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Sunday Aug 09, 2009
Living with Rockets: Mitchell's peace message isn't reaching the Islamic media
Posted by Anav Silverman
Comments: 14
    
Speaking to reporters after meeting with Syrian President Bashar Assad this week, US envoy George Mitchell stated that the US administration under Barack Obama is determined to carry out a "truly comprehensive" Arab-Israeli peace deal. "That peace means between Palestinians and Israelis, between Syria and Israel, and between Lebanon and Israel," Mitchell stated. Mitchell also called on the full normalization of relations between Israel and all the countries in the region. The term "comprehensive peace" came up often in Mitchell's outlining of US expectations for the Middle East region to reporters. This was Mitchell's second visit to Syria in the past two months. Mitchell is the highest-level US administration official to visit Damascus since 2005. As a native of Maine, I am proud that former senator George Mitchell from Maine has joined forces in promoting peace in this volatile region. I only hope the US envoy has a receptive audience among Israel's neighbors. But behind the positive attitude and optimistic language that has characterized the Obama administration's quest for peace in the region - something other US presidents have tried and failed to achieve - there is something missing. The June edition of Al-Fateh, Hamas's bi-weekly children's publication, is perhaps one of the best indicators of the gap between the US administration's ambitions and the situation on the ground in the Middle East. According to the Israel Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center (IICC), Al-Fateh, a London-based publication, inculcates Palestinian children with radical Islamic ideology, hatred of Israel, the Jewish people and even the West. Every Al-Fateh issue praises a shahid (martyr) belonging to the Izz al-Din al-Kassam Martyrs Brigades, Hamas's military-terrorist wing. June's issue featured a photograph of the 61st anniversary of the nakba (the Palestinian "catastrophe" - the establishment of the State of Israel). The image shows Palestinian children who have been killed beneath the blood-dripping Israeli-American handshake. The issue also features a poem by an Palestinian child, angrily calling for revenge and the liberation of Palestine. Photos of Palestinian children dressed as Hamas soldiers have appeared in earlier issues this year, and martyrdom is a reoccurring theme. In the past, Al-Fateh has praised suicide bombers responsible for the murder of Israeli citizens, including Sa'id al-Hutari, the perpetrator of the suicide bombing attack in Tel-Aviv's Dolphaniarium disco that killed 21 people, mostly Israeli teenagers, and injured 83. Al-Fateh's editor and founder is believed to be Abdallah al-Tantawi, a senior figure in Syria's Muslim Brotherhood in the mid-1990s, who goes by the name of Sami al-Halabi. According to the IICC, an article published in an Islamic newspaper in Germany (Al-Ra'ed, February 2005) stated that al-Tantawi founded Al-Fateh and cofounded several other children's publications in 2002. Moreover, following Operation Cast Lead, Hamas immediately began rebuilding the Al-Aqsa TV station, which is part of the Al-Aqsa media network. The network includes a television channel, radio broadcasts, the Al-Aqsa information authority, journalism courses and the "Asda" City for Artistic and Media Production, otherwise known as "Hamaswood." Hamas's first feature film premier was held on July 17 in the Gaza Strip and was attended by Ismail Haniya, head of the Hamas administration and based in Damascus. Written by Gazan head of Hamas, Mahmoud al-Zahar, the movie tells the story of an Izz al-Din al-Kassam brigades commander killed in battle with IDF forces in 1993. Production costs for the movie reached $200,000. A new Hamas radio station went on the air March 15, 2009, and is called Al-Qur'an Al-Kareem ("the holy Koran"). Ismail Haniya personally used the radio station to send Islamic messages. Hamas's student wing, al-Kutlah al-Islamiyyah, has also joined Facebook and Twitter to spread its political line. Shortly before Operation Cast Lead, the external Hamas leadership in Damascus opened the Al-Quds TV in Beirut, which is owned by the Al-Quds radio and TV company in London and is comprised of Arab and Palestinian businessmen and media personnel. Al-Quds TV recently dismissed an Algerian journalist, Yehya Abu Zakaria, for revealing that the station received Iranian funding. He also accused its directors of low-level programming while using funds for "lives of luxury." In the realm of Islamic media, the Obama administration's visions of Middle East peace are not a welcome news item. It is obvious that the media plays a powerful role in shaping public perception and opinion. If a truly "comprehensive of peace" for Israel and her neighbors is to transpire, the Islamic media must embrace Mitchell's vision. This has yet to happen.
1 |
Said, London,
Sunday Aug 09, 2009
Just look at the talkbacks on Israeli news websites, all the Jews (Israeli and abroad) and all the Christian Zionists are swearing at Obama as if he is the devil incarnate! Almost none of them support any peace deal whatsoever, and the majority support radical positions such as throwing all the Palestinians out and annexing the land. You're trying to convince your readers that the Arab world isn't taking the new messages of peace seriously, when your own readers are the ones who don't want it!
2 |
Eli, Kiryat Ono, Israel,
Sunday Aug 09, 2009
Said#1, even you cannot deny the venomous incitement and hatred that appear in Hamas and Al Fatah education system and media against Israel. Being versed in Arab culture you know full well that the maximum that Hamas may offer Israel is a "Hudna" - temporary cease fire aimed at gaining strength for the annihilation of Israel. If you deny or ignore those then it will just add to the outright lies that you are trying to spread.
Of all dangers to Israel incitement is the worst. Nazi atrocities started with incitement. Jews and Christian Zionists are rightly concerned about Obama ignoring those!
3 |
Irma Rochlin,
Sunday Aug 09, 2009
A glimmer of hope if Mitchell acknowledges that Palestinians are still preaching martyrdom and killing of all infidels while the Jews are portrayed as intransigient. Odd that Israel who has granted citizenship to Arabs and elects them to the Knesset is called apartheid while Palestinians including the PLO are called freedom fighters and demand that the 600,000 Jews who live inthe "West BanK" called Judea and Samaria by Jews who have lived there for over 2000 years are called settlers and their expulsion demanded by USA
4 |
cynthia, New Jersey,
Sunday Aug 09, 2009
You will not find hatred against a whole people, glorification of death and killing, especially this abuse aimed at instilling these lack of values in young children by Israel and the U.S. Just look what happened when a brave Arab leader embraced peace, not hatred. Sadat had courage and caring for the lives of his own people, rather than a terrorist ideology. Israel negotiated and made huge concessions because there was a leader who really cared about the welfare and prosperity of his people.
5 |
pm, uk,
Sunday Aug 09, 2009
Said - I hope you have read the reports on the 'pronouncements' from the Fatah conference over the last few days. If so, you must realise that those who 'don't want it' ie peace, are the Arabs/Muslims. These 'pronouncements' have come from the LEADERS. Therefore, that is POLICY, whatever a few individuals - yourself included - may think.
6 |
hameed aboughaze, iran,
Sunday Aug 09, 2009
said, number 1
you know only too well that the arab regimes can't afford to have oeace with israel and can't affrod the pals to do so as well. if these regimes have a final peace with israel, who will they blame and use as scape goat to rile their masses, protect their regimes, have a common uniting enemy and deflect/accuse the enemy for the regimes' internal problems in society, poor education, non existent freedom or economic disaster.
arab regimes cannot live in peace with the enemy because these regimes will collapse if there is no one common enemy to blame all their faults on.
7 |
AD -- Passaic, New Jersey,
Monday Aug 10, 2009
In the heyday of the Oslo charade, there was widespread optimism in Israel that maybe peace was at hand. Even the Chief Sephardi Rabbi ruled that it was permissible to return part of Holy Land if lives would be saved by such a trade. In the aftermath, arab terrorists murdered thousands of men, women and children in the most utter disregard for human life. The arab murderers were glorified by arab media and even by our so-called "peace partners". Streets and public squares were named after them. Said is a liar to deny the truth: the arabs have done essentially nothing to further peace.
8 |
Chris USA,
Monday Aug 10, 2009
Until the world recognizes the palestinian - Islamic association with Nazi ideology it will be unable to recognize that palestinians don't want a palestinian state. They want to eliminate Israel and the jews so jordan can reclaim the territory as an extension of its borders.
9 |
Hypatia, Santa Monica California,
Monday Aug 10, 2009
I wonder if the U.S. leaders understand that the Arab criminals-in-charge have not the faintest interest in making peace with Israel. THEIR interest is in continuing the status quo so as to perpetuate their control over the Arab masses -- who, if left to themselves, would gladly accept a peace agreement which would allow them to protect their families, earn a living, educate their children properly rather than feed them anti-Israel, anti-West propaganda. The Arab "leaders" love their gravy train loaded with goodies not only from the gullible U.S., but from the Jew-hating Europeans.
10 |
Said, London,
Monday Aug 10, 2009
#s 2,5 & 6: I won't deny that there is much incitement in the Arab world, I grew up in Jordan and know what its like. I won't deny either that many Arab leaders use Israel as a scapegoat for their own failings, however, the general message I've been getting fro reading talkbacks from Jews and supporters of Israel, is that they don't want peace now or ever. Go ahead and read them on any given day, I'm not making this up. My point is that I don't think either side truly wants peace!
12 |
JE USA,
Tuesday Aug 11, 2009
AD #7, It was because of the breakdown in the Pal. power structure & the loss of hope for resolution,AFTER the failure of Oslo, that the fighting began again. The answer is not to deny the possibility of negotiation. The answer is to get to work on the negotiations. There will be no peace until major concessions are made by both sides. You should keep in mind that while the Palestinians have done themselves no favors in continuing the intifada, neither have the Israelis with the huge civilian deaths during Cast Lead. Both Israeli & Palestinian leaders are invested in the status quo. Dump Them
13 |
cares1996,
Wednesday Aug 12, 2009
It would appear that the only comprehensive peace sought by terror groups is a piece of Israels butt. However having this knowledge gives a advantage in setting priorities.
14 |
Eli, Kiryat Ono, Israel,
Thursday Aug 13, 2009
Said#10. I had to live through Fedayeen attacks since childhood, long before the "occupation", wars, rocketing, shelling and terrorist attacks aimed at the destruction of my country all my life. Said, believe me I want peace and quiet and I can speak for most Israelis.
In addition, I shall never forget the extremely noble gesture of King Hussein who PERSONALLY visited the home of an Israeli child who was murdered by a Jordanian soldier to apologize to her parents.
So I disagree with your assertion that neither side truly wants peace. 600 words reply cannot cover why we are not there yet.
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