Reporters Back Down From Jenin "Massacre" Reports

Israel National News ^ | 4/18/02 | Israel National News

[tomahawk]

Reporters Back Down From Jenin "Massacre" Reports

In Jenin, the army has withdrawn its forces from the terrorist stronghold neighborhood in which the fierce battles of the previous two weeks took place. The soldiers continue to surround the area.

After almost two weeks of "Jenin Massacre!" headlines, the world press has been forced to face the truth: There was none. Journalist David Bedein of Israel Resource News Agency reports that since Sunday, when the IDF began allowing reporters into Jenin, the real story has turned out to be somewhat less dramatic than that which some of them had been reporting.

Washington Post correspondent Molly Moore wrote, "Interviews with residents inside the camp and international aid workers who were allowed here for the first time today indicated that no evidence has yet surfaced to support allegations by Palestinian groups and aid organizations of large-scale massacres or executions by Israeli troops."

This contrasted strongly, for instance, with the way James Bennet opened his report from Jenin for The New York Times last Friday: "Palestinians here describe bodies cut in pieces, bodies scooped up by bulldozers and buried in mass graves, bodies deliberately concealed under collapsed buildings. They describe people drinking out of sewers and people used by Israeli soldiers as human shields." Bedein notes that Bennet's report "did very little to challenge the tendentiousness and questionable nature of such 'eyewitness' testimony."

Col. Gal Hirsh, Head of Operations in the IDF Central Command, explained that Jenin remained a closed military zone even after the fighting was over because, "We are trying to find all these bodies and trying to remove the booby traps from them... It is very complicated, very dangerous... We are trying to take all the explosives, all the hand grenades, all the booby traps from the bodies and the houses..." Several bodies were in fact found to have been booby-trapped.

The PLO's WAFA press service, however, took advantage of Israel's refusal to allow the media into Jenin, making unfounded claims of "500 dead Palestinians piled up in the streets." Bedein notes that organizations such as Physicians for Human Rights and Amnesty International uncritically believed these allegations, and were followed dutifully by international media outlets, many of which "devoted huge amounts of ink to such unverified tales of conspiracies, rapes, executions, and war crimes... The credibility of Palestinian 'eyewitness testimony' was barely questioned, despite the PLO track record of fabricating false claims. Who will ever forget the fallacious reports from the Red Crescent in Lebanon back in June 1982 that the IDF had killed 10,000 people and made 600,000 homeless?"

Bedein writes that tens of "European media outlets and Arab foreign ministries described the fighting in Jenin in terms of 'genocide,' 'unprecedented humanitarian disaster,' 'Sabra and Shatilla #2,' 'A campaign of revenge and murder, 'Nazi ethnical cleansing,' and worse. European articles focused mainly on the physical damage to buildings due to Israeli tanks moving through the camp, and failed to mention the fact that many of the buildings and streets were rigged with explosives which were set off by the many terrorist cells operating in the refuge camp.

In general, Israel's comments on what was actually happening in Jenin were mostly ignored by world media. In a briefing last Friday, Col. Hirsh said, "When you think of the term refugee camp, you think of poor and helpless people. This is not the case! Jenin Refugee Camp was actually a strong combat zone - a real military and terrorist infrastructure. These people decided to fight, and we had to fight back... I've heard the rumors of 500-600 Palestinians dead. These are lies. We had no choice but to destroy the terrorist infrastructure - everyday there were terrorists' acts dispatched from Jenin Refugee Camp. The operation in Jenin cost us the lives of 23 soldiers and many were injured. I regret that some Palestinian civilians were injured and some were killed. We were fighting against armed terrorists. We asked the Palestinian civilians to evacuate their homes so they would not get hurt, some chose not to. Most of the Palestinians that were killed were armed terrorists; many had explosive devices strapped to their bodies. We found a lot of evidence of terrorist activity, for example, labs for explosive devices. We are talking about an organized terrorist infrastructure throughout Judea and Samaria."

"The media were forced to cope with the fact that a 'massacre' was turned into a few dozen casualties," Bedein concludes, "but some reporters just could not bring themselves to 'adjust' their story to the facts on the ground."

[tomahawk]

The Goebbels-inspired "big lie" PA and Eurotrash media have given it their best shot. No doubt, Mary Robinson and her UN band will find that something bad happened in Jenin. The finger of blame belongs on those who built a terror-base/homicide-bombing-assembly-line there, not on those who cleaned out the trash.

[chaosagent]

Kill two birds with one stone.

Let the aid workers and observers count the bodies and find the booby-traps.

[bybybill]

Damn, one more time my eyes are lying . Look at the tapes, watch the faces of the reporters, hear the words of the relief workers--they and my damn eyes are all lying

[bvw]

Arafat has been a constant liar -- his belief requires him to lie to infidels like us. I'm just saying not to believe material sourced from or via the Pali's and their allies.

[The Electrician]

they and my damn eyes are all lying

Yes.

[Benrand]

Andrewsullivan.com had an interesting bit about Koppel's daughter and her mind being made up that there was a slaughter here. It was sickening, actually.

That little troll is unabashedly biased.

[End Times Sentinel]

“…that no evidence has yet surfaced to support allegations by Palestinian groups and aid organizations of large-scale massacres or executions by Israeli troops."

But, but, HOW CAN THIS BE?!?!” The palis have always been reliable before! Certainly THEY’RE not the type to make up a story to try to draw international ire against their enemies!

The only logical conclusion that I can draw is that the withdrawing nah, make that retreating Israeli soldiers must have eaten the slain pali heroes. Yep, that makes sense.

I’ll lay dollars to doughnuts al Jazeera runs something to back up this fact. What’s the difference any way? The story is out, the damage has been done.

Owl_Eagle

”Guns Before Butter.”

[mhking]

We had no choice but to destroy the terrorist infrastructure - everyday there were terrorists' acts dispatched from Jenin Refugee Camp.

There is NO "refugee camp." Jenin is the name of the town/city where these particular terrorist live! The term "refugee camp" is nothing but more propoganda.

[Cindy]

and now for the news...

TERRORISM NEWS BOX: TERRORISM-RELATED NEWS INCLUDING SUICIDE-HOMICIDE BOMBERS GULF NEWS.com: Sharjah. "ARABS MUST UNITE TO FACE COMMON ENEMY" by Doaa Zeitoun (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "He stressed that Arabs must observe their unity now more than at any other period in their history to guard their identity against fierce Zionist attempts to destroy it. Arabs must stick together to gain more strength to defeat their enemy.") (041802)

WASHINGTON TIMES.com: "FBI SUPERVISOR IN OKLAHOMA CITY PROBE TO STEP DOWN" by Jerry Seper (041802

WASHINGTON POST.com (AP): Paris. "FIVE ARRESTED IN SHOE BOMB CASE" (041702)

MEMRI.org - MIDDLE EAST MEDIA RESEARCH INSTITUTE -SD #370: "SERMON ON PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY TV" (041602)

BIG TREE NEWS.com: "INDOCTRINATION OF VIOLENCE: HOMICIDE BOMBERS INVADE THE FREE WORLD"

ISRAEL NATIONAL NEWS.com: "LEBANON'S PM JUSTIFIES ATTACKS ON ISRAEL" (041702)

WASHINGTON TIMES.com - OpEd: "PALESTINIAN CANNON FODDER" by Helle Dale (041702)

Dubai GULF NEWS.com: Umm Al Quwain. " UAQ RULERS DONATES Dh1MILLION TO PALESTINIANS" (ARTICLE NOTE SNIPPET: "His Highness Sheikh Rashid bin Ahmed Al Mualla, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Umm Al Quwain, has donated Dh1 million to the Palestinians in support of their steadfast stance against the Israeli aggression.")(041702)

WHITE HOUSE.gov - PRESIDENTIAL DETERMINATION NO.2002-14: "REGARDING THE PALESTINE LIBERATION ORGANIZATION" -George W. Bush (041602)

DW-WORLD.de - DEUTSCHE WELLE: "GERMANY'S TERROR TEST" (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "Europe's first al-Qaeda trial opened in Frankfurt on Tuesday. At stake is the fate of five Algerian men accused of planning a bomb attack in Strasbourg and Germany's reputation as a serious terrorist-fighting country.")(041602)

FOX NEWS.com (AP): "GERMANS QUESTION MAN IN TUNISIAN SYNAGOGUE EXPLOSION" (041602)

DAILY STAR.com.lb: "DEFIANT HIZBULLAH PLEDGES CONTINUED RESISTANCE, SUPPORT FOR THE PALESTINIANS" (041602)

WorldNetDaily: "ARAFAT'S CORRUPTION" -Commentary by Rachel Ehrenfeld (041602)

Dubai GULF NEWS.com: Sharjah. "ENDOWMENT FUND FOR AL AQSA, PALESTINIANS" (041502)

JANG.com.pk: "ARAFAT'S WIFE DEFENDS SUCIDE BOMBERS" (0413402)

WASHINGTON TIMES.com: "PALESTINIANS VOW TO KEEP USING SUICIDE BOMBERS" by Paul Martin (041502)

HUMAN EVENTS ONLINE.com: "HAMAS TERRORISTS TRIGGERED MIDDLE EAST VIOLENCE" by Joseph A. D'Agostino (041502)

WASHINGTON TIMES.com: "NETANYAHU WARNING CONFIRMED" by Joyce Howard Price

NETANYAHU.org: BINYAMIN NETANYAHU SPEECH BEFORE THE U.S. SENATE (041002)

JERUSALEM POST.com: "11TH GRADER CAUGHT IN FIFTH TERRORIST ATTACK" by Etgar Lefkovits (041402)

NewsMax.com: "SAUDI DIPLOMAT PRAISES SUICIDE BOMBERS IN POEM" by Carl Limbacher and the NewsMax.com staff

IRNA.com - ISLAMIC REPUBLIC NEWS AGENCY: Tehran. "SHAHROUDI SAYS PALESTINIANS STRUGGLE IN DEFENSE OF ISLAM" (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "He called for the Palestinian people and youth to continue their movement of Intifada which he said was the main measures that could secure a victory for the Palestinians over the Zionists.")(041402)

FOX NEWS.com (AP): "SAUDI TELETHON RAISES OVER $100 MILLION FOR PALESTINIANS" (041302)

CNS NEWS.com: "SAUDIS RAISE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR PALESTINIAN FAMILIES" by Lawrence Morahan (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "Saudi Arabia's government has paid out millions of dollars to the families of Palestinians killed or injured in the 17-month-old uprising against Israel, including $5,333 to the "family of each martyr," a reference that some believe means the next-of-kin of suicide bombers who have killed scores of Israeli civilians.") (041202)

ARABIC NEWS.com - Egypt-Palestine, Religion: "GRAND IMAN TANTAWI SAID PALESTINIAN RESISTANCE SUICIDE PERSONS ARE 'MARTYRS'" (March 21, 2002)

MEMRI.org - THE MIDDLE EAST MEDIA RESEARCH INSTITUTE Latest News: Dispatch No. 367: "SAUDI GOVERNMENT-CONTROLLED DAILY PRAISES PASSOVER AND JERUSALEM SUPERMARKET SUICIDE BOMBERS" (041102)

Dubai GULF NEWS.com: "Saudi Arabia raised more than 50 million riyals by midnight in a telethon held yesterday to help Palestinians in the Occupied Territories"

(DUBAI) GULF NEWS.com - Sharaj: "MUSLIM GIRLS TOLD TO PROJECT ISLAM'S TRUE IMAGE" (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "Salha pointed out that the club plans to hold a solidarity evening for Palestine on the sidelines of the meeting. It will include a documentary film on the situation in the Occupied Territories and a charity dinner, the proceeds of which will be allocated to the families of the martyrs in Palestine.") by Doaa Zeitoun (041102)

An Interesting Discussion on FREEREPUBLIC.com

An Interesting Discussion on FREEREPUBLIC.com

WorldNetDaily.com - from DEBKA Intelligence Files: "ARAFAT 'LOSES' $50 MILLION Payroll Funds Diverted To Terror Campaign, EU Makes Up Difference" (February 26, 2002)

JERUSALEM POST.com: "DOCUMENTS: ARAFAT APPROVED PAYMENTS TO TERRORISTS" (040502)

MEMRI.org - THE MIDDLE EAST MEDIA RESEARCH INSTITUTE Latest News - Special Dispatch No. 363: "LEADING EGYPTIAN GOVERNMENT CLERIC CALLS FOR 'MARTYRDOM ATTACKS THAT STRIKE HORROR INTO THE HEARTS OF THE ENEMIES OF ALLAH'" (040502)

YAHOO! News - Photo Gallery: "Suicide Bomber" (NOTE: Click on any of the numerous thumbnail photos to get THE BIG PICTURE.)

THE MEDIA LINE - Bulletin: "YASSER ARAFAT'S HEADQUARTERS WAS CENTER FOR COUNTERFEITING MONEY" by Michael Widlanski WorldNetDaily.com: "THE KORAN: SUICIDE PLAYBOOK" -Commentary by Paul Sperry (040902)

FBI.gov: "MOST WANTED TERRORISTS"

FBI.gov: "SEEKING INFORMATION" (Click Here)

IDF.il: "FIGHTING PALESTINIAN TERROR"

JERUSALEM POST.com: All the latest news and updates from Israel online

CLICK HERE for archived war on terrorism, suicide-homicide bomber news & commentary links.

*****

[tomahawk]

There is/was a refugee camp near Jenin called the Jenin refugee camp. The vast majority of residents went to Jenin city prior to the IDF operation, which was announced and known of in advance. The Islamic Jihad built their bomb-making factories and set up their suicide/homicide assembly line in the "refugee camp" because the IDF would be reluctant to operate in a civilian area.

[McGavin999]

Well, perhaps your eyes aren't lying, they are just confused. Everyone has known, since before Israel even went into Jenin, that the "camp" was used for bomb factories. Just what do you suppose happens when one of those factories goes off? Do you think the walls are left standing? Do you think that mines planted in the roads strong enough to kill off a tank goes off that it causes no damage?

I listened to a UN worker describing the "stench of death", well that guy should have been in New York a couple of weeks after 9-11. If he thinks a couple dozen bodies rotting in the rubble smells bad he should find out what 3,000 bodies smell like. WE know!

[TopQuark]

My question regarding the expectations of massacres you answered with a question, "Sharon?"

It appears that the answer in the above-posted article is indeed: Sharon.

[NatureGirl]

"and failed to mention the fact that many of the buildings and streets were rigged with explosives which were set off by the many terrorist cells operating in the refuge camp."

Well, well. I've been wondering about this aspect for days. I had suspected that this - or just accidental detonation of lots of hidden Pali explosives - might have been enough to cause damage to buildings.

[Free the USA]

fyi

[barker]

Bump for later reading

[Recovering_Democrat]

SCREW the liberal, anti-Israel press. They can shove it up their collective noses. They suck up and swallow all the garbage fed to them by the PLO, Bill Clinton, and their "pundits" who used to be Clinton operatives (George Step-on-all-of-us, for instance). Don't try to fool us you're "objective", press. You're not.

[zoyd]

Let the aid workers and observers count the bodies and find the booby-traps.

Exactly. After a few reporters get blown sky-high from booby-trapped bodies, their stories will change.

It's like the Red Cross workers in Guantanamo, helping out the Al Qaeda there... you wanna give them smokes and candy bars? Ok, you can do so right after they've hit the bathroom and done their #2. You can then go up and shake all their hands, since they have a disdain for toilet paper.

[Tom Bombadil]

Maybe all the bodies from the massacre were secreted out in Israeli tanks and are being shipped to some right wing nation somewhere. You never know.

Maybe the Israelis are hiding the bodies in their grocery stores.

Maybe the Israelis are making lampshades out of the bodies. Yeah, that's it, that's why we can't find the bodies!

[Travis McGee]

bttt

[Travis McGee]

Yes, they are.

We have all seen the aftermath of a battle, but zero evidence of a massacre.