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Israel/Palestine
Showing Original Post only (View all)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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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
The point is that it impacts all Palestinians, including Christians, who are leaving Palestine
leveymg
Apr 2012
#10
I think you're putting words in his/her mouth, and twisting them beyond recognition
leveymg
Apr 2012
#24
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
You're Lebanese. Tell us what has led to the mass exodus of Christians from Lebanon...
shira
Apr 2012
#40
Excellent response! I believe what is truly sinister about this 60 minutes hatchet job...
shira
Apr 2012
#6
oh so it seems you were red flagging bias based on the writer having an Arab name? n/t
azurnoir
Apr 2012
#21
was wondering the same thing what if someone brought up a Jewish writer simply on that basis however
azurnoir
Apr 2012
#35
Netanyahu was briefed on efforts to stop '60 Minutes' report on Israel's Christians
Scurrilous
Apr 2012
#25
Yea, if lobby influence and the Israeli government influence are not 100% successful
Jefferson23
Apr 2012
#31
This isn't damage control for Israel. It's being proactive vs. the delegitimization campaign. n/t
shira
Apr 2012
#37
Christian/Muslim relations in the territories are excellent? Who is the author kidding?
shira
Apr 2012
#48
You'd think there might have been at least one Arab Christian source in amongst all that (nt)
shaayecanaan
Apr 2012
#57
I was just wondering if there was a specific news source or blog you had in mind
oberliner
Apr 2012
#63