When your cause is just, you don’t need fake-out photos

[shira]

The Israel Defense Forces blog has exposed the truth behind a photo that went viral on Twitter Monday with over 300 retweets and quickly became the top tweet for the hashtag #Gaza. The photo, first tweeted by Khulood Badawi, depicts a bloodied Gazan girl lying in her father’s arms, her heartbroken mother looking on. The caption alleges the girl was killed during one of yesterday’s retaliatory IAF strikes.

Turns out the photo originates in 2006 and is unrelated to any Israeli action. Reading about this, only one conclusion comes to mind: when your cause is just, you don’t need to fabricate photos.

<snip>

Update: HonestReporting has discovered that Khulood Badawi, who first tweeted the picture, is a UN employee in Gaza.

http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/when-your-cause-is-just-you-dont-need-fake-out-photos/

One Hundred Plus Rockets and They Report the Response

The title here says it all. As soon as Shabbos was out, those of us in Israel booted up our computers and discovered that over 100 rockets had been launched into Israel from Gaza. Of course, the one million Israelis who live in range of rocket fire knew this without Google. According to the IDF spokesperson, the 130 plus rockets fired within the past 35 hours represents 3 rockets every 60 minutes. But you wouldn’t know this from the mainstream media: 100 plus rockets and they report the response!

That’s right: they reported the response alone without context. Take a look at the headlines.

CNN: “Officials: Latest Israeli airstrike in Gaza bring death toll to 17?

ABC: “3 Palestinians Killed in Israeli Airstrikes”

Yahoo: “Israeli Airstrikes kill 15 Palestinian militants in Gaza.”

Fox News: “Toll from Israel Gaza strikes now 15 militants”

CBS: “Israeli airstrikes kill 15 Gaza militants”

<snip>

Only when we turn to Israel for more information does the big picture—and I mean big—become available. According to the Israel Defense force blog, “More than 130 rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip, and struck major population centers in southern Israel in the last 35 hours. More than 500,000 Israelis are forced to stay in bomb shelters.”

Now 130 rockets is a HUGE number of rockets to fall within a 35 hour period on a populated urban area. HUGE. But CNN prefers to discuss 24 retaliatory airstrikes, without even mentioning that they were, in fact, retaliatory. The imbalance here is, if you’ll excuse the pun, striking.

Last night, one million Israelis slept under the threat of Hamas rocket fire and the media was silent.

The deafening silence speaks louder than words.

http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/one-hundred-plus-rockets-and-they-report-the-response/

[TheWraith]

1. Uh huh. Was anyone killed by any of those rockets?

Anyone even hurt?

Did any fall in populated areas?

[shira]

2. Right. Sirens going off 5-6 times a day in some towns, Israelis going into shelters...

for all those bomb threats. 1 million Israelis within range of rockets.

No biggie. I'm sure you wouldn't mind these harmless firecrackers that have put 500,000 Israelis into bomb shelters. But you're a tough guy, you'd stay put and wouldn't complain. Those in shelters, young children included, are just whiners.

Really now, Israel should do nothing and just take it. Like any other nation in the world.

Right?

[shaayecanaan]

17. Its hard to believe that Israel wouldn't have anticipated that

when they started this latest round of fighting. Especially so when it seems that the people that they were ostensibly targeting weren't even in Gaza, but in Egypt.

If Israel can start a war in such a braggadocio fashion, they clearly don't care much for the poor people in the South that have to hurry to their air raid shelters every few hours.

[shira]

20. Why? This has happened before with limited exchanges...

Obviously, the terrorist groups involved with the rocket barrage are looking for a war. It'll stop when they stop, and they know that. Their choice.

Also, Israel didn't start anything. There was an imminent terror attack coming up. Israel cannot be blamed for a pre-emptive strike against terrorists. It's not like they were capable of arresting these guys.

If Israel doesn't do anything to stop an imminent terror attack across the Egyptian border, THEN clearly they don't care much for their own citizens.

Maybe Egypt should do a better job rounding up the bad guys. If they're unwilling to do so, I suppose the 30 year peace treaty is now dead.

In addition, maybe the terror groups rocketing Israel should stop before OCL part 2.

[shaayecanaan]

33. "There was an imminent terror attack coming up."

Yeah. I'll bet that they were developing weapons of mass destruction too. Maybe even tipping babies out of their incubators.

[shira]

34. Go on and tell Haaretz that's bullshit. They should have no problem gathering...

...information from IDF soldiers who know all this to be bullshit, like yourself, who never believes the IDF but somehow gives the benefit of the doubt nearly 100% of the time to Hamas and the PLO.

Oh, I know. Haaretz is way too rightwing to ever call BS on the IDF.

You think Haaretz was 'scooped' by bloggers who can't find real work? And that to this day Haaretz refuses to call BS on the IDF?

[ProgressiveProfessor]

8. Some have, some have been shot down

Iron Dome is far from perfect, but it is helping.

[pangaia]

3. From what I have read..

Hamas was not responsible for the rockets. Just what I read so I could be wrong...I am not at all questioning your point..

[Ruby the Liberal]

4. Who was suggested it was?

[shira]

5. Well, Al-Qassam Brigades is part of Hamas and they're shooting rockets...

But even worse than that, Hamas rules Gaza and they're doing absolutely nothing to stop Islamic Jihad and other terror groups from firing those rockets.

Imagine Likud doing nothing and letting Kahane terrorists do the same. I'm pretty sure the entire world would say Likud is responsible.

[azurnoir]

16. do you have a link for that claim? Everthing we've seen here says PRC and IJ

but I'm sure you have a link right?

[shira]

22. Yeah, here's CNN from 2 days ago..

Israel "will pay the price" for its actions in Gaza, said Abu Obaida, spokesman for the Izzedine al Qassam Brigade of Hamas, the Islamist movement that controls the Palestinian territory of Gaza.

"The Palestinian resistance is capable of selecting its options at this time and all the time," Obaida said. "The Palestinian resistance has what will hurt the Zionist occupation and will not stand on the side and watch."

http://edition.cnn.com/2012/03/10/world/meast/gaza-israel-airstrike/?hpt=hp_t3

You were wrong about al-Qassam Brigades involvement.

Yes or No?

So now you know Hamas is responsible, not only due to al-Qassam Brigades involvement but the fact they're neither doing nor saying anything to stop it.

Yes or No?

[azurnoir]

24. The link does not indicate any involvment outside of a statement by the group spokesman

and everything I've read indicates that it was IJ and PRC who were shooting the rockets not Hamas

http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=467274 one example

now you claim that perhaps Hamas accepted the ceasefire but no one else did?

[shira]

26. They don't have to fire rockets to be responsible. That's Hamas' military wing...

...speaking on behalf of _________ who?

Have you seen statements or actions from Hamas aimed at stopping the rockets?

Anything?

Hamas is responsible.

[azurnoir]

29. Hamas was as the leaders of Gaza involved in the truce negotiations carried out by Egypt

however as to their actual involvement in the violence

Gaza's Hamas Islamist leadership, whose own cadres have kept out of the fighting and seemed eager to avoid a larger conflict with Israel, had confirmed on Sunday that Egypt was working on a deal to stop the violence.

The truce agreement followed appeals from world powers -- the United States, the United Nations, France, European Union and the Arab League -- for both sides to exercise restraint.

http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=467479

but as leaders of Gaza they are responsible and acted to end the bloodshed

[ProgressiveProfessor]

6. Hamas is in control in Gaza and therefore has some responsibility for them

Not much happens in Gaza without Hamas allowing it, let alone 100's of rounds/missiles.

[pelsar]

28. hamas in fact is 100% responsible for the rockets...

the old arafat trick of "who us?...nah its them over there" is long long gone. Hamas owns gaza, controls gaza, and is responsible for the happenings in gaza.

when they want a cease fire, there will be one, when they don't,....rockets will continue to be fired, almost daily attacks on israel on the fences will continue....

hamas is the address of gaza

[azurnoir]

7. more about Khulood Badawi

Khulood Badawi was born in Nazareth, in the Galilee region of Israel, in 1976, and is a Palestinian citizen of Israel. As a young school student, she learned about the history of the Jewish people, Europe, and the Arab world, but nothing about Palestinian history. She noted that, "As a Palestinian, you're not mentioned anywhere—it is as if you do not exist."

Instead, she gained much of her political awareness growing up in Nazareth. The Democratic Front for Peace and Equality, a Jewish-Palestinian political party, had a strong presence there. Through their work, Badawi grew up with an awareness of her identity.

At the University of Haifa, she studied the history of the Jewish people and the Arabic language. In 1996, she began her activism as a student at the University of Haifa. Badawi was first active in the Arab Students’ Committee and later was a founding member and elected chair of the Association of the Arab University Students in Israel. Her campus work ranged from educating Arab and Jewish students alike about the Israeli occupation and Palestinian rights, as well as improving the status of the Palestinian Arab students of the Israeli University and defending their rights to freedom of speech and expression. Badawi was expelled from the university and banned from entering the campus for two years for organizing demonstrations that lasted about four months.

http://afsc.org/story/khulood-badawi


Khulood Badawi happens to work for the OCHA – the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs where, according to a UN Contact List, she works as an Information and Media Coordinator.

A Google search reveals that Badawi has a history of activism in a range of pro-Palestinian non-governmental organizations, some of them radical and politicized. While this background may not in itself disqualify her from a career with the UN, it is absolutely unacceptable that a UN employee working specifically on dissemination of information to the media and public tweets malicious and false information to libel Israel.

http://honestreporting.com/exposed-un-media-official-responsible-for-false-photo-tweet/

now we'll assume honestreporting is being 'honest' about the child dieing in 2006, just how did she die, none of articles mention that and wasn't there a major IDF operation in Gaza in 2006?

[shira]

10. Here's the evidence you asked for. Reuters apologized for wrongly reporting...

...the girl's death. These recent photos were definitely from 2006. The girl landed on her head when she was on a swing, BEFORE an Israeli attack in that area.

One lie on top of another in the propaganda war...

http://proisraelbaybloggers.blogspot.com/2012/03/eyad-kishawi-of-al-awda-lies-to.html

Ironic that "humanitarians" from organizations many trust are the ones who feel the need to make up human rights violations commited by the evil Zionist entity. A perfect example of the OP. When your cause is just, you shouldn't need fake photos or fabricated, slanderous charges of wrongdoing.

[azurnoir]

15. actually you provided zero evidence Reuters apologized in 2006 when it published the photo

after mistakenly publishing it, because the girl had been brought to Shifa hospital at the same time as victims of an IAF strike on August 10 2006

This is from a site called Israel Matzav who provides no actual link to Reuters that I could find

BTW do you also deny that children have been killed in IAF strikes during the current operation or is that why your cheerleading this?

[shira]

18. We'll start slow, with one question...

Do you agree there was some foul play going on due to the recent photo being from 2006?

[azurnoir]

19. you did not answer my question have children Palestinian children been killed in the current

operation?

now as to yours

was someone actually harmed because of tweet? no not metaphorically but actually physically harmed?

IMO 'foulplay' would indicate that

[shira]

21. Yes. The terrorists shouldn't gamble on rocketing Israel without a response.

No one was harmed, but the disinformation was coming from representatives of two "human rights" groups that I'm sure you trust WRT any allegations against Israel.

These are supposed to be reputable and genuine human rights groups. That's disgraceful, isn't it?

Yes or No?

I'm not surprised you can't admit you were wrong WRT those photos originating from 2006.

[azurnoir]

23. so the Palestinians should have expected for their children to be killed

I am trying to imagine the reaction to someone saying something like that about an Israeli Jewish child being killed,.

thank you though you just illustrated something I stated on another thread here

now I did not question the photo being from 2006, I questioned how the little girl died, because your links did not say in fact I had to find that on my own, and am wondering did you not know either or would posting a link also have revealed that Reuters apology concerning the photo was 6 years ago?

[shira]

25. It's tough answering those simple questions, isn't it?

You feel that would be admitting your cause is unjust, or that in doing so you would be betraying the cause, like Finkelstein a few weeks ago.

Right?

BTW, I'm still waiting for those answers.

=============================

Your questions I have no problem answering. Do you wonder why?

Palestinians must know by now that their Jihadi leadership will never, ever stop fighting Israel and the Jews. I mean, that's who they voted for in 2006. And in doing so, Palestinians are very much aware that they are just fodder, to be used as human shields for propaganda value, for example.

Here's the Reuters apology and admittance that the cause of death was wrong.

ATTENTION EDITORS - CAPTION CORRECTION FOR SJS01 - 05 WHICH WERE TRANSMITTED AT APPROXIMATELY 1725 GMT ON AUGUST 9, 2006. THE CAPTION INCORRECTLY STATES THE CAUSE OF DEATH. CORRECTED VERSIONS IMMEDIATELY FOLLOW THIS ADVISORY. WE ARE SORRY FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE CAUSED. REUTERS. A Palestinian man carries the body of three year-old Raja Abu Shaban, in Gaza August 9, 2006. The three-year-old girl who had been reported killed by an Israeli air strike in Gaza on Wednesday actually died of an accident, Palestinian medical workers said on Thursday. Workers at Gaza's Shifa hospital said on August 10, 2006 that the initial mistake over the cause of death appeared to have arisen because the girl's corpse was brought in at the same time as the bodies of the gunmen. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem (PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES)

[azurnoir]

27. so tweeting the photo of the wrong child makes the entire Palestinian cause unjust?

your a day late I already posted that Reuters apology came 6 years ago and it could appear you attempted to misrepresent when that apology actually was, but I;m sure that's not case

however you do admit that Palestinian children have been killed by IAF strikes in this current operation, right?

but the fact that the photo tweeted was the wrong child is a major lie makes the entire Palestinian cause unjust? a bit of an over reach IMO but much like the Duggar family publicly supporting Santorum not really a surprise

what is a surprise is that I have not seen the term "blood libel" used yet

[pelsar]

30. using false information i.e lying has no justification and leads to false conclusions....

for instance....a film maker brought up on just those lies, ended up with wrong impression of israel...

http://www.independent.ie/opinion/analysis/nicky-larkin-israel-is-a-refuge-but-a-refuge-under-siege-3046227.html

I used to hate Israel. I used to think the Left was always right. Not any more. Now I loathe Palestinian terrorists. Now I see why Israel has to be hard. Now I see the Left can be Right -- as in right-wing. So why did I change my mind so completely?

Strangely, it began with my anger at Israel's incursion into Gaza in December 2008 which left over 1,200 Palestinians dead, compared to only 13 Israelis. I was so angered by this massacre I posed in the striped scarf of the Palestinian Liberation Organisation for an art show catalogue.

Shortly after posing in that PLO scarf, I applied for funding from the Irish Arts Council to make a film in Israel and Palestine. I wanted to talk to these soldiers, to challenge their actions -- and challenge the Israeli citizens who supported...

he simply bought in to the lies...the small ones, the large ones and all of them. If there weren't any such lies, he would have a had a different impression of israel, as would have his friends and things would look different. one lie upon another upon another builds up....and works if your goal is specific.....

[azurnoir]

31. If that is indeed the case then the person who wrote that is IMO simply weak minded

however if that is the type of support you wish to garner then be my guest take all you want really

[shira]

32. He's not weak-minded. He's honest and admitted he was wrong, unlike...

...many in the pro-Palestinian movement who are incapable of admitting any wrongdoing by popular leaders of their movement, whether far Leftists or far Rightwing nutters. That you cannot even admit this was a malicious lie perpetrated by at least 2 representatives from "human rights groups" you trust goes to show that you have the problem, not the guy Pelsar quoted.

I'm certain you feel that if you agreed or admitted to deliberate wrongdoing by human rights representatives, you'd be betraying the cause. There must be total unity. Where'd I read, hear, or see that before? Far Left and Right anti-liberal regimes.

There's no question the pro-Palestinian movement is really nothing more than an anti-Israel movement designed to delegitimize Israel, among other nasty things.

[pelsar]

35. on the contrary....he had the guts to go face reality....

it takes a bit of guts to face real facts, reality and change your mind, your opinion.

most people prefer to stay with what is comfortable and keep their friends and community and not bother making any waves.

he admits, he'll be losing friends and become an outcast based on his not buying into the lies he's been fed, thats gutys....
____

do you believe its reasonable to tell lies, make up stuff in order to get support for "your side? (lets call it propaganda to the extreme and not just being slanted which is the norm)

[azurnoir]

37. of course you'd feel that way

but for my part I'll stick to what I already said and add , Mr Larkin grew up in Birr Ireland a town that seemed insulated from 'the troubles' and taking that into account it could perhaps explain his affinity, I also found his comments about his visit to Hebron interesting apparently he chose to only see one side of the conflict there poor put upon IDF and settlers, those nasty Arabs write bad things about them on walls , perhaps he also expected those he perceived as 'victims' to be pure of heart and hate free or perhaps he had a some predisposed prejudices too in any event he is little loss and he makes for good propaganda copy for you doesn't he?

[Robeysays]

9. Boycott, divest and sanction.

[shira]

11. How do you know Israel is evil, deserving of BDS? Is your belief based...

...on fake photos and anti-Israel reporting that supports Hamas' cause?

[King_David]

12. Warren Buffett Invested In ISCAR; ISCAR's Founder Is Investing In Peace

Much has changed for Stef Wertheimer since FORBES last talked with the Israeli industrialist in 1995. For one, he’s become a billionaire. In 2006 Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway paid $4 billion in cash for 80% of Wertheimer’s precision metalworking tool company, ISCAR. To date it remains one of Berkshire’s five largest non-insurance-company holdings, and while its vital statistics are jealously guarded by the investment firm, in his latest letter to shareholders Buffett described ISCAR as a company that “continues to amaze.” ISCAR emerged with record profits in 2011 despite taking a huge hit on Tungaloy, the Japanese toolmaker acquired in 2008 and crippled in last year’s tsunami.

ISCAR was Berkshire Hathaway’s first major overseas acquisition, and the deal vaulted Wertheimer (and his son Eitan, who has run day-to-day operations since 2004) into the ranks of the global business elite. What Buffett was also buying into was a highly successful and unsung peacemaking effort.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/calebmelby/2012/03/07/warren-buffett-invested-in-iscar-iscars-founder-is-investing-in-peace/

[King_David]

13. Apple buys out Israel company, will set up R&D Centre in Israel

Great news for Israel’s economy and hi-tech industry, bad news for the boycotters and divesters: the digital giant Apple has bought out Anobit, an Israeli flash storage maker, for half a billion dollars.


Apple has bought Israel’s Anobit, a maker of flash storage technology, for up to $500m (£319m), the Calcalist financial daily reported on Tuesday, following almost a week of speculation surrounding the companies.

The newspaper said Anobit’s management was in the process of gathering its staff to formally announce the acquisition by Apple. There was no announcement at the time of writing on either company’s website. The purchase is the first by Apple of an Israel-based company


http://anneinpt.wordpress.com/2011/12/21/apple-buys-out-israel-company-sets-up-rd-center-in-israel/

[holdencaufield]

14. Going out today and buy an iPod NT

[subsuelo]

36. The first sentence says it all

"The Israel Defense Forces blog has exposed the truth..."

Now I know the rest will be pure comedy, not to be taken seriously at all.

[azurnoir]

38. true or false Palestinian children were killed by IDF in the current or recent operation?

you have already admitted that it is true Palestinian children have been killed in thid recent action, making this a case of very sloppy 'journalism' well not even journalism exactly it was a tweet not a news article

IMO this is an attempt to demonize Khulood Badawi who is an Israeli Arab, a ProPalestinian activist, and a UN employee, along with a distraction from the what has really happened

but do take comfort in it

[King_David]

39. EXPOSED: UN Media Official Responsible for False Photo Tweet

exposed-un-media-official-responsible-for-false-photo-tweet

'Khulood Badawi happens to work for the OCHA – the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs where, according to a UN Contact List, she works as an Information and Media Coordinator.'

This is the neutral , non biased United Nations Organization...