Channel 4 News on Israel

Here are my eMails to Channel 4 News.

24 January 2011

Mr Snow,

I've just finished watching your report on the Palestinian Papers and the comments on the Peace Process, including those of Mrs Hilsum. I can't but ask myself whether both of you have read Natan Sharansky's The Case for Democracy? If not, I would urge you strongly to do so; if yes, don't you know that 'Land for Peace' is what Israel has pursued yet have not reaped the promises made by Arab leaders? Further, and this is well documented and explained in the book, the PA have violated a major, if not the major, part of the Oslo Agreements - fighting terrorism in their own ranks. Sharansky sheds light on many more such crucial issues, notably the major problem of the lack of democracy among Palestinian Arabs and why this is a key hinderance to peace.

Your report made only Israel look like they are the hinderance to peace - this was very disappointing, as it neither reflects reality, nor is it objective journalism, it rather reminds me of the strongly biased BBC. Please consider. Thanks

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Shalom,

Gordon Merk

26 January 2011

Mr Snow,

I've just seen the report on the new Israeli movie with a few IDF soldiers speaking out. May I share a few considerations and concerns?

Pictures speak louder than words, as we all know, and can be used - and misused - to provoke emotional reactions which then hinder people understanding any conflict without its proper conflict. Certainly, and Israel affirms this, mistakes have been made and individuals under the pressures of war can do mad things. But wouldn't you agree with me that without proper contextual information any report is too one-sided and can cause more damage than good?

For example, why not also make clear that Israel has gone out of her way to urge civilians to leave and that Hamas has hindered civilians from leaving? And as you know very well, they are misusing civilians so that they can use these casualties to stir more international anti-Israel hatred. But if they are misusing them and hindering them - not to speak of launching rockets from hospitals and schools - who are the true war criminals? Israel's war is against terror and Hamas, not the Palestinian people. The fact that 12,000 rockets have been fired on Israeli civilians doesn't mean anything anymore, does it?

Further, your comments at the end with the embassy's statement has, I assume, gone unheard by those already emotionally stirred, and it was very unfair. Israel's justice system should be commended for its thorough investigations into these matters and brining wrongdoers to justice. Again, that has not been stated clearly.

Also, how representative are these three soldiers of what had happened? And since when has war ever been decent? I fear the double-standard so many apply to Israel is brining more unfair reporting against the IDF and the Jewish State. Why not show pictures of Hamas rockets' damage and expose their hateful ideology, not to speak of their terror regime against the people in Gaza? Also, the Jewish soldiers showed a lot of respect for human life and dignity, whereas Hamas celebrates terror and glorifies its ideology of death. Shouldn't the remarkable difference already tells us enough about values?

The second time in two days your reporting has made only Israel look like the war mongers and criminals, and if this continues, your programmes are as biased as the BBC's. Why don't you bring Col. Kemp back to your programme to give a professional opinion? Yes, wrongdoing should be exposed - and Israel is prosecuting them. But demonizing the whole nation is certainly wrong - and most obviously unfair.

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Shalom,

Gordon