To most objective observers of the Israeli-Arab conflict, Israel is clearly the peaceful party faced with incessant, violent attack.
So why does the mainstream media so often get it wrong – portraying Palestinian attacks and the inevitable Israeli response as a "cycle of violence," or excusing the murder of innocent Israelis as frustration over occupation?
Here are four reasons why the media is biased against Israel:
(1) Favoring the Underdog
Studies of sporting events show that 81% prefer the underdog. America itself was born as an underdog fighting the mighty British empire, and underdog stories – think Rocky Balboa – have been popular ever since the biblical David first aimed a slingshot at Goliath.
Why such love for the underdog? Given our innate human desire for justice, one side's sizable advantage can invoke compassion for the "lesser" side. In other words, if Israel has jetfighters and Palestinians have slingshots, Israel must be the guilty party.
In reality, the opposite is true: Israel is successful by virtue of its well-functioning economic institutions, democracy and legal system. By contrast, Palestinians have squandered billions of international aid dollars on an array of guns, bombs and missiles (while lining the pockets of corrupt officials).
By every conceivable account, the State of Israel – surrounded by Arab nations with 640 times the amount of land and 350 million more people – has magnificently beaten the odds. Yet that very success is twisted by the media into favoring the Palestinian underdog.
(2) Intimidation of Journalists
Why has the "Palestinian death cult" been so widely ignored in mainstream media coverage?
For Westerners, freedom of the press is a core value, guaranteed by law and ingrained in mother’s milk. But for radical Muslims, the media has been hijacked as a propaganda tool, where "zero tolerance for criticism" is violently enforced. (Think Charlie Hebdo.)
In Palestinian areas, journalists are threatened for coverage that fails to “benefit the Palestinian struggle." Reporters Without Borders, in its “Press Freedom Index,” ranks the Palestinian Authority 163rd out of 173, for "riding roughshod over press freedom and arresting journalists without any justification."
Friedman worried that Palestinian thugs would blow his brains all over the wall.
A long list of Western journalists – from BBC, Newsweek, Fox News, etc. – have been abducted by Palestinian thugs. Blindfolded and held at gunpoint, journalists have been forced to denounce the West and convert to Islam.
Such fearful thoughts play in a journalist’s head, resulting in a subconscious self-censorship that heavily favors the Palestinian side. Pulitzer Prize-winner Thomas Friedman describes how, upon learning that Palestinian officials wanted to see him “immediately” to discuss his New York Times reports, he “lay awake in bed the whole night worrying that someone was going to burst in and blow my brains all over the wall.”
According to Amnesty International, journalists in Palestinian areas "admit that they practice self-censorship, either by modifying the manner in which they report a story, or not reporting or commenting on certain topics at all."
Through sheer force of intimidation, news stories critical of Palestinians are erased from the record. And media consumers are none the wiser.
(3) Political messaging
Government and the media – as society's key pillars of power – often forge a common narrative. So when the U.S. State Department referred to recent events in Israel as a "cycle of violence," it was reflected the very next day in the New York Times lead editorial, "The Cycle of Violence in Israel."
Similarly, the United Nations' silence at Mahmoud Abbas' incitement to violence ("every drop of blood spilled for Jerusalem is clean and pure blood for Allah") grants the media license to sympathize with Palestinian attackers. When a Palestinian fatally stabbed two Israelis in Jerusalem and was subsequently shot by security forces, BBC reported this headline: "Palestinian shot dead after Jerusalem attack kills two."
The U.S. Secretary of State refused to blame Palestinians for the recent violence.
This messaging works in tandem: The media shapes public opinion, which in large part determines public policy. Politicians have been known to formulate “sound bites of the day” in response to overnight opinion polling. So with hundreds of op-eds and editorials portraying moral equivalence between “aggressor” and “victim,” it is not surprising that the U.S. Secretary of State refused to blame Palestinians for the recent violence, saying "I’m not going to point fingers from afar."
For Israelis, this is a serious matter of life and death. The degree of support from world leaders often determines the latitude Israel has to defend itself. As Bret Stephens writes in the Wall Street Journal: "Palestinians are in the midst of a campaign to knife Jews to death, one at a time. This is psychotic. It is evil. To call it anything less is to serve as an apologist, and an accomplice." That is why media bias is so lethal.
(4) Anti-Semitism
Ever since Abraham first introduced the monotheistic message 4,000 years ago, Jews have been the target of anti-Semites. According to Bassem Eid, the prominent Palestinian human rights activist, today's media is likewise “full of anti-Semitism,” “hatred," and "fighting against Israel.”
What else can explain this headline in the respected UK Guardian: "Israel Simply Has No Right to Exist."
We've seen it time and again. Seventy-five years ago, while humanity did little or nothing to save Jewish lives during the Holocaust, the New York Times reported the decimation of 750,000 Hungarian Jews as a small item on page 12. Of more than 17,000 Times editorials during World War Two, only five mentioned Europe’s Jews. Other media took the cue; BBC records show explicit orders not to report on the Holocaust.
Amidst the wave of stabbings and shootings, BBC News claimed Israelis suffer "paranoia."
Today, too, the media downplays the danger to Jews. Amidst the recent wave of stabbings, shootings, and car-rammings throughout Israel, BBC News claimed that Israelis suffer from "paranoia" – defined in the dictionary as a psychosis characterized by delusions of persecution.
Some media outlets go even further and blame Jews outright for the violence. Code-words like “genocide” (London’s Evening Standard), “ethnic cleansing” (CBS’s 60 Minutes), “war criminals” and “apartheid state” get play in the mainstream media. Speaking on CNN, Turkish leader Tayyip Erdogan claimed that "hundreds of thousands of Palestinians" have been killed by Israel; CNN's Fareed Zakaria did not challenge the lie.
The result is an absolute inversion of reality, what Rabbi Jonathan Sacks calls the “great mutation of anti-Semitism.” The Jews, who taught the world the ideals of “love your neighbor as yourself” and “all people are created equal,” are now cast as the planet’s worst barbarians.
Der Spiegel, Germany's leading news magazine, likened Israeli policies to those pursued by Hitler. “UK Jewish Lawmaker: Israeli Forces Acting Like Nazis,” proclaimed a CNN headline. “Saudi Likens Gaza Assault to Nazi War Crimes,” blared one from Agence France Presse. And the Irish Times claimed that an Israeli anti-terror operation "looked uncannily like the attack on the Warsaw Jewish ghetto in 1944.”
Not to be outdone, NBC’s Tom Brokaw asked President Obama at the Buchenwald concentration camp (at 4:07): “What can the Israelis learn from your visit to Buchenwald? And what should they be thinking about their treatment of Palestinians?”
Today, Israel is under siege from all sides – from Iran, Hezbollah, BDS and Palestinian terror. It's time to wake up and confront the media's insidious contribution to this war.
(15) Deborah, June 9, 2016 3:43 PM
This Conflict is Multi-Dimensional
Blame cannot be exclusively applied to either the Israeli's or the Palestinians. News that purports otherwise is biased.
(14) Sara Gootblatt, November 18, 2015 2:42 PM
Don't take things out of context!
Believe me I agree with this piece. But it really annoys me that the writer took John Kerry's remark about "we will not point fingers from afar" totally out of context. This is what Kerry actually said: “It is absolutely critical to see the violence and incitement stop wherever it may be. And I’m not going to point fingers from afar, but when I have knowledge of violence that has taken place that shouldn’t have, like the stabbing of three innocent Israelis by nothing more than terrorists, we will condemn it.” it seems to me that Kerry was actually condemning Palestinian violence and not trying to be even handed. Israel does not make any friends when reporters try to make the Obama administration look bad.
(13) Anonymous, November 12, 2015 12:18 AM
but what's the solution?
this article makes some excellent points, but it doesn't present a solution to the problem of palestinians living under israeli rule. even if the media of the world saw things your way, this would not solve the above-mentioned problem.
Reb Mordechai, November 12, 2015 8:41 AM
Missed the point?
I don't think it's productive to argue with you about who are the rightful owners of this land, just to state some facts for you to think about.
Now, I assume you are talking about Arabs living under Israeli rule over the Green Line and not Arabs living in Israel proper? Correct me if I am wrong.
Land over the Green Line is split up into three areas, A,B & C.
Only 27% of the Arab population of Judae and Shomron live under Area C (Israeli administration. The vast majority live in Areas A and B which are under Palestinian Authority rule.
The population of Areas A & B live under a brutal totalitarian military regime where the courts and police system are totally corrupt with regular death penalties and lynches, human rights abuses are not just common, they are the norm, no freedom of speech, no freedom of the press, no freedom of religion and a state run education system that indoctrinates its children in hatred. In the PA, leaders and politicians (who are actually the heads of local criminal family clans), pocket for themselves the money sent by the EU, leaving the average Arab family in poverty.
In Hamas run areas it’s obviously even worse.
Anonymous, November 13, 2015 5:52 AM
palestinians
the palestinians in gaza are not in israel proper but are defacto ruled to a certain extent by israel. all the media in the world won't change the fact that they resent this and that's why they do intifada. my point is that fixing the media problem will not stop palestinians from stabbing jews. do you have a solution?
Reb Mordechai, November 17, 2015 8:35 PM
Not True
The Arabs of Gaza are not defacto ruled by Israelis. They are ruled by Hamas, a brutal extremist Muslim regime. Because the regime practices acts of terrorism, Israel has closed the border to Gaza only allowing humanitarian goods in. Before you scream that this is what you meant by defacto occupation please be aware that Gaza has a second border which the Western press neglects to mention. That is with Egypt. They too have chosen to close their border allowing even less in than Israel because of Hamas' support for Islamic terrorists in Egypt.
L Schwartz, December 8, 2015 4:23 AM
Back to the point of the article
The point of the article is not about Hamas or Gaza but the media. How is "fixing" the bias of the media's reporting going to stop future and present intifada? Yes, we should acknowledge and fight media bias, but at the same time don't think that this is the same as working on a solution to the problem. Bombs and tear gas and bulldozing homes is not a solution. Question: why is the border with Hezbollah quiet i.e.. no missile attacks or tunnels but not so with Gaza? Hint: The answer is not related to media bias.
(12) Peninah, November 10, 2015 6:25 PM
Toda Rabbah
Thank you for this article and for the pointers.
There are definitely a whole myriad of reasons the media is biased.We can never point all of them out but G-d almighty sees each and every person who works for the media houses and only He sees the hearts of men and knows the thoughts of man.But more so the people in positions of power who force the hand of their colleagues and subordinates. What is lacking in society is integrity because human beings don't fear G-d as they should. If every person who works for media knew how powerful the media is, they would be careful to do what's right. Media is a gift from G-d, but human beings have chosen to abuse it.
The media now pollutes instead of illuminating.
I wish people remembered that it is so easy to learn evil as opposed to good.The media is undoing the hard-earned good values that the less influential people are trying to instill in people,especially the young. They are poisoning the young minds of our children and I fear for future generations if media continues to sell what it's selling now.
Evil is embellished and sold as trendy popular truth while goodness is considered unpopular(especially G-dly morals) and is demonized.
SOCIETY CAN "SURVIVE" IF IT CALLS GOOD EVIL BUT SOCIETY WILL INEVITABLY CRUMBLE AND BECOME EXTINCT IF IT CALLS EVIL GOOD!
(11) Peggy Finston MD, November 10, 2015 3:19 AM
A Tsunami of Yetzer Hara...This is Bigger than All of Us
There's no convincing, no changing minds. Media, Education, Politics, are all in lockstep on a collision course with reality. The salesmen in power, the enlightened ones, are out to prove they are the creators.
The Left hates Israel because the Left hates G-d. The world is not perfect enough. The Left can do better because only they have the vision to see what needs fixing, but in everyone else. They are "above" faith, delusional about human intellect and sufficiently grandiose to believe that with enough regulations, intimidation and technology they will one-up the Garden of Eden.
What can mere mortals do, aside from find a bubble of sanity get out of the way?
I'm just learning Torah and not great on following laws and prayers. But I try to be who I am, a Jew who is grateful and proud to be Jew and whose life connects with those of many faiths. For thirty years I practiced medicine in a place where I was the first Jew my patients met. Rabbi Lieberman's wonderful series are posted and I send links to my non-Jewish colleagues who share my passion for reviving soul in medicine.
Maybe, we must be the media for what we are about. Who trusts newspapers anymore?
Joe Katzman, November 10, 2015 7:33 AM
Thank you, Peggy
"Maybe, we must be the media for what we are about. Who trusts newspapers anymore?"
At the end of a perfectly on-target comment.... Bang. On. In many ways. This, too, is practicing a form of medicine.
I am grateful for all you've done, and all you will do. I will do my best to join you. At least I will be in quality company!
(10) JT, November 10, 2015 2:31 AM
I disagree
Dr. Henry Morris wrote a book titled "The Long War Against God". It was about the evolution vs creation battle but the title tells it all. This is not a secular battle but a spiritual one. The world hates God and anything he likes. He created the Hebrew people out of Abraham and they are the apple of his eye and that is why the world is opposed to the Jews, in my opinion.
(9) Joe, November 9, 2015 6:26 AM
You're missing the underlying connection...
The common connection is the political Left, which is an opposing religion whose core tenets are opposed to Judaism's - and which actively promoted hatred of Jews and Christians.
Consider the common element in several of the "reasons" you've adduced. "Favoring the Underdog," absent any context and regardless of behavior, is peculiar to the envy-based worldview of Leftism. "Political messaging"/ "common narrative" sidesteps the question of WHOSE narrative. Surveys regarding the media's political makeup are abundant, and it is nothing remotely close to balanced. Finally, anti-semitism. That is being seen on the far right, but it is increasingly open within the mainstream Left, which accepts chants for Hamas (which advocates genocide), and shrugs at criticisms that name Jews rather than Israel. The Red-Green alliance is alive and well around the world.
Leftism is a religion in every meaningful respect, which must deny morality in order to continue believing that all differences in outcome are caused by exploitation. Jews represent an existential challenge to that viewpoint, and so do Christians. That's why both are targeted with an increasingly-obvious hatred by Leftist political-operatives-with-bylines.
(8) MichaelZ, November 9, 2015 2:49 AM
Who is behind biaised articles?
Check names and bios of reporters and you will notice most of the very biased articles are authored by Jewish journalists or quoting NGOs and media in Israel. Cultural alienation? Desire to fit in? Intense obsession with Israel? It is difficult to understand or ignore. As for the Jewish control of the worldwide media canard, the supposed "friends" within are usually more damaging than the real enemies themselves. Time for soul searching on these root causes!
(7) Anonymous, November 8, 2015 6:49 PM
Our Truth We'll Prevail
Very well articulated Rabbi Simmons. It is a shame that most world leaders and the media outlets have lend and, allowed themselves to be dragged into the anti-semitic realm. The UN was created as a tool to balance and be fair when it came to human rights. It turned out to be the opposite in regard to Israel. Palestinian attack and murder jews, and for them occupation and the jewish people are at fault. We don't have to analyze too much just by thinking last year's Protective Edge war. Palestinian provoked and murdered young, intelligent, well educated youth, sent rockets aimed at harming israel and its people; and used school and hospitals to performed their diabolic acts. The US and the UN blamed Israel for it, to the point, that after the war, they help compile millions of US dollars to help reconstruct gaza, and I am still puzzled by that. I do agree that until supporter of Israel (whether they are jewish or not) begin to express and expose out loud against anti-semitic sentiment, things will not change, but at the same time, as long as we continue exposing the lies of the media and the world agains Israel, we will prevail. Thank you so very much Rav Shraga for been such a good, great observer of the lies against the only democratic nation in the Middle East, Israel.
(6) Larry Schnebly, November 8, 2015 6:14 PM
Media Bias?
Oh, Come on. Media is an easy whipping boy. No one likes to hear 'bad news' .... particularly if one's mind is MADE UP. When will we be objective enough to recognize that?
It is the job of the media to do what it is doing....And I guess I can say the same for the author of this piece, hm?
Alan S., November 8, 2015 9:51 PM
Mr. Schnebly, you clearly did not read this article if you can make these comments. The author clearly proved that the media is not doing what it should be doing. At certain times, one can not politely say what is obvious, and while I do not know you, your comment speaks words about the openness of your mind.
StanleyT, November 8, 2015 10:46 PM
Really?
It's the job of the media to lie? Really?
Fredric M. London, November 8, 2015 11:53 PM
Baloney!
The job of the press is NOT to report lies, to disseminate, and deliberately leave out what it does not like. That is NOT what the press is supposed to be about. Ever hear of journalistic integrity? I thought not, since it is extinct. The media is the whipping boy because it is guilty of manufacturing incidents, twisting incidents, and do all in its power to make lies seem like the truth. The media deserves to be whipping boy, if not outright condemned and relegated to the irrelevant it has become.
Anonymous, November 10, 2015 12:16 AM
This comment deserves one word only
Moron
(5) Yadja, November 8, 2015 5:09 PM
Net Bias in America Against Israel
I am seriously concerned about the huge amount of negativity I am seeing on sites throughout the net where political issues discussed. Example a site called Yabberz incredibly anti-Israel and this site is gaining popularity across Twitter and Facebook.
Something needs to be done to put a halt to this. Those of us who support Israel do our best to keep truth out there. But until America gets a president who is not pro Islam and anti Israel I doubt mush will change.
Those looking for bias need to chect Huffington Post, Yabberz, any network owned and run by George Soros and put put your own people as posters to fight this. It is huge.
The Radical Muslims are everywhere on the net. Now in our towns throughout our country. You want it stopped you need to look into this and help us fight for Israel.
(4) Steve Specterman, November 8, 2015 5:03 PM
Balen Report
The BBC need mass correspondence sending to them-
To publicize the Malcom Balen report. From 2004
They commissioned it to prove that their reporters did NOT show anti-Israeli bias.
They have since spent £500,000 on legal fees to keep it out of view.
(3) Diogenes, November 8, 2015 4:54 PM
You forgot #5
You forgot #5...self-hating Jews in the media and so on, including the illustrious Mr. Friedman. Some of these traitors have had the loudest and shrillest voices against Israel.
I would be grateful if that behavior could be explained somehow.
(2) Anonymous, November 8, 2015 4:30 PM
why media anti-Israel
5th reason possible: Journalists receive money from Arab sources to spew anti-Israel rhetoric?
(1) Dan, November 8, 2015 4:12 PM
Numbering is wrong
I'd change no. 4 to no. 1.