palestinian civilians have been killed by Israeli army or Jewish settlers, there is no chart breaking down how many Palestinians have been wounded or killed, and the second intifada was in response to the visit to the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount by, not only Sharon, but 750 armed soldiers on a prayer day. It has continued as resistance against the 34-year long, on-going illegal military occupation. [Note: There is a brief mention of “…more than 1000 Palestinians killed…” in second to last paragraph within article body.]

o 4/7/02, 1A, SUICIDE BOMBERS: Hatred turns Palestinians into lethal weapons, headline. There are half a dozen words that could’ve been used that are more accurate, such as “Desperation”, “Frustration”, “Hopelessness”, “Imparity in arms”, etc… Once again the anger and negative emotion is stressed.

o 4/10/02, 1A, 13 Israeli soldiers killed in ambush, headline. Although the article content contains that …”over 100 Palestinians killed in Jenin…” and these deaths contained civilian casualties, the headline focuses on the smaller number of military, combatant deaths.

o 4/15/02, 4A, Israelis try to counter rumors of massacre, Serge Schmemann and Joel Greenberg. The entire article is devoted to Israeli P.R., for example, “We had no choice. We had to destroy the homes.”

o 4/15/02, 4A, Urban traps await Israelis, headline. Although headline is true, the “urban traps” aren’t awaiting “Israelis”, but the trained army personnel that are preparing to attack the camp. Headline misleading.

o 4/15/02, 4A, Urban traps await Israelis, C.J. Chivas. Article focuses on dangers awaiting attacking troops instead of the civilians awaiting to be attacked. This offensive took place at the height of the Jenin controversy about the death and destruction at that camp. There were multiple quotes from militants and none from civilians expressing their fears. This is noted because this article followed another article filled with quotes and stories from Israeli civilians expressing their fears and was intended to convey “average” Palestinian voice.

o 4/19/02, 6A, Overnight pullout from Jenin vowed, Jamie Tarabay. Contains quotes from U.N. envoy Terje Road-Larsen such as “colossal suffering” to civilians, yet the article focuses on the military pullout, not the number of bodies found. Israeli views, quotes and actions are reported in the first five (5) paragraphs before U.N. findings mentioned.

o 4/20/02, 6A, Militants readied for Israelis, Elise Ackerman.

§ “For months, the militants of Jenin had launched bloody terror attacks on Israeli civilians…” is reported with no mention of the 34-year, illegal military occupation or the reason behind the creation of the refugee camp. No context given at all.

§ “Surrounded by peaceful agricultural communities, on a hill in the middle of wheat and alfalfa fields, Jenin has long been a source of trouble to Israel.” Jenin, like most villages, refugee camps, towns under occupation are in abject poverty and invasive, daily martial law. This description is highly misleading. If description reported to help educate reader about the area, missed target.

o 4/20/02, 7A, Hamas vows deadlier attacks, Hamza Hendawi. Article states, “Hamas has been Israel’s deadliest foe…” without referring to 34-year on-going illegal military occupation or situation in Gaza, where Hamas, is based. This is pertinent information to story.

o 4/23/02, 6A, Standoffs hold, violence goes on, James Bennet. This article focuses on continuing situation instead of findings of major, independent human rights organization Amnesty International. Not until the 15^th paragraph are the readers told that Amnesty International found Israel, in it’s attack on the Jenin refugee camp committed, “…serious breaches of international human rights and humanitarian law… including war crimes.” This is a major statement, yet it was buried 15 paragraphs deep and focus of story was on the on-going, already covered situation.

o 4/23/02, 6A, Authority collapse opens up vacuum, Cliff Churgin, Michael Matza and Martin Merzer. Entire article sets up a justification for future attack on the Gaza Strip. The article even states, “From the Israeli standpoint…” The article contains multiple quotes from Israelis and no Palestinian quotes or statements.

o 4/25/02, 9A, Sharon suggests exile for Arafat, James Bennet. The entire article outlines Sharon’s views with quotes, references and examples. One sentence, the last one, reports the Palestinian response, “Saeb Erekat, the chief Palestinian negotiator, ridiculed Sharon’s proposal.”

o 4/26/02, 14A, Israeli reservists say Jenin battles were desperate, John Lancaster. 2 describe unprepared army, well-stocked Palestinian defenders - sub-title. Entire article from Israeli army perspective, including headline and sub-title, quotes within and descriptions. No equal article outlining Jenin battle from Palestinian perspective, with headlines, sub-titles, quotes and descriptions.

o 4/28/02, 1A, 4 killed in Israeli settlement, Sudarsan Raghavan. “…slipped into a quiet Israeli settlement near Hebron …”.

o 4/28/02, 5A, Pain of seder bombing cemented reprisal, Laura King. Article printed a month after attack. Contains nothing but Israeli experiences, thoughts, quotes. No reciprocal article written on a Palestinian disaster ( e.g. Jenin from the inside.)

o 5/3/02, 7A, Study: Jenin not scene of massacre, T. Christian Miller. Human Rights Watch issued a 50 page report containing substantiated claims of “…very serious violations of laws of war..” committed by Israel, yet focus of article was on the one sentence in report that said there didn’t “appear” to be a massacre committed, although there were 22 civilians out of the 52 total killed by IDF forces. Israel’s response to the report was also included within the article as well as separate articles addressing the issue.

o 5/5/02, 12A, Israel: Arafat terrorism proven, Judith Miller. Entire article contains Israeli quotes, statements and “evidence”. One sentence given to Palestinian response.

o 5/6/02, 4A, Israelis kill 3 by mistake, no by-line. The killing of a mother and her two small children is reported completely from Israeli perspective including the headline. The killing of another 9-year-old boy included in article at end. No Palestinian witnesses quoted. Israeli statement not verified by independent sources; just printed as fact.

o 5/9/02, 6A, Venturing out proved fatal, Doug Struck. Story covers perspective of Israelis who were caught in a suicide bombing incident. No reciprocal article from perspective of family that has lost loved ones due to Israeli army offensives.

o 5/11/02, 6A, Holy site for Christianity now more like a cesspit, Robert W. Gee. Although “…the priests said the church had not been desecrated. And Jesus’ birth grotto was in pristine condition.” the story focus is on the mess and smell. The word “cesspit” is not in quotes, therefore must be created by headline editor, yet other media outlets at time and within the body content of the article itself, reported that the church was in relatively good shape with the expected mess from over a month’s siege. Headline misleading and inflammatory.

o 5/15/02, 7A, Sharon: No talks with ‘regime’, James Bennet. The article focuses on old news which reports Israeli perspective; last paragraph states new news. Although Israel has been saying that Marwan Barghouti implicated Arafat in attacks inside Israel proper under interrogation, Mr. Barghouti’s lawyer said he had a chance to communicate with him and Mr. Barghouti denied ever doing such a thing.

o 5/16/02, 3A, Arafat admits errors, vows broad reforms, Edward Cody. Article on Sharon’s speeches or statements quote Sharon and Israeli sources profusely. Palestinian response excluded or given one sentence. Arafat’s speech reported like a critique, including such remarks as, “As such, it was vintage Arafat, part of the guerrilla-leader style that has generated much of the criticism…”. [Note: Article not designated as an “Analysis” piece.] It was pointed out that Arafat did not set a date for elections and describes vision of a separate Palestinian state as, “…his [Arafat’s] long-held dream.” Although this may be true, it is not only Arafat’s dream. Israeli response given two long paragraphs in article body, then another entire article located beside it containing more rebuttal information about reforms, Palestinian security revamp called useless by Michael R. Gordon.

o 5/16/02, 3A, Palestinian security revamp called useless, Michael R. Gordon. Entire article based on statements by unidentified Israeli official. Article reads like an IDF PR piece. Article actually states, “…outlining the views of the Israeli Defense Force…” No Palestinian response to these remarks reported, although one sentence refers to Arafat’s speech.

o 5/20/02, 1A, Blast kills 2 Israelis in produce market, James Bennet. Article states, there was “…relative quiet in Israel…”, but what was happening in the Occupied Territories? On page 4A, article states, “…Israeli forces have continued moving freely through Palestinian-controlled territory in the West Bank, raiding towns and arresting and sometimes killing suspected militants.” Article closes with this quote from an Israeli, “Finally, the people of Israel have succeeded in finding some tranquility.” And, the Palestinian people?

o 5/21/02, 5A, Survivor of 1 bombing dies in another, Celean Jacobson. Article tells story of man who died in Passover bombing two months ago (March 27, 2002). No reciprocal article on a Palestinian killed by Israeli soldiers.

o While the paper reported two stories involving incidents where Israelis received “light” to “moderate” injuries (e.g. 5/24/02, 7A, Bomb explodes at fuel depot in Israel, John Kifner; 5/24/02, 7A, Police: Attack at nightclub thwarted , AP) no articles printed which covered Israeli offensives that resulted in “light” to moderate” injuries to Palestinians. The number of Palestinian injuries greatly under-reported and deaths reported minimally.

4. Many articles quoted or referenced Israeli government and military sources first; many times these quotes were followed by little or no Palestinian quotes or references; Israeli statements did not appear to be balanced (substantiated) by independent or Palestinian sources. Although there are too many examples to list, below are a few articles that outline the concerns.

4/6/02, 1A, U.S. envoy meets Arafat, James Bennett. 1) Although headline states that a U.S. envoy is meeting Arafat, all three (3) quotes on the front page are from Israeli sources. The Palestinian view is not reported until paragraph 9 on page 10A and then is immediately followed by more Israeli statements. 2) Israeli statements are taken as fact with no independent verification reported.

4/7/02, 8A, Impatient Bush demands withdrawal, Mohammad Daraghmeh. “Sharon stressed that Israel is making every effort to avoid civilian casualities …” has no verification of statement from witnesses or quotes from NGO’s or human rights organizations in the area.

4/20/02, 6A, Militants readied for Israelis, Elise Ackerman. “Israeli soldiers said most families had fled the camp [Jenin] by the time they entered…” was not verified by independent source.

4/20/02, 6A, 12 killed as violence shifts to Gaza Strip, Martin Merzer. This article contains several quotes from Israelis that are printed throughout article with no Palestinian response or independent verification.

4/27/02, 6A, Israel launches lengthy new raid, Karin Laub. Israeli sources cited eleven (11) times, Palestinian sources cited only four (4).

5/15/02, 7A, Sharon: No talks with ‘regime’, Lee Hockstader. Entire article quotes Sharon multiple times and Israeli sources with one short Palestinian response (“Palestinian officials rejected the new condition for talks as a diversion…”) and virtually no independent or Palestinian verification on many of the Israeli statements.

5/16/02, 3A, 4 Israeli women charged, Jack Katzenell. Article based on Israeli sources solely. No response from accused lawyers reported.

5. News coverage of Israeli dead/wounded differs from news coverage of dead/wounded Palestinians. See table below.

Reporting of Palestinian Reporting of Israeli

Wounded/Killed Wounded/Killed

4/30/02, 1A, Israeli soldiers take hold in Hebron, Doug Struck and John Lancaster. “…killing at least nine people and arresting dozens.”

5/1/02, 4A, U.N. may ditch Jenin probe, Lee Hockstader and Doug Struck. “Israeli troops killed 10 Palestinians in Hebron…”

5/6/02, 4A, Israelis kill 3 by mistake, no by-line. “Israeli soldiers mistakenly shot and killed a woman and her two small children in a vineyard…”

5/6/02, 4A, Israelis kill 3 by mistake,

no by-line. “Israeli troops shot and killed a 9-year-old Palestinian boy in the Tulkarem refugee camp…”

5/12/02, 7A, Israel weighs fallout of invading Gaza, Steven Erlanger. “Israeli soldiers killed a 14-year-old Palestinian boy and wounded two others, ages 11 and 14, near the Karni crossing between Gaza and Israel.”

5/18/02, 11A, Palestinians insist on pullback before vote, Hadeel Wahdan. “…Israeli soldiers killed three people: an Israeli Arab woman who was shot when soldiers opened fire on her taxi, a 7-year-old boy who was shot inside his home …”

5/19/02, 8A, Hamas may compete I elections, Louis Meixler. “An Arab passenger was killed when the car flipped over. [After being shot at by Israeli soldiers.] Three Palestinians were killed on Friday…”

5/22/02, 4A, Israeli attack kills militant leader, Mohammed Daraghmeh. “Israeli tanks fired on the Balata Refugee Camp Wednesday, killing a leader of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade militia and three other Palestinians, the military said.”

5/25/02, 5A, Israeli soldiers raid camp, Jason Keyser. “Tank gunners fired shells and machine guns, and four Palestinians were wounded, including a woman and a 4-year-old child…”.

5/9.02, 6A, Venturing out proved fatal, Dug Struck, “…Annette Termeforoosh stopped to play a machine. … ‘Things went flying’ said Daniel Termeforoosh, 35, who Wednesday was wrapped in bandages and mending from shrapnel wounds at the Assaf Harofeh Medical Center here. ‘She died on the spot, ‘ he said, his voice flat from exhaustion and grief. ‘We just wanted to go out for a night.’”

5/20/02, 1A, Blast kills 2 Israelis in produce market, James Bennet. “But as her 6-year-old daughter, Linori, lay in a hospital bed Sunday night with her face and body pricked by shrapnel…” Article also includes, “The bomb, which spattered an aisle of cucumbers, cauliflower and green peppers with blood as the open-air market resounded with screams, came after a holiday weekend in which some Israelis returned to parks, shopping centers and cafes…”

5/22/02, 4A, Bomber kills 2 in Israel; 27 wounded, Jason Keyser. “After the bombing, a body lay under the canopy, covered with a black blanket. Blood was spattered across the pavement and a blood-stained red scarf laid on the pavement. One woman stood at the corner of the park crying because she could not find her son.”

5/28/02, 1A, Suicide strike kills 3 at café, Daniel Williams and Lee Hockstader. “Israeli television showed images of a wounded mother being carried to an ambulance on a stretcher, clutching her 1-year-old to her chest. In one moment, it was a balmy spring evening in Petah Tikva … in the next, it was a panorama of carnage and suffering – spattered blood and spilled geraniums here, a mangled stroller and twisted tall café chairs there, shards of glass and metal debris everywhere.”

5/26/02, 8A, Israelis kill girl, mother, Greg Myre. Article written specifically about the killing of civilians (including child) which is positive except article still just reports minimal details (e.g. “…killing a Palestinian woman and her 13-year-old daughter working on a farm in the Gaza Strip.” Paragraph 10 states that the soldiers fired from tanks without provocation and paragraph 11 gives their names, but no quote from surviving injured niece, no description of condition of bodies, no details on the family left behind, no description of the child’s bedroom, hopes, dreams, the state of nearby geraniums, if any, etc…

5/27/02, 8A, Israeli soldiers pull out of Bethlehem, Greg Myre. “In the Gaza Strip, Palestinians said a teen-ager died in the hospital after being wounded by Israeli fire.” And “…Palestinian medics and witnesses said Israeli tanks opened fire Sunday night with machine guns and tank cannons, fatally wounding an 18-year-old.”

6. TCO printed inaccurate information.

Even after the fact was verified through different sources by different media outlets that the Palestinians in the Church of the Nativity consisted of civilians, including children and only a few dozen were armed gunmen, TCO continued to print that the Palestinians in the Church of the Nativity consisted of over 200 armed Palestinians.

4/5/02, 1A, photo caption. “…where 240 armed Palestinians remained…”

4/5/02, 5A, photo caption. “…about 240 armed Palestinians remained…”

4/6/02, 10A, Religious leaders are caught in middle, Ibrahim Hazboun. “…240 armed Palestinians…”

4/12/02, 10A, Seige continues at Church of the Nativity, Ibrahim Hazboun. “…more than 200 Palestinian gunmen…”

4/15/02, 5A, Arafat tells Powell no ceasefire seen, Alan Sipress. “…200 gunmen…”

4/16/02, 4A, Israelis score coup in arrest, James Bennet. “…200 Palestinian gunmen…”

4/17/02, 6A, Monk recovering from gunshot wound at church, Jason Keyser. “…200 or so armed Palestinians…”

4/17/02, 6A, 200 Palestinian gunmen holed up inside church, sub-title.

4/19/02, 6A, Shooting again heard near church, Ibrahim Hazboun. “…200 Palestinian gunmen…”

4/21/02, 4D, A blueprint for peace in Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Christopher Dickey and Daniel Klaidman. The article states, “Hundreds of Americans lost their lives there trying to bring peace between Israel and the Arabs and, indeed, between Sharon and Arafat.” [This was in reference to sending international peacekeepers to the Occupied Territories.] In fact, the American troops arrived September 1982 after the Sabra and Shatila massacre. PLO troops and Arafat had already pulled out. The American marines were killed by the Lebanese Hezbollah in early 1983, long after Arafat was gone and Sharon had withdrew from Beirut.

5/16/02, 3A, Arafat admits errors, vows broad reforms, Edward Cody. “ …most of the million-plus Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank remain …” According to the Palestinian Authority’s Palestinian Population and Housing census conducted over five (5) years ago in 1997, there are two (2) million Palestinians living in the West Bank and one (1) million living in a 4 mile by 20 mile strip of land called the Gaza Strip. At the time, due to obstacles in gathering data put up by the Israeli army, these estimates were deemed to be modest. Today, there is considered to be approximately 4.5 million Palestinians living in both the West Bank and Gaza Strip together.

o 5/29/02, 2A, Gunmen kill 4 Israelis in West Bank attacks, Daniel Williams. “Officials said police in Jerusalem were on the lookout for bombers headed for northern districts of the Israeli capital…”

The United Nations Security Council passed U.N. Security Council Resolution 478 on August 20, 1980 declaring Israel’s “basic law” declaring Jerusalem as Israel’s undivided capitol as null and void due to East Jerusalem’s status as “occupied territories”. 14 to none passed the resolution with one abstention, the United States.

In May 1996, the Vatican reiterated its position concerning Israel’s unilateral declaration that Jerusalem was the undivided capitol of Israel in 1980. “The holy see's attitude with regard to the territorial situation of Jerusalem is necessarily the same as that of the international community. The latter could be summarized as follows: the part of the city militarily occupied in 1967 and annexed and declared the capital of the State of Israel, is occupied territory, and all Israeli measures which exceed the power of a belligerent occupant under international law are therefore null and void.”

Jerusalem’s status as Israel’s capitol remains in contention to this day.

7. Omission of details creates a false picture, such as when context is not referenced or recipricol human interest stories are left out.

4/17/02, 4A, War marks Independence Day, David Lamb. This article did not reference the Palestinian view at all. It does not mention what the creation of the State of Israel meant to Palestinians as a people, nor was there an article printed about Al Nakhba (The Catastrophe), May 15^th. This is the day 750,000 Palestinians lost their homes, businesses, land and began their diasporo and this current conflict was born. This is a major omission of information.

4/19/02, 6A, Overnight pullout from Jenin vowed, Jamie Tarabay. The article includes one quote from the U.N. envoy Terje Roed-Larsen, “…colossal suffering…”, but omits “…horrifying beyond belief…” or “…stench of death…” which are much more powerful and informative quotes. The article omits much of the findings by this envoy and instead focuses on the military pullout.

4/20/02, 1A, 12 die as violence shifts to Gaza Strip, Martin Merzer. This large article on major shift in violence to the Gaza Strip includes one, short descriptive sentence about the Gaza Strip, “The Gaza Strip, a pre-dominantly Palestinian area adjacent to Israel, lies on the Mediterranean Sea between Israel and Egypt.” Omission of the fact that over 1.25 million Palestinians live in a 20 mile by 4 mile strip of land in abject poverty, surrounded by fences, barbed wire and Israeli military check points or that 6000 settlers in the region control 49% of the coast line and major water resources does a great disservice to the reader.

Articles printed regarding legislation before U.S. Congress declaring support of Israel and/or additional monies omit current U.S. aid to Israel or related military aid legislation.

4/26/02, 15A, House measure backing Israel being pushed, Mike Allen and Juliet Eilperin.

5/3/02, 6A, Congress expresses support for Israel, Julet Eilperin and Helen Dewar.

5/10/02, 8A, House panel expected to OK extra Israel aid, Alan Fram.

4/28/02, 4A, Palestinian gunfire kills 4 in Israeli settlement, Sudarsan Raghavan.

Israeli perspective represented over-whelmingly with weak Palestinian response. The article just mentions that the Palestinians and Crown Prince Abdullah “say” they [settlements] should be dismantled and that Israel should return to pre-1967 borders. Not only is the fact that these settlements are illegal according to international law (e.g. Geneva Conventions) not mentioned, but it is not only the Palestinians and Saudi Prince that believe this, but the majority of nations that recognize Israel as an occupying power.

The article reports, “Many [settlers] said they liked living there simply because of the view, the fresh mountain air – and the peace.” This quote is so misleading to TCO readers, it’s almost a crime. The situation between settlers and Palestinians, especially in Hebron, has been so contentious and volatile that even a Christian peacemaker team (CPT) has a permanent base located in Hebron to help reduce violence and protect Palestinian civilians and property.

5/19/02, 9A, Hamas may compete in elections, Louis Meixler. Article describes Hamas’ participation in Palestinian elections as a “setback to the already faltering peace process” because Hamas calls for the destruction of Israel and the U.S. considers it a ‘terrorist” organization. No mention is made that the ruling party in the current Knesset passed a resolution saying there would never be a “Palestinian State” (equivalent to destruction of Israel) or that most, if not all, of Israel’s former prime minister’s were at one time in their lives “terrorists” since they were active members of “terrorist organizations” as declared by Britain.

Although Sharon’s mistrust of Arafat is mentioned repeatedly throughout these past two months, Arafat’s mistrust or the Palestinian’s mistrust of Sharon is never mentioned.

The last time Ariel Sharon held the fate of Palestinian civilians in his hands and had dealings with Yasser Arafat was in Beirut, Lebanon 1982. Both Ariel Sharon, then Defense Minister for Israel, and the United States guaranteed Yasser Arafat and the PLO safe passage out of Beirut and safe-keeping of the unarmed civilian Palestinian population which remained in the refugee camps outside Beirut. Ariel Sharon is under current indictment from the International Court of Justice in Belgium on war crimes charges concerning the massacre of over 1000 unarmed Palestinian civilians in these camps. Sharon was forced to resign when found guilty of complicity in the massacre by an Israeli Commission of Inquiry. These facts were NEVER mentioned during this period of observation although Arafat’s character was repeatedly brought up. Please see www.indictsharon.net for more information concerning this.

5/4/02, 1A, Sharon has peace proposal, Doug Struck.

5/5/02, 10A, Church of the Nativity talks accelerate, Ibrahim Hazboun.

5/6/02, 5A, Standoff at church apparently near end, Sudarsan Raghavan and Daniel Rubin.

5/7/02, 1A, Sharon brings case against Arafat to U.S., Alan Sipress and Karen DeYoung.

5/15/02, 7A, Sharon: No talks with ‘regime’, James Bennet.

5/26/02/,1A, U.S. policy stalled on Mideast, Patrick E. Tyler.

8. Illegal Israeli settlements described as “towns” or “Jewish neighborhoods”. Land appropriated during the 1967 war by Israel is considered “occupied territories” under several United Nations security council and General Assembly resolutions. These resolutions have been accepted and recognized by the majority of nations, including the United States, and therefore these lands and the people in these lands fall under the Geneva Conventions.

Describing annexed, confiscated, bought or stolen land in these areas as “towns” or “neighborhoods” is not only highly misleading to the uninformed reader and offensive to the informed one, but does not reflect international law, nor the policies of the United States or the European Union. These settlements (including those established in and around Jerusalem since 1967) constitute war crimes under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (1998).

Please see Appendix B and C for more details on settlements and international law.

5/7/02, 4A, Israel lists militants in church, Mark Lavie. “…in the Jewish neighborhood of Gilo, in an area of Jerusalem claimed by both Israel and the Palestinians…”
5/28/02, 5A, Suicide strike kills 3 at café, Daniel Williams and Lee Hockstader. “..at an apartment building in French Hill, a Jewish neighborhood of East Jerusalem.”

9. Politically loaded term “Disputed area” used instead “occupied territory”.

Immediately following the appropriation of land in the West Bank, Golan Heights, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem, Israeli policy-makers denied that the lands fell under the Geneva Conventions and that Israel was bound by these statutes or other international laws concerning the region and that they had an inherent claim to the land. The Labor-led government began the creation of a de facto situation on the ground for settlements (and therefore concrete claims). Moshe Dayan stated that settlements throughout the territories were necessary “…not because they can ensure security better than the army, but because without them we cannot keep the army in those territories. Without them the IDF would be a foreign army ruling a foreign population.”

This policy of creating an illusion of “rights” to the land continued through the decades, no matter the ruling party. As reported in the July 7, 1987 Jerusalem Post article, ‘Facts should be created in West Bank’, says Sharon, Ariel Sharon, then Industry and Trade Minister and Likud party member said, “ ‘We have to create facts in these areas as fast as possible and show signs of activity on the ground in order to dispel any doubt’ about the future of the territories.”

Dore Gold, current spokesman for Prime Minister Ariel Sharon issued a brief in January 2002 to the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs addressing the issue of Israel’s claim to these territories and asserted, “…Israel possesses legal rights with respect to the West Bank and Gaza Strip…” again trying to create a dispute where international law is clear. He concludes, “It would be far more accurate to describe the West Bank and Gaza Strip as ‘disputed territories’ to which both Israelis and Palestinians have claims.

PMW concludes that calling these lands “in dispute”, “disputed territories” or “disputed areas” is not a general description of the region, but has been co-opted by one side therefore making them politically loaded terms. Their use by neutral media outlets, when used outside quotes, should be terminated.

Please see Appendix C for international law and settlements.

4/28/02, 1A, 4 killed in Israeli settlement, Sudarsan Raghavan. “Disputed areas lie at heart of decades-old conflict in West Bank and Gaza Strip.”

VII. Conclusions and Suggestions

The Charlotte Observer Op/Ed Pages

Balance presentation of views: The Opinion pages of The Charlotte Observer between April 1, 2002 and May 31, 2002, strongly reflect the official pro-Israeli position on the Middle East crisis. In what they mention, how they mention it and in what they fail to mention – they remain faithful to the official pro-Israeli position and present very little that is original on what the root causes of the crisis are, why the violence has persisted and what may be done to bring the conflict to an end. This imbalance in presentation is a disservice to its readership and the community at large. The over-whelming presentation of one side of an issue does not allow the paper’s readers to hear from each perspective equally, then make informed decisions.

All efforts should be made to guarantee a balance in presentation of views. A list of quality columnists, who write regularly on the Middle East and take a “neutral” view or write from the Palestinian perspective are included in Appendix D to serve as a resource by The Charlotte Observer’s editorial staff.

The Charlotte Observer’s news coverage

1) Use only neutral terms: The use of the terms “in retaliation”, “in response to” or “following” , etc… when referring to Israeli violence, the use of “radical” or “Jewish extremists” only when referring to Israelis or Jews; and the use of the terms “terror”, “terrorist”, “attack” when referring to Palestinians or Palestinian violence can easily be remedied by becoming aware of this practice and choosing only neutral and equal terms to describe both parties of the conflict. Unless the words are used in a quote from an official source, the paper should refrain from using them in the body of the article.

2) Balance story presentation: The publishing of articles solely from the Israeli perspective should stop. When “human interest” stories solely from the Israeli perspective are printed, an accompanying human interest story should be printed solely from the Palestinian perspective either the same day or soon after. If the story is meant to be a news story and not a human interest story, Palestinian sources should be cited including quotes and references. Palestinian sources should not be consistently relegated to a secondary position in the article and Israeli statements should be verified by independent and/or Palestinian sources and witnesses.

3) Give Palestinian deaths, same coverage as Israeli deaths: The death and wounding of Palestinians should stop being reported as statistics and include the same humanization as afforded Israeli deaths and injuries. If there is room in an article to describe the circumstances, the condition of the bodies, personal backgrounds and setting when Israelis are killed, this same courtesy should be extended to Palestinian casualties. We suggest that The Charlotte Observer request that wire service reporters spend more time in the Occupied Territories and among the Palestinians so these details can be reported equally.

4) Provide background/context: Not reporting the context of an event or pertinent information concerning a story can so mislead readers that it often becomes a falsification of facts through omission. All efforts should be made to provide context for the reader. Many times a word or short paragraph is all that is needed. (e.g. The stories on the Gaza Strip does not provide the reader with any idea about life on the ground there. The short, geographical description provided in the stories is inadequate. Also, the repeated articles reporting Sharon’s mistrust of Arafat should include the Palestinian view of Sharon.)

5) Avoid politically-loaded, contentious words: The more controversial practice of calling settlements “Jewish neighborhoods” or certain locations “disputed areas” can be resolved by not using these politically-loaded terms, simply because they are politically biased terms that remain under contention, offend a great portion of the paper’s readership and do not reflect internationally accepted practice and standards.

References

Tanya Hsu and Rani El-Hajjar, “Coverage of the Middle East Crisis in the Opinion Pages of The Atlanta Journal Constitution”, March 18, 2002 – April 14, 2002, A Palestine Media Watch report.

Eric Alterman, "Intractable Foes, Warring Narratives", MSNBC, March 28^,2002.

Foundation for Middle East Peace, “A Guide to Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Territories, www.fmep.org, March 2002.

Jerusalem Watch, “Land and Settlement in Jerusalem”, www.jerusalemwatch.org/facts/settle.htm.