Posted on 11/30/2004 9:38:54 AM PST by Convert from ECUSA
Abbas Orders Halt to Anti-Israel Propaganda Tuesday, November 30, 2004
JERUSALEM — The interim Palestinian leader has ordered government-controlled media to halt broadcasts of material that could incite hatred against Israel, Palestinian officials said Tuesday.
The directive by Mahmoud Abbas (search) meets a key demand by Israel, which has long accused the Palestinian media of fomenting hatred, and adds to the tentative signs of goodwill that have emerged since the death of Yasser Arafat (search) on Nov. 11.
Radwan Abu Ayyash, head of Palestinian radio and television, said that at the request of Abbas, widely known as Abu Mazen, he has instructed all departments to make sure they don't broadcast inflammatory material.
"Abu Mazen asked us to be sure that the material we broadcast does not contain any material that could be considered incitement," he said.
Israel has long complained of incitement in the Palestinian media, citing fiery anti-Israel broadcasts by Muslim preachers and programs praising the killing of Jews. It blamed Arafat for the objectionable content.
A senior Israeli official cautiously welcomed the reported gesture but said the government was waiting to see changes in the Palestinian media.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
I'll believe it when I see it Ping!
Mike
The New York Times announced hurredly that they have suddenly stopped production of their middle eastern edition. No explanation was given. (/humor)
There is going to be a serious intellectual vacuum in the "news". What will they report if they can't spew hate at Israel.
The directive will be protested or ignored. Never going to happen.
When I can have a snowball fight where the man with the pitchfork and horns conducts his business, I'll believe it.
Tiny, tiny fraction of an inch movement in the right direction by the PLO.
"I Dream of Jihad"?
Or "Desperate Harems"?
Yep. We're talking about deeds. A gesture of good-will is nice but you need transparent and substantiative changes in the attitude of Palestinian society towards Jews and Israel. Arafart left behind a toxic legacy of hatred and terror that will not easily be undone. My reaction would be "Watch And Verify." The onus on reforming their culture is on the Palestinians.
Absolutely! Years ago I worked in the Department of State (I was in my twenties and just out of college), and I learned very quickly that there was a light year's gap between what Arabs broadcast in English (and French, German, etc.) and what they broadcast in Arabic. Even then, the English/Western Europe version was "we don't like the mean old Israelis, but if they give in on some things, we'll make nicey and have peace with them." The Arabic version was the usual "death to the Zionist entity, purify the land with blood" yada-yada-yada-yada. That was back in the Carter administration. I knew even then that the dichotomy between broadcasts had been going on for years.
It always amazed me to see all the sheep fall for the honeyed tones of the English/Western European language broadcasts and say "see, see, the Arabs want peace, the holdup is all the fault of the 'mean old Israelis." Feh! And some of these were State Department folks who could easily see the same translated Arabic language broadcasts. I also learned very fast that the State Department was not the place to be if a person was in any way supportive of Israel or pointed out that the Arab emperors were not wearing any clothes.
I fully expect the same as you, that the Arabic versions of these broadcasts will continue and be even more ridiculous. The Israelis, will of course, pick them up, and since so many Israelis know Arabic, that may put a stop to this "peace process" that so many are drooling over like it was the lost Dutchman's mine.
The fact that Al Aqsa Martyr's Brigade endorsed Abbas for President tells you all you need to know.
Yup, thats my bet too. I'll be keeping an eye on the translations (from Arabic) over at MEMRI and IMRA.
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