MSNBC Contributor Slams Network For Pro-Israel Coverage: 'We Are Ridiculous!'

[Capt. Obvious]

An MSNBC contributor used her appearance on the cable news channel Monday to sharply criticize its coverage of the Israel-Hamas conflict.

During an interview on "Ronan Farrow Daily," Palestinian journalist Rula Jebreal unloaded on Western media outlets, including MSNBC, arguing that influence from pro-Israel forces makes the news coverage more favorable to the likes of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

"Because of AIPAC, and because of the money behind it, and because of Sheldon Adelson, and because of all of us in the media. We are ridiculous. We are disgustingly biased when it comes to this issue," Jebreal said.

"Look at how many airtime Netanyahu and his folks have on air on a daily basis. Andrea Mitchell and others," she continued, referring to the MSNBC stalwart whose show airs right before Farrow's afternoon program. "I never see one Palestinian being interviewed on theses same issues."

When Farrow pushed back gently and pointed out that Palestinian guests have been interviewed, Jebreal continued her criticism.

"Maybe 30 seconds! And then you have 25 minutes for Bibi Netanyahu, and then half an hour for Naftali Bennett and many others," Jebreal said.

TPM

[BillZBubb]

1. On Israel, all major US media is Fox News.

All pro-Israel bias, all the time.

[Plucketeer]

2. I second your observation.

I get so disgusted with their portrayal. They are indeed, the chosen ones. Chosen by TPTB of the USA.

[mwrguy]

3. How did this come to be?

And what can we do about it?

[mountain grammy]

9. That's pretty much the way it is.

[swilton]

4. Here it is on Youtube

[lovemydog]

10. I agree with her.

This Farrow guy doesn't seem to get it, and keeps interrupting her. But kudos to his producers for at least having her on the show.

[Enthusiast]

5. I believe in equal air time.

This is the kind of bullshit we have on the Sunday Morning talk shows—all one sided.

We always have to listen to way out Republicans on Chris Hayes and Chris Matthews too. Of course I will no longer watch Tweety anyway.

MSNBC, we know you are partisan. Can't fool us.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

6. Right after 9/11 we got a real look at what Israeli Media is like....

Wolfie was on filling everyone with fear that there were sleeper cells EVERYWHERE and claiming ordinary events were linked to terrorism. He made people afraid to go out of the house.

Meanwhile the skies of every major city was filled with the sounds of military fighter jets flying hard and LOUD, often kicking in the afterburners while dumbass Limbaugh fans cheered "git im!!" as if they were at an actual dogfight. I was caring for an old French lady at the time and she thought those were enemy planes.

Pump the population full of fear and claim the people who talk peace are going to get you killed. Then turn the whole issue into who will be willing to wipe them out like vermin.

[Behind the Aegis]

8. Israeli media?

[Spitfire of ATJ]

15. At least the Right Wing version acording to some people I know who've been there.

[Skidmore]

14. Blitzer is a piece of work and is the one reason I will not watch

CNN. Zev Blitzer is also the useful mouthpiece for Pat Robertson, whose sole purpose in life is to sell Revelations to the masses and is ever willing to try to sell world events as in line with "prophecy." The nexus of Christian dispensationalism and Zionist aspirations is a nasty one, in my opinions. So much is lost and so little gained in this unholy alliance.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

16. What's worse is places like Pat Robertson's University teaching Middle East history.

[sabrina 1]

18. Don't forget what Netanhahu said about 9/11 after it happened.

http://www.haaretz.com/news/report-netanyahu-says-9-11-terror-attacks-good-for-israel-1.244044

The Israeli newspaper Ma'ariv on Wednesday reported that Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu told an audience at Bar Ilan university that the September 11, 2001 terror attacks had been beneficial for Israel.

"We are benefiting from one thing, and that is the attack on the Twin Towers and Pentagon, and the American struggle in Iraq," Ma'ariv quoted the former prime minister as saying. He reportedly added that these events "swung American public opinion in our favor."

[Spitfire of ATJ]

21. Not with EVERYONE. Mel Gibson being an example.

[Fred Sanders]

11. Truth hurts, it hurts the biased media the most. Come on, the media is overwhelmingly covering

the Israeli justifications, only the rivers of blood have forced much Palestinian coverage, reluctantly.

Fox News does not even mention Palestinian deaths, the reporter covering the slaughter of four boys blown away on a beach was nearly fired for daring to file the report, but a single captured Israeli soldier had hands wringing all over the place.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

12. I saw that and almost fell over

because for once I heard some real truth on a cable news channel. I doubt we'll ever see her again on MSNBC and certainly not on the other stations.

[gwheezie]

17. I saw it as well

right now I'm watching Richard Engel's report about killed and injured children in Gaza.
They have no where to hide.

[Cha]

19. Good for Rula Jebreal! the same can be said for the Sunday Koch shows.

[ChisolmTrailDem]

20. Not 30 minutes before I saw her on RFD today I was making a mental

note of the relative lack of Palestinian voices on MSNBC (and the yanking of Ayman Mohyeldin last week after his reporting on the rocket that killed those four children). Then, there she was on RFD voicing what I was thinking earlier. It was a righteous rant. Of course, that has nothing to do with the fact that I've been infatuated with Rula Jebreal for a while now.