Questioning Australian media…writes Asher Kozma
As Australian Jewry hopes and prays for the safe release of three Israeli teenagers kidnapped by a terrorist organisation, the Australian public is reading all about the ‘atrocities’ Israel is committing.
Asher Kozma
“Israel says Palestinians kidnapped teens”; “Israel accuses ‘terrorist group’ as search continues for missing teenagers”; and “Israeli army arrests 80 Palestinians in bid to find three missing Jewish teenagers” were headlines in The Age, The Herald Sun and on the ABC website respectively.
It astounds me that when Israeli teenagers are abducted by terrorists, Israel is still the demonised party in Australian media.
The kidnappers are members of Hamas, a widely accepted terrorist group who rule over and are based in Gaza. Last April Hamas formed a unity government with the Fatah-led PLO, the same PLO governing the Palestinian Authority which was at the time conducting peace negotiations with Israel. I read no headlines titled “PA ends peace talks by choosing terrorists over Israel” in the mainstream media. In fact, The Age published an article criticising Israel for stating it was “deeply disappointed” that the U.S. would continue to give the Fatah-Hamas government aid. What a surprise, Israel yet again vilified when it’s the one who has been violated.
Israelis from towns near Gaza such as Sderot and Ashdod live in constant fear because Hamas constantly fires rockets aiming to kill as many as possible. They also brainwash their population from a very young age to actively hate Israel in the hope that they will grow up and continue their violent tradition. Now, as much as the PLO denies it, Hamas have influence in Judea and Sameria (the disputed territories). Seemingly this is not as bad as Israel searching for their stolen teenagers or disapproving of America supporting a government with terrorist influence.
Palestinian Authority President Abu Mazen has not taken responsibility for the kidnapping nor has he condemned it thus far. If the Palestinian Authority seeks legitimacy and international recognition, surely they ought to at least seem as though they care about peace and human rights. Apparently not, apparently Australian journalists think Israel’s reactions to terrorism are more important, or does that just get them more readers.
As a proud Zionist and Israeli citizen, proud of Israel’s prioritisation of human life and security of its people, I want to see Gilad, Naftali and Eyal returned immediately and without harm. As a proud Australian, proud of the federal government’s recent decision to cease using the term ‘occupy’ in reference to East Jerusalem, I want to see justice served in our media through accurate and equal reporting of the Middle-East.
Asher Kozma is Mefaked of Betar Melbourne.
Well lets hear it from those for whom you sponsored a trip to Israel just recently ….I did say I hope their voices would be heard when needed…have you forgotten already?
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