Ban on foreign journalists skews coverage of conflict

[DogPoundPup]

Chris McGreal in Jerusalem
Saturday 10 January 2009

Throughout the two-week bombardment of the Gaza Strip most journalists have been kept out by the Israeli government on the pretext of security. And the Israelis are pleased with the results.

Foreign journalists have been forced to report without getting to the detail of what is going on. That meant, at least in the early days of the bombardment, that reporters who would have been in Gaza were instead reporting from Israeli towns and cities under fire from Hamas, and Israeli officials found it easier to get themselves in front of a television camera.

An Israeli official told me they were delighted at a BBC TV correspondent broadcasting from Ashkelon in a flak jacket, reinforcing the impression that the Israeli city is a war zone when there is more chance of being hit by a car than a rocket. The notable exception is al-Jazeera TV, which has a bureau in Gaza City and has been broadcasting live from there.

Danny Seaman, head of the Israeli government's press office, who has described foreign journalists as a "figleaf" for Hamas, says the exclusion of reporters from Gaza has worked in Israel's favour as it has forced a greater focus on Israel's side of the story.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jan/10/gaza-israel-reporters-foreign-journalists

[babylonsister]

1. Seems that could be resolved quickly if they wanted to. So why

don't they? Share the truth. :eyes:

[Selatius]

2. I wonder if Israel would entertain the idea of letting journalists cover both sides of the conflict.

And then let viewers decide for themselves what is going on. Yes, novel idea, I know.

[OwnedByFerrets]

3. Not to mention that ABSOLUTELY SHITTY commercial

on KO's show every nite this week. Makes me want to throw something at the tv every time it comes on.