Contrary to what US President George Bush and various media sources have said about Palestinian President Yasser Arafat needing to condemn suicide bombings “in Arabic”, below are translations of three recent statements made by Arafat or representatives of the Palestinian Authority and broadcast in Arabic over the Voice of Palestine radio station, Palestine TV, or WAFA. Read more about Mistaken assertions that Arafat has not condemned terror "in Arabic"
On 29 March 2002, Israel began what it called “Operation Defensive Shield”, an unprecedented invasion of Palestinian towns to “defeat the infrastructure of Palestinian terror in all its parts and components” according to the Israeli Cabinet Communique that announced the massive military operation. Read more about Israeli distortions during the siege on the Church of the Nativity
Only those who want the conflict to continue will maintain the lie about Palestinian textbooks and find in them non-existent excuses to continue the oppression and dehumanisation of the Palestinian people while what little is left of their country is stolen from under their feet. Read more about A textbook case of Israeli propaganda
The UN report provides no new information to those who are seriously interested in the truth of what happened in Jenin last April. To the Israelis it provides another propaganda coup and plenty of misleading headlines clearing it of any fault, to Kofi Annan and the UN it provides a welcome end to an embarrassing and politically awkward chapter, and to Palestinians it proves yet again that for Israel impunity, not law, is the rule. Read more about Media Distortions and the UN Report on Jenin
The Electronic Intifada’s Ali Abunimah is currently in Amman, Jordan and tuning into the latest US government propaganda effort, Radio Sawa. One would have hoped that one of the seeds of hope planted in the rubble of the World Trade Center would have been a reevaluation of America’s activities in the Middle East. Apparently, Britney Spears and censored news were a better idea. Oh dear. Turn up that taxi radio, ya habibi. Read more about Radio Sawa: All dressed up with nowhere to go
Dutch correspondents in Israel are not interested in Palestinian victims of Israeli violence. Their emotional bond with the country prevents objective coverage. That is wrong. Read more about Our correspondents are hiding the truth
The IDF spokesman’s credibility hit an all-time low after the house demolitions in Rafah. This time, the incredulity extended well beyond the usual circle of skeptics comprised of Palestinians, foreign journalists, human rights organizations and inveterate leftists. Read more about Half-truths and double-talk
Has network news, as many partisans charge, been taking sides in the Middle East? One thing is clear amid the carnage: Everyone involved is getting terrible press. Read more about Negatives Add Up in Mideast Coverage
The US papers continue to cover the crisis in the Middle East in great detail, with most featuring the latest developments on their front page. However, the overall tone appears to be fairly balanced with most papers going out of their way to give a detached view. Read more about What the US papers say
