By Howard Feldman
This is why I am torn. I am torn because I am openly supportive of Israel. I believe in the Jewish right to self determination and I believe that no peace will ever be achieved in the region until the negotiating parties accept that.
Of each other.
By no means do I think that any country can do no wrong and I in no way do believe that the current status is sustainable. On the contrary. Something is going to give. And more innocent people are going to die.
I am torn because I have been watching with horror what is being printed across the South African media space. And although I often avoid the subject, in this case I am not able to do so.
Because I am very concerned.
Donald Trump got it wrong. It’s not “Fake News” that is the most damaging but rather “Narrative News.”
Something that is fake is not real. It is phony, and it is a sham. A report on the death of an actor, whilst he is very much alive and holidaying in Ibiza is “Fake News.” An article that reports on an event that has not happened is fake. But a piece that focusses on only one dimension – with the deliberate exclusion of another is “Narrative News.” It’s news that fits the agenda of the journalist or the publication.
The success of Donald Trump at the polls last year came as a shock to many. It took most the major news network by surprise. The success of the Brexit campaign caught the UK completely off guard to the point that one even suspected that those behind it didn’t see it coming. Because the narrative created in the press was that these events would not happen.
The narrative that Trump is a misogynist and has no respect for women was one that Hollywood supported and endorsed.
Women marched; actors condemned.
And everyone shook their collective heads. In disgust.
And whereas Trump’s comments are vile and reflect his style, Hollywood as an institution was hardly in a position to comment. The ball that they were holding under the water for so long finally burst to the surface with a string of sickening allegations. It is little wonder, and a lot of chutzpah that Hollywood commented at all. The revelations shattered the myth of their own making.
CNN and BBC hate Trump. Fox loves him. Each have a narrative and neither can be trusted. I might not understand the Russian election thing, but I am certain that the time that CNN devotes to this, at the expense of other stories, says more about its agenda than it does about the story. Headlines are chosen to match the narrative and the same event will be reported so vastly differently by each network to the point that one wonders if there is any truth to the story at all.
Al Jazeera, and particularly the Arabic edition, has been severely criticized for their narrative news. It is Quatari sponsored and has been accused of fueling discord and hatred in the region. Al Jazeera has now been removed from many countries across the Middle East including Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
Al Jazeera blocked by Saudi Arabia, Qatar blames fake news
South Africa is no stranger to “Narrative News”. ANN7 is perhaps the most extreme example of ‘agenda reporting’ or “Narrative News.” They are likely followed by the SABC. But it is not to say that most so called liberal press and broadcasters in the country are not guilty of doing exactly the same thing. Just from their own agenda.
Damage was Done
Two weeks ago, The Star printed an article with a photo taken in space. The photo apparently was taken by an astronaut and showed the current Israeli attack on Gaza. The headline was frightening and shocking. Or would have been if it were true!
The article was in fact from 2014 (more than 3 years late) and in fact showed the lights over Israel’s coastal cities taken from space. Given that context it was a rather delightful photo as is any space aerial shot of a country illuminated. They published a retraction the next day, but the damage was done, and their narrative endorsed.
Anti-Israel BDS inspired articles have increased in number and in urgency ahead of the ANC’s conference this week. With representatives of the terror organization Hamas invited as guests of the ruling party, the attitude towards Israel and towards South African Jews has been made clear. Israel will not get a fair break.
The ANC is set to debate a possible downgrade of the embassy, and in turn diplomatic relations between South Africa and Israel, and is doing so under the watchful eye of their visitors.
BDS have representatives on the panel.
Israel does not.
There will be no balance and there can be no balanced discussion when the agenda is Hamas driven.
Honest and balanced reporting has been the cornerstone of the South African democratic process. It has been arguably the most significant contributor to the exposure of corruption in this country.
Unless it pertains to Israel.
The ANC Conference might or might not result in an embassy downgrade. No matter the outcome, the fact that it has found its way on the agenda of the ANC Conference agenda should make every supporter of Israel, anywhere in the world, sit up and take note.
Because it can happen anywhere.
