Banal messages in bad English by Sharon Sadeh

[ForestsBeatBushes]

LONDON - Israel's appearance at the top of the list of countries believed by Europeans to threaten world peace prompted predictable responses. "It's anti-Semitism," Prime Minister Ariel Sharon decided. "Europeans seem blind to Israeli victims and suffering ... We are not only sad but outraged, not at European citizens but at those who are responsible for forming public opinion," said a Foreign Ministry statement. But is that so?

<snip>

The Palestinian Authority maintains a mechanism with skilled spokesmen, who put out a uniform, clear message - and at the speed of light. Whether accurate or not, the Western media, especially the wire services, consume it. The Palestinians, who specialize in nurturing their image as the underdog, speak directly to European hearts and recruit leftist and human rights organizations in Israel and among the Jewish communities of the Diaspora to grant legitimacy to their claims. And Israel? It uses "explainers," some with barely comprehensible English, who offer banal messages that are often contradictory.

<snip>

Not every media outlet behaves this way, but all it takes is for decision-makers to be informed by media that tell half-truths or issue indictments against Israel, for those in power to form a negative impression. Thus, in an interview with Haaretz two weeks ago, Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt referred to the separation fence as a "wall," as the Palestinians refer to it. When it was pointed out that only 5 percent of the fence is indeed a concrete wall, he said, "I know, I know, but this is what the national media is making of it - that's always like that, the simplification of the situation."

<snip>

Instead of insulting the Europeans, Israel should thank the European Commission for once again exposing its utter failure to invest in improving its image. Israel should drop its centralized, patronizing approach and allow Jewish communities in Europe to participate in shaping public opinion, like in Britain. The Jewish community has allocated some $2 million to fund a professional organization, BICOM, the British Israel Communications and Research Centre, which in less than two years has become a vital source of information for the entire media when it comes to dealing with Israel and anti-Semitism. It's a model that should be considered in other countries, starting with France and Spain.


http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/357220.html

[bluesoul]

1. Well

Again Haaretz nails it, even though I may not agree with everything said in the article :yourock:

[newyorican]

2. *gasp*

Is that self-examination I sense?

[tinnypriv]

3. That's right, try and shape the image, not change the policies

:shrug:

Clever.

[ForestsBeatBushes]

4. And, once again:

"...The Palestinian Authority maintains a mechanism with skilled spokesmen, who put out a uniform, clear message - and at the speed of light. Whether accurate or not, the Western media, especially the wire services, consume it. The Palestinians, who specialize in nurturing their image as the underdog, speak directly to European hearts and recruit leftist and human rights organizations in Israel and among the Jewish communities of the Diaspora to grant legitimacy to their claims. And Israel? It uses "explainers," some with barely comprehensible English, who offer banal messages that are often contradictory..."

[bemildred]

5. Quote:

"The Palestinians, who specialize in nurturing their image as the underdog"

I just love stuff like this.

a) Hey, they ARE the underdog.

b) Pot, meet kettle. Kettle, meet pot. Everybody in this conflict
- especially "little Israel" - works really, really hard at being the
underdog.

c) There is no PR-based solution to the conflict.

[ForestsBeatBushes]

6. Look, whether you 'just love stuff like this' or not,

the Palestinians do indeed use every available media tool to project the innacuracy that they are the underdogs.

The only way they should be considered as such is due to the fact that their fellow Arabs have allowed them to languish for propaganda purposes while Israel has done just the opposite for their people.

[bemildred]

7. So you don't think that the appearance that they have been

getting their butts kicked for fifty years is reflective
of reality?

[The Magistrate]

8. It Is Hardly Innaccurate, Mr. Bushes

To state that the people of Arab Palestine have less power and poorer prospects in this conflict than does the state of Israel.

[ForestsBeatBushes]

9. Let's agree to disagree, then:

The only way they should be considered as having less power and poorer prospects in this conflict than does the state of Israel is due to the fact that their fellow Arabs have allowed them to languish for propaganda purposes while Israel has done just the opposite for their people.

[bemildred]

10. What about all those wars where Israel kicked the Arabs butts?

Was that "allowing them to languish for propaganda purposes"?
Or was it the Arabs getting their butts kicked?

[ForestsBeatBushes]

12. Or was it the Arabs starting the wars?

[bemildred]

13. Indeed it was.

That was my point.

[ForestsBeatBushes]

15. I must be misunderstanding you.

You just agreed the Arabs started the wars, correct?

What did you expect Israel to do? Not fight back?

I must have misunderstood you...

[The Magistrate]

18. Mr. Mildred, Sir

Is merely commenting on the form at the track: Israel at six for one is a rather solid investment....

[bemildred]

19. Apparently.

You said the other Arabs have done nothing for the Palestinians.
I replied that they have fought several aggressive wars with
Israel over the issue, which is not nothing, and they have lost
for the most part. This is somewhat a paraphrase.

If one sticks to one point at a time instead of jumping around
from grievance to grievance it is easier to follow.

[ForestsBeatBushes]

21. That IS sticking to one grievance.

Is it Israel's fault they keep winning?

[bemildred]

24. I am not implying any fault to Israel.

I am saying Israel is not the underdog,
and that the other Arabs have done "something" in an attempt
to defend the Palestinians, which was in response to the
assertion that they have "allowed them to languish".

[The Magistrate]

11. But Those Things Have Occured, Sir

And so the situation is as we find it today. Nor is it likely to much alter in future.

[ForestsBeatBushes]

14. Then, why do you place the blame squarely on Israel when

there are so many Arab states who could have helped the people so much?

[bemildred]

16. He placed no blame anywhere.

[The Magistrate]

17. What Blame, Sir?

The statement the state of Israel possesses greater power and prospects than the people of Arab Palestine is about as neutral an observation as is possible.

[ForestsBeatBushes]

20. This is to #'s 16 and 17:

You are correct. I'm afraid I have allowed myself to blend the "P" side posters in I/P together because, frankly, I do feel besieged
here.

Will you both please be so gracious as to accept my sincere apology?

[bemildred]

22. Done. nt

[The Magistrate]

23. If You Are Blending Me Into 'Team Palestine', Sir

A great number of people will be plucking their jaws up off their key-boards just about now....

No apology is necessary.

[bluesoul]

25. Haha

Good one. The Magistrate is as much "Team Palestine" as i am "Team Israel". ;-)