Posted on 06/25/2002 10:06:52 AM PDT by kattracks
June 25— JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel beamed a new Arabic-language satellite channel to the Arab world Tuesday, launching an uphill battle to win over regional public opinion inflamed against the Jewish state by a Palestinian uprising.
Israeli media experts and government officials believe Israel is lagging far behind in what they see as a "Cold War"-style propaganda war being waged on state-owned Arab satellite TV stations beaming throughout the Middle East.
The Israel Broadcasting Authority's new Middle East Channel is up against some 140 Arab satellite channels that Israel says promote a 21-month-old Palestinian uprising against Israeli occupation.
"The idea is ... to allow Arabs to know Israel so they won't only know the dominant voice of hate and propaganda against Israel so strong in Arab countries, especially in these difficult times," a spokeswoman for the state-run broadcasting authority said.
Earlier this year, Syria and Egypt launched Hebrew-language satellite news broadcasts. Iran, a non-Arab adversary of Israel, has started an Internet radio program in Hebrew.
"Our programs explain the government position. In the news, we try to be objective...and the explanation we reserve for discussion shows," Sameeh Saleh, the IBA's Arabic service news editor, said.
The service will broadcast daily from 4 p.m. to midnight. After-hours, it will carry Israel Radio's Arabic service and some English-language programming.
Saudi television correspondent Abed Samara, based in the West Bank city of Ramallah, told Reuters the channel could win a good audience and show "Israel's vital political life" to its Arab audience.
But Israeli Arab left-wingers said Israel could not produce fair Arabic programming.
"The whole style is anti-Palestinian ... It is real propaganda representing the position of the IDF (Israeli army) and the prime minister's office," legislator Ahmed Tibi said.
Copyright 2002 Reuters News Service. All rights reserved.
Poor mooselimbs. Now not only will “The air sink of Jews”, now the air waves will too.
Gotta agree with you P.B.S., I can’t see the arab on the street scurrying home after evening prayers to catch the latest on the Middle East Channel.
Owl_Eagle
”Guns Before Butter.”
They do? How do you know this?
With all due respect, I've got to say you're a "glass is half full kind of guy" on this one. You don't go from partying in the street over 9/11 and suicide bombings to switching on your TV looking for a channel exhibiting fair and balanced coverage.
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