Weekly column in "Hazofe" - What the President Said - Hila Rapaport - 23.9.2005

What the President Said

How could the Channel 1 news correspondent in Washington not know English?

The Mabat news broadcast from last Sunday, bore a dramatic headline: “General Pervez Musharraf, President Of Pakistan, To Engage In Diplomatic Relations With Israel, Regardless Of An Israeli – Palestinian Agreement”.

The subsequent story was accompanied by a speech in English by the Pakistani president before the American Jewish Congress on 17.9.05; during which he said that with the advancement of the peace process toward a Palestinian State, Pakistan would also stride toward normalization and co-operation [with Israel], in hopes to establish full diplomatic relations.

Channel 1 correspondent, Yaron Dekel, commented that Musharraf had declared his intention to establish full diplomatic relations with Israel.  According to Dekel, Musharraf did not stipulate that an agreement first be reached between Israel and the Palestinians but rather was content with certain progress in that direction.

Further into the broadcast, Haim Yavin repeated Dekel’s interpretation of Musharraf’s speech.

If the speech seems “lean” compared with the commentary and headlines, you’re not alone in thinking so. If it is beyond you how a Washington reporter could fail to translate correctly a few simple sentences into English, justice is on your side.  And if you have begun to speculate about the reason for this media oddity then you’re probably not mistaken.  After all this is Israeli media, where anything and everything is allowed.

The ban continues – weekly update

As of this week, approximately 6,000 people have joined the ban on Gabi Gazith’s show.  Just a reminder, in order to join the ban send an SMS - with the words “ban” + “Surname” + “first name” – to 3236 at a cost of 50 agorot.  Other options include faxing the above message to: 03-5423113, or e-mailing herem@shoresh.org.il.  Another point is that several SMS’ may be sent from a single cellular phone, so long as each message includes a different name.

Clarification:  Throughout my previous columns I have been calling for a ban on Gabi Gazith’s program and not – contrary to the belief of the ban organizers – on the entirety of Reshet Bet’s broadcasts.  In the past few years, to my understanding, some real attempts have been made towards more professional, more pluralistic and more diverse and balanced broadcasts within Reshet Bet.  And although the road is long, and it’s shows are hardly free of critique, a differential must be made between them and Gabi Gazith’s show.  This is my opinion and is in no way meant to discourage the ban effort, nor to dishearten the ban leaders in their courageous task.  Each listener should make his own choice.

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