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| Want to know why Israelis are indifferent about Gaza? Just watch Israeli TV | Want to know why Israelis are indifferent about Gaza? Just watch Israeli TV |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Some might be partisan, others under external pressure – but too many journalists in Israel have failed to tell the truth about Gaza | Some might be partisan, others under external pressure – but too many journalists in Israel have failed to tell the truth about Gaza |
| Roy Schwartz is a senior editor and op-ed contributor at Haaretz | Roy Schwartz is a senior editor and op-ed contributor at Haaretz |
| Occasionally, the most important news comes from the headline that never appeared. That was the case last Friday on Israel’s Channel 13 evening news. Just a few hours earlier, a UN-backed expert body on food security released a report confirming that famine, its most severe category, has been reached in Gaza City. And yet this was not even mentioned. | Occasionally, the most important news comes from the headline that never appeared. That was the case last Friday on Israel’s Channel 13 evening news. Just a few hours earlier, a UN-backed expert body on food security released a report confirming that famine, its most severe category, has been reached in Gaza City. And yet this was not even mentioned. |
| While other news programmes did mention the report, it was clear they had taken its conclusions with a pinch of salt, to say the least. Aside from a few commentators who stated that there is indeed real hunger in Gaza City, the general tone was one of disbelief, seasoned with sarcasm. | While other news programmes did mention the report, it was clear they had taken its conclusions with a pinch of salt, to say the least. Aside from a few commentators who stated that there is indeed real hunger in Gaza City, the general tone was one of disbelief, seasoned with sarcasm. |
| When referring to the findings of the the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), the Channel 12 evening news presenter described them as “controversial”, despite the fact that the IPC is a globally recognised organisation that has been classifying the severity of food insecurity and malnutrition for two decades. | When referring to the findings of the the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), the Channel 12 evening news presenter described them as “controversial”, despite the fact that the IPC is a globally recognised organisation that has been classifying the severity of food insecurity and malnutrition for two decades. |
| Another example appeared in the coverage of the public broadcaster, Kan. There, it was claimed that the report relied on information from sources identified with Hamas and failed to consider the “real numbers” – those provided by the Israeli army. The story went a step further, claiming: “The UN prefers to echo the false hunger campaign initiated by Hamas and ignore those who are actually starving – the Israeli hostages in Gaza.” One might wonder why it is impossible for the hostages to be malnourished and for everyone around them to starve as well. | Another example appeared in the coverage of the public broadcaster, Kan. There, it was claimed that the report relied on information from sources identified with Hamas and failed to consider the “real numbers” – those provided by the Israeli army. The story went a step further, claiming: “The UN prefers to echo the false hunger campaign initiated by Hamas and ignore those who are actually starving – the Israeli hostages in Gaza.” One might wonder why it is impossible for the hostages to be malnourished and for everyone around them to starve as well. |
| Even though a few dissenting voices were, and are, being heard on the various broadcasts, it is my impression that during this war the commentary has been strikingly one-note – especially in relation to the army and its actions. At least part of this may be due to the fact that many journalists – in line with the rest of Israeli society – have completed a mandatory service in the Israel Defense Forces. It is almost as if the broadcasters see themselves as another brigade on the frontline. | Even though a few dissenting voices were, and are, being heard on the various broadcasts, it is my impression that during this war the commentary has been strikingly one-note – especially in relation to the army and its actions. At least part of this may be due to the fact that many journalists – in line with the rest of Israeli society – have completed a mandatory service in the Israel Defense Forces. It is almost as if the broadcasters see themselves as another brigade on the frontline. |
| The evening news is still prominent and influential in Israel, with each channel drawing on a gallery of panellists. These usually include at least one retired general, along with commentators, analysts and wannabe analysts (most of them men). They will discuss a broad range of issues, except one: the civilian population in Gaza. | The evening news is still prominent and influential in Israel, with each channel drawing on a gallery of panellists. These usually include at least one retired general, along with commentators, analysts and wannabe analysts (most of them men). They will discuss a broad range of issues, except one: the civilian population in Gaza. |
| This norm seems to reflect more than just the panellists’ personal opinions. Only last month, a revealing conversation within Channel 12’s internal news WhatsApp group was leaked. A few journalists criticised the lack of reporting on the humanitarian catastrophe, only to be dismissed by the news corporation’s CEO, who suggested they should just watch the news instead of proposing what should be on it. | This norm seems to reflect more than just the panellists’ personal opinions. Only last month, a revealing conversation within Channel 12’s internal news WhatsApp group was leaked. A few journalists criticised the lack of reporting on the humanitarian catastrophe, only to be dismissed by the news corporation’s CEO, who suggested they should just watch the news instead of proposing what should be on it. |
| This seems to have become an unofficial guideline for Israeli journalists across the board. “They’re careful on the news not to touch hot potatoes, and if they do, it’s in a way that’s pandering and frightened,” said a journalist working at Kan, in a conversation with Haaretz last December. “It pains me to see how hard the place I work at tries to go in a rightwing direction, while it’s being accused by the government of being leftist.” | This seems to have become an unofficial guideline for Israeli journalists across the board. “They’re careful on the news not to touch hot potatoes, and if they do, it’s in a way that’s pandering and frightened,” said a journalist working at Kan, in a conversation with Haaretz last December. “It pains me to see how hard the place I work at tries to go in a rightwing direction, while it’s being accused by the government of being leftist.” |
| That accusation is another part of the story. The Israeli media is under constant scrutiny – even threat – from Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, which calls dissenting media outlets “the poison channels” and has sanctioned or refused to speak to those seeking to report independently. And in such an environment, it comes as no surprise that few are eager to present a truth that’s uncomfortable not only to the government, but also to viewers. | That accusation is another part of the story. The Israeli media is under constant scrutiny – even threat – from Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, which calls dissenting media outlets “the poison channels” and has sanctioned or refused to speak to those seeking to report independently. And in such an environment, it comes as no surprise that few are eager to present a truth that’s uncomfortable not only to the government, but also to viewers. |
| After all, according to a survey published last June, 64% of Israelis believe the local media’s reporting on Gaza has been balanced, and there’s no need to present a broader picture. Among respondents who voted for parties in the current governing coalition, 89% supported that view. | After all, according to a survey published last June, 64% of Israelis believe the local media’s reporting on Gaza has been balanced, and there’s no need to present a broader picture. Among respondents who voted for parties in the current governing coalition, 89% supported that view. |
| Beyond being part of the joint effort in the war, Israeli journalists face other pressures. The first is fear. Journalists in Israel worry that if they express the “wrong opinion” or seem too controversial, they’ll get the boot – at least from prime-time shows. There have been several cases in which journalists were asked to clarify or apologise for speaking their minds. One notable example occurred when Channel 12’s foreign news editor called for an end to the fighting in Gaza on the war’s 100th day. He claimed that, after his statement, he wasn’t invited back to the Friday news broadcast for an entire year. | Beyond being part of the joint effort in the war, Israeli journalists face other pressures. The first is fear. Journalists in Israel worry that if they express the “wrong opinion” or seem too controversial, they’ll get the boot – at least from prime-time shows. There have been several cases in which journalists were asked to clarify or apologise for speaking their minds. One notable example occurred when Channel 12’s foreign news editor called for an end to the fighting in Gaza on the war’s 100th day. He claimed that, after his statement, he wasn’t invited back to the Friday news broadcast for an entire year. |
| Even though recent weeks have seen cracks appearing in Israel’s wall of denial, references to the suffering of unarmed Palestinians are still relatively rare on Israeli TV. When someone dares to bring it up, there are consequences. On one evening show on Channel 13 last month, a guest panellist, the journalist Emmanuelle Elbaz-Phelps, tried to draw attention to the scenes in Gaza. However, the host quickly cut her off and demanded she not bring it up. “Why should we care?” he said. That host was Eyal Berkovic, a former footballer for clubs such as West Ham, Manchester City and Celtic. In recent years, he has become a prominent voice on Israeli TV – known for not taking any bullshit. Unless it’s his own. | Even though recent weeks have seen cracks appearing in Israel’s wall of denial, references to the suffering of unarmed Palestinians are still relatively rare on Israeli TV. When someone dares to bring it up, there are consequences. On one evening show on Channel 13 last month, a guest panellist, the journalist Emmanuelle Elbaz-Phelps, tried to draw attention to the scenes in Gaza. However, the host quickly cut her off and demanded she not bring it up. “Why should we care?” he said. That host was Eyal Berkovic, a former footballer for clubs such as West Ham, Manchester City and Celtic. In recent years, he has become a prominent voice on Israeli TV – known for not taking any bullshit. Unless it’s his own. |
| On paper, one might have some sympathy with Israeli journalists, under pressure from the public, the government and possibly their bosses. But this cannot excuse the fact that through their coverage, the Israeli press has contributed to the wilful ignorance surrounding the calamity in Gaza and the unflattering facts that challenge the Israeli narrative. | On paper, one might have some sympathy with Israeli journalists, under pressure from the public, the government and possibly their bosses. But this cannot excuse the fact that through their coverage, the Israeli press has contributed to the wilful ignorance surrounding the calamity in Gaza and the unflattering facts that challenge the Israeli narrative. |
| In other words: if anyone wants to understand why many Israelis seem indifferent to Palestinians, they need only turn on the TV. | |
| Roy Schwartz is a senior editor and op-ed contributor at Haaretz | Roy Schwartz is a senior editor and op-ed contributor at Haaretz |
| Roy Schwartz is a senior editor and op-ed contributor at Haaretz | Roy Schwartz is a senior editor and op-ed contributor at Haaretz |
| Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here. | Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here. |
| Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here. | Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here. |
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