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Israel/Palestine

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Scurrilous

(38,687 posts)
Mon Apr 23, 2012, 03:55 AM Apr 2012

When Michael Oren irked Bob Simon [View all]

Was it justified for Israel's Ambassador to the U.S. to contact top CBS officials in a quest to influence a '60 Minutes' report on Israel's Christian community?

<snip>

"Israeli Knesset members and diplomats have a long-term grudge against the CBS flagship program, "60 Minutes", over several critical reports that deal with the issues of Jewish settlements, the City of David and the Stuxnet computer worm. But Suday's segment of the program, dedicated to the exodus of the Palestinian Christians from cities like Bethlehem and Jerusalem, seemed to bring about record tensions.

In that episode, Veteran reporter Bob Simon scolded Israel's Ambassador to the United States Michael Oren for his attempt to influence the segment by calling top CBS officials, saying that had never happened to him before a segment was actually broadcasted. "There is always a first time," Oren replied calmly, but throughout the interview he looked visibly annoyed. "I do it as representative of the state of Israel. I do it infrequently," he explained.

Reactions to the segment over the blogosphere varied widely - from praises to Simon that "exposed the way the Israeli government tries to silence everybody" - to complaints about the "biased story." That was basically the Ambassador's claim - that Israel is not to blame for this exodus and that the persecution of Christians in other Middle Eastern countries should be more concerning.

At the Israeli Embassy, the final report was seen as sort of diplomatic victory, and the ambassador's attempt to intervene was presented as a fine example of a pro-active approach to Israeli diplomacy. "The relationship between Israel and the Christian world is our strategic interest and when we received information about this report several months ago and plans for broadcasting without any reaction by Israeli officials, Ambassador Oren did what a diplomat is supposed to do to prevent serious damage to the country he represents," a senior Israeli diplomat told Haaretz."

http://www.haaretz.com/blogs/focus-u-s-a/when-michael-oren-irked-bob-simon-1.425972


’60 Minutes’ profiles Palestinian Christians, Michael Oren falls on his face



<snip>

"The above story ran on 60 Minutes tonight. It's a powerful piece showing life under occupation, and a damning portrait of Michael Oren as the chief spokesperson for Israel's unjust control over the West Bank. On the onerous permit regime that limits freedom of movement and defines Palestinian existence in the occupied territories Oren says, "It's their inconvenience, it's our survival." Oren tries to blame the dwindling Christian community in the West Bank on Islamic extremism, and Palestinian Christians interviewed nearly break out laughing. Not surprisingly, Oren calls Israel's Christian critics anti-Semites.

But perhaps the most revealing part of the show was Bob Simon sharing that Oren had complained to CBS News head Jeff Fager before the segment had even been aired, calling it "a hatchet job."

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When Michael Oren irked Bob Simon [View all] Scurrilous Apr 2012 OP
The 60 minutes piece was a hatchet job. Oren is right... shira Apr 2012 #1
The interior quote in the OP is from Mondoweiss, not Ha'aretz oberliner Apr 2012 #2
What upsets Oren is that the report doesn't mischaracterize all Palestinians as Islamic extremists leveymg Apr 2012 #3
What upsets Oren & others is there's no evidence Israeli policy has an adverse affect on Xtians. shira Apr 2012 #5
If you watched it, the adverse effects on Israeli/Pal Xtians are clear leveymg Apr 2012 #7
How does the wall, occupation, checkpoints single out christians and not muslims? shira Apr 2012 #8
The point is that it impacts all Palestinians, including Christians, who are leaving Palestine leveymg Apr 2012 #10
Rrrright. It has nothing to do with Hamas/Fatah and Islamist extremism, does it? shira Apr 2012 #13
So then - BudT Apr 2012 #14
The Christians leave in larger numbers because they can... shaayecanaan Apr 2012 #19
In other words, you realize the 60 minutes piece was misleading BS... shira Apr 2012 #23
I think you're putting words in his/her mouth, and twisting them beyond recognition leveymg Apr 2012 #24
You're trying to cover for Simon's misleading report... shira Apr 2012 #26
I beg to differ BudT Apr 2012 #27
I don't see the same message in Simon's report that Xtians are being intentionally persecuted. leveymg Apr 2012 #34
Oh please. The report was about Israeli policy leading to a dwindling Christian population... shira Apr 2012 #38
I think we've done our best to make it clear for you... shaayecanaan Apr 2012 #39
You're Lebanese. Tell us what has led to the mass exodus of Christians from Lebanon... shira Apr 2012 #40
And I appreciate your efforts at making it clear for me. BudT Apr 2012 #43
For someone who claims to be unacquainted with the issues at hand... shaayecanaan Apr 2012 #52
I did not claim "to be unacquainted with the issues at hand". BudT Apr 2012 #54
Another factor driving the situation BudT Apr 2012 #44
A few more things for you to consider... shaayecanaan Apr 2012 #53
Thanks. Keep filling me in. BudT Apr 2012 #55
Not many plot points on that graph there... shaayecanaan Apr 2012 #56
I noticed that too. BudT Apr 2012 #60
Well, it cuts both ways, Bud... shaayecanaan Apr 2012 #61
Like most real issues it cuts many ways. BudT Apr 2012 #64
That doesn't make sense, Bud... shaayecanaan Apr 2012 #65
Doesn't make sense? BudT Apr 2012 #72
And does anyone in their right mind jimmie Apr 2012 #16
"the Palestinian Arabs"? shaayecanaan Apr 2012 #20
Of course that wasn't mentioned by Bob Simon either. Just a hatchet job. n/t shira Apr 2012 #28
I watched it carefully. BudT Apr 2012 #4
Excellent response! I believe what is truly sinister about this 60 minutes hatchet job... shira Apr 2012 #6
Interesting... Scurrilous Apr 2012 #9
What is interesting about that? oberliner Apr 2012 #68
An occasional Palestinian Christian encounter of Israeli intolerance azurnoir Apr 2012 #11
This is an Op Ed piece by Baha Hilo oberliner Apr 2012 #12
well what of it? what damning evidence do you have against this person? n/t azurnoir Apr 2012 #15
Evidence of what? oberliner Apr 2012 #18
oh so it seems you were red flagging bias based on the writer having an Arab name? n/t azurnoir Apr 2012 #21
Bizarre that it would seem that way to you oberliner Apr 2012 #22
was wondering the same thing what if someone brought up a Jewish writer simply on that basis however azurnoir Apr 2012 #35
I just think it's good to know who is saying what oberliner Apr 2012 #41
I was surprised 60 Minutes ran this story..good for them. n/t Jefferson23 Apr 2012 #17
Netanyahu was briefed on efforts to stop '60 Minutes' report on Israel's Christians Scurrilous Apr 2012 #25
Good to see Israel is pro-actively addressing the Delegitimization campaign. n/t shira Apr 2012 #29
Guess this buries the myth of Israeli influence over the US oberliner Apr 2012 #30
Yea, if lobby influence and the Israeli government influence are not 100% successful Jefferson23 Apr 2012 #31
Zero Percent actually oberliner Apr 2012 #32
There is no influence, ok. Enjoy your fantasy. n/t Jefferson23 Apr 2012 #33
And you are free to enjoy yours oberliner Apr 2012 #42
One day you'll be able to demonstrate that, perhaps. n/t Jefferson23 Apr 2012 #47
Israeli PR machine in frenzy over CBS report on Christians Scurrilous Apr 2012 #36
This isn't damage control for Israel. It's being proactive vs. the delegitimization campaign. n/t shira Apr 2012 #37
PALESTINIAN CHRISTLANS: CHALLENGES AND HOPES azurnoir Apr 2012 #45
Good article BudT Apr 2012 #46
Christian/Muslim relations in the territories are excellent? Who is the author kidding? shira Apr 2012 #48
Thank you for that incredible list azurnoir Apr 2012 #49
In other words, you have nothing other than shooting the messenger.... shira Apr 2012 #50
well it quite a crop you;ve harvested from there azurnoir Apr 2012 #51
What about The Guardian? oberliner Apr 2012 #58
I'm betting the Guardian would erase all traces of the article... shira Apr 2012 #71
You'd think there might have been at least one Arab Christian source in amongst all that (nt) shaayecanaan Apr 2012 #57
What are some good Arab Christian sources? oberliner Apr 2012 #59
You're talking to one... shaayecanaan Apr 2012 #62
I was just wondering if there was a specific news source or blog you had in mind oberliner Apr 2012 #63
Have a read of this if you like shaayecanaan Apr 2012 #66
I taught Arab Christians for a year in Jerusalem oberliner Apr 2012 #67
I'm not sure why you need me to refer you to Arab blogs then shaayecanaan Apr 2012 #69
Not everyone has that luxury oberliner Apr 2012 #70
Where are all the reports out of Palestine about persecution of gays, women.... shira Apr 2012 #74
Of course no one supports this jimmie Apr 2012 #76
Yeah, nice "Leftist/Progressive" movement doing rightwing humanitarianism. shira Apr 2012 #77
PA Declares Church in Bethlehem to be Unlawful Mosby Apr 2012 #73
Remember the disgusting Church of the Nativity siege by Palestinian gunmen... shira Apr 2012 #75
Bob Simon himself invited Oren to react to the program BEFORE it broadcast henank Apr 2012 #78
As long as his lies affect only Israel negatively, that's okay... shira Apr 2012 #79
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