Daily Show under fire for covering Israeli-Palestinian conflict

[meegbear]

Jon Stewart's comedy news show The Daily Show is reportedly under fire from pro-Israeli groups for giving airtime to two pro-Palestinian figures on Wednesday night.

Stewart hosted Palestinian democracy activist Mustafa Barghouti and human rights activist Anna Baltzer, author of A Witness in Palestine, who explained the Israeli-Palestinian conflict from the perspective of the Palestinian side.

According to a letter reportedly written by Baltzer and circulated by blogger Eric Johnson, the show "was overwhelmed with angry emails and phone calls prior to the appearance, and up until the last minute it seemed like they might cancel."

"During the taping the show had its only heckler in 11 years," Baltzer wrote. "The entire staff were very nervous and may come to regret the monumental decision (and not make it again) as they will surely be inundated now that the show has aired."

At one point during the interview, Barghouti asserted: "We are struggling for liberty, we are struggling for justice. It's Palestinians who have been subjected to the longest occupation in history and a system of segregation that is totally unjust."

At that point, a voice in the audience could be heard shouting: "Liar!"

"Apparently we have Joe Wilson with us tonight," Stewart quipped, referring the US House representative who yelled "You lie!" during President Obama's address to Congress last month.

http://rawstory.com/2009/10/daily-show-israelipalestinian-conflict/

[ixion]

1. Israeli extremists cannot stand it when Palestinians are given a voice, even if it's

on a comedy show.

It goes to show just how insane they really are.

[baldguy]

4. +1

[seabeyond]

5. no... it goes to show how both sides have HUGE issues to address

grievances to be worked out.

i never come on these threads and discuss. and shouldnt now. but it is exactly this attitude on both sides that continue the problem and work against what stewart adn the other two were trying to accomplish

[Ian David]

7. That's why they're called "extremists." No extremist wants their adversary given a voice. n/t

[fascisthunter]

11. yes indeed

[NJmaverick]

20. That's pretty much it

[snagglepuss]

45. +1

[Kickin_Donkey]

55. +1

[seabeyond]

2. stewart was also respectful to the heckler to, bring his liar into conversation

about how strong the emotions ect...

[Gregorian]

39. Yes. It was historic if you ask me. I've never been more impressed.

That mere act of inclusiveness was the exact aspect that is so missing from this society. I've not seen a better discussion on the subject.

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[malaise]

6. +1

We watched. Bravo Jon Stewart.

[Ian David]

8. Not ALL Pro-Israelis are extremists or whiny-ass nazis redux.

Some people are pro-Israeli AND Pro-Palestinian.

For example, the two people Jon Stewart had on his show.

Which apparently was wasted on you.

[indjouro]

14. Agreed, however

anytime anyone is suggested to be Pro-Palestinian, it is suggested that they support terror, not only by the general public, but by our government as well. There are some Israeli Pro-Peace and Pro-Palestinian activists in Israel, they become political prisoners. Until the Palestinian struggle is realized and the conflict in Israel and Palestine is reported with balance, these unfortunate small-minded stereotypes will continue to exist.

[ieoeja]

29. One of Stewart's guests was a Jewish Israeli peace activist.

Maybe she escaped that political prison?

:shrug:

[indjouro]

30. Ezra Nawi

is a perfect exactly of an Israeli peace activist being targeted. I doubt you know who he is, so google him.

[indjouro]

32. Anne Baltzer is actually a Jewish-American, FYI

[snagglepuss]

46. +1

[fascisthunter]

12. thank you for that

[iamjoy]

13. That's Uncalled For

I am pro-Israel in the sense that I think Israel has a right to exist. I don't agree with everything they are doing in the name of ensuring that existence.

I appreciate The Daily Show having those guests. Jon Stewart asked some pointed questions, but was very respectful. I feel if we are ever to have peace, we need more of that kind of thing.

Your Nazi reference is galling.

[indjouro]

18. It may make you uncomfortable but....

the Nazi reference cannot be ignored. Many times in the media, the Isreali government uses the horrible acts of the Holocaust as defense or reference, ignoring the fact that many of their 'defenses' for security equate ethnic cleansing itself. Until we no longer allow the Holocaust to be an excuse or a topic one is afraid to breach, one cannot hope for the situation to get better. As a journalist reporting on the area, any time I say anything against Israel's actions, I am called an anti-semite, compared to Hitler, and have the tragedy of the Holocaust retold to me. This does not work towards any kind of peace. Neither does creating a system under the guise of security, keeping food and water and medical supplies out and people in. Gaza and other areas have essentially become concrete concentration camps, with the Israeli military even deciding which food goods they are going to allow in and who they are going to allow out. This is not right and until more Pro-Israel individuals stand up and say as much, it will continue to happen.

[seabeyond]

19. it isnt a matter of being uncomfortable. it is a matter of being smart enough to know

with this talk, this comment, this attitude, nothing is resolved, hate is encourage and destruction continues.

how does that work with your plan

[indjouro]

22. Because hate is not one-sided

however the major media, which influences that herd, has presented the conflict with bias for many years. I have stayed in Palestinian villages, gone to military court, observed non-violent protest in which extreme measures are used against the Palestinians, and I have seen how much they suffer economically in the name of Israel security. The treatment that the average Palestinian receives in Israel IS comparable to the greatment that Jewish individuals faced during the Holocaust in regards to having basic human rights violated constantly. Until we recognize those violations and that the suffering is not only felt by one, bad actions are not only performed by one, there will be no peace. At least I am logical enough and traveled enough to know that in this conflict, neither side is innocent and much more happens there than what US media reports.

[seabeyond]

of course it is not one sided, which is exactly the point. you post is one sided though. nt

[indjouro]

28. I post from the point of view of the average person under occupation

as these are the people that I have lived with and shared life with. I also post it from a point of view as being one of the very few journalist that cover the Palestinian side of the conflict and the difficulties one face with the inaccuracy and bias show in the media. I also know that no side is perfect, however, to paint Israel as the victims and Palestinians as hamas is so intellectually dishonest, yet our country gets away with doing it every single day. I believe I also stated that no side is innocent, acknowledging that Palestinians have committed their fair share fo sins, as well. They, however, do not have the same PR machine as Israel does.

[seabeyond]

31. it isnt hard for me to understand both sides. to listen to both sides. to appreciate were both

sides are coming from. to admit the injustices of both sides. to recognize the pain of both sides.

i appreciate you as a journalist being a voice for palestine.

i also understand that hate and anger and seeing from one side wont resolve

that is all i am posting about.

no more.

[indjouro]

36. I call a spade a spade

and don't romantize news. If I come of as defensive, or defending the Palestinian side more than the other, it is not because of bias I feel or particular rage or sympathy I feel to one side or the other, but it is because in the US, let's face it, often one side is shown as the angel, the other side as the devil and it is not hard to figure out who fits into what role. I appreciate the fact taht you can see and admit the injustices done, unfortunately, in my experience in covering this region and this conflict, you are the exception and not the rule. In my own way, I am trying to add balance to the conflict which is often not so.

[seabeyond]

41. the point i am making is you are not calling a spade a spade. that is the problem.

understand. listen. there are people that can readily see both sides. the good the bad and the ugly. because we see resolving the problem in a different manner, approaching it differenting in order to resolve does not lead to the conclusion a person cannot see exactly what is happening on all sides

and knowing.... exciting anger and hate is not going ot produce a desired solution.... FOR ANYONE.

[indjouro]

43. I can only go on my

experiences of being in Israel and Palestin and the press coverage there along with the reaction of the people and my life as a US citizen and the press coverage here and reaction of the people. UK is much more open about reporting on these issues than the US. UK also supports the Palestinian movement much more than that US. There is a connection there, definitely.

[seabeyond]

44. but all of the problem of the confict is not solely the reporting.

and to make the whole issue as the fact that palestine does not get the jsut reporting, and once done would solve the problem is not going ot solve it.

it is a factor. we have to be honest about what isreal is doing and the injustice of what they are doing. we have to talk about it... out loud. but we cannot/willnot be able to if we merely point the finger at them and accuse. resolution just simply does not work that way

without addressing isreals part honesty, there will not be resolution. agreed. but calling names, inciting hate and anger is not the way to reach a goal.

that is ALL i am saying.

i value all you are doing. i value all the people that have brought the story. you say it is not heard. well, i have heard. so it is out there if a person choses. many dont. that is more hte problem than palestine not being heard.

anyway

thanks for what you do.

[tsuki]

34. Why are Palestinian Christians never referenced in the media? eoq

[indjouro]

37. Because it would take away

the media spin that Palestinians = Muslim and Muslim = terrorist. They are an exceptionally persecuted group, for not being Muslim by some Palestinians and for being Palestinian by some Israelis. I just did an interview that will be published in a few months on Sami Awad, director of Holy Land Trust and a Palestinian Christian. He is a brillant man and is working really hard to implement methods of non-violence in the communities.

[DaveinJapan]

40. Wrong. His post wasn't one sided in the least.

Try reading it again, and this time with an open mind.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

25. Irregardless of the truth of the original statement, you are 100% correct.

The only problem I have is that it's traditionally been perfectly okay to demonize one side, but not the other. We'll not see an end to the Nazi grenade tossing until some semblence of equity is found in how we discuss the issue.

[snagglepuss]

47. +1

[Ian David]

53. Isn't it awful how every time an Anti-Semite says something anti-Semitic, people call Anti-Semitism?

Keep fucking that chicken.

[indjouro]

54. And an anti-semite is what?

Someone who reports the facts as they are happening and takes a stand against human rights?

[indjouro]

9. About time

Quite franky, it is about time that a Palestinian perspective was heard on mainstream media without it being the stereotypical Hamas member telling the world how they want to destroy us. It is time for us to hold the media responsible in reporting accurately what is happening in the region, instead of allowing it to be hijacked by political interest.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

10. Jon has always been (gasp!) even-handed on the issue.

Pro-Palestinian ≠ Anti-Israel

[seabeyond]

15. yes, he has. nt

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

16. Forgot the obvious: Stewart is (gasp, again!) Jewish. nt

[seabeyond]

17. exactly. an excellent example on how to resolve. and he has a stake in it. nt

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

27. There are many American AND Israeli Jews that are even-handed on the issue.

It's a classic case of a government not really representing the views of the people. We should know this well from our 2001-2008 experience.

[TwilightGardener]

21. Good for TDS, that they did not back down from the intimidation.

[philly_bob]

23. REC as support for Stewart's courage and intelligence. n/t

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

24. Having seen the interview, I thought it was rather fair.

To me, it's comments like these that make me believe that the Pro-Israeli faction is really not pro-peace at all. It's pro-domination at all costs.

[snagglepuss]

50. Bingo! "Pro-Israeli fraction is pro-domination at all costs."

[Liberation Angel]

51. It is unwise/unfair to paint pro-Israelis with too broad a brush

both guests could be described as pro-Israel AND pro-Palestine.

Pro-Israelis come in many varieties.

One can support peace and security for both sides.

[rucky]

26. IBTM

[AwakeAtLast]

33. Um, did they forget that TDS is a COMEDY show?

I realize this segment was a little different, but are people really going to get up in arms about a segment produced by a COMEDY show?

I'm confused by this. :shrug:

[Johonny]

35. I think it's ok to use your talk show in interesting ways

What's the point of having a popular show if all you ever have on is the totally worthless Bill Kristol to make fun of?

Jon's interview style clearly leads him to looking like he might agree with his guests sometimes unpopular positions, but you're probably better off being unhappy with the guest than the host.

[rebel with a cause]

56. Yes, the little saying he had at the end of the show

about the unicorn kind of blew his part in the interview (negatively) to me. If I understood him correctly that is.

[Gregorian]

38. Yeah, how dare they mention that both sides are essentially similar.

After all, without acknowledging that we're all basically similar beings on a little planet in a vast space of emptiness, we couldn't all keep being angry at each other.

As far as I'm concerned that was the most coherent discussion I've ever heard on the subject. Not to mention that no one has ever handled a rude interruption like that one in a better, more inclusive and common sense way.

[Wilms]

42. Ya mean to tell me I can Recommend this post?

Cool.

[Barack_America]

48. Oh no! Will Jon still be allowed to be Jewish?

God forbid somebody be allowed to tell the other side of the family.

These tactics do little to endear Israel to the world.

[TomClash]

49. Israeli apologist hate dissenters . . .

. . . from the prevailing ideology of "Israel can do no wrong."

[treestar]

52. One way to know you're in the wrong

Is when you are afraid of the other side even having a say.

[varelse]

57. Nice to see this topic out of the dungeon

if only for a little while.