Eretz Israel is our unforgettable historic homeland...The Jews who will it shall achieve their State...And whatever we attempt there for our own benefit will redound mightily and beneficially to the good of all mankind. (Theodor Herzl, DerJudenstaat, 1896)

We offer peace and amity to all the neighbouring states and their peoples, and invite them to cooperate with the independent Jewish nation for the common good of all. The State of Israel is ready to contribute its full share to the peaceful progress and development of the Middle East.
(From Proclamation of the State of Israel, 5 Iyar 5708; 14 May 1948)

With a liberal democratic political system operating under the rule of law, a flourishing market economy producing technological innovation to the benefit of the wider world, and a population as educated and cultured as anywhere in Europe or North America, Israel is a normal Western country with a right to be treated as such in the community of nations.... For the global jihad, Israel may be the first objective. But it will not be the last. (Friends of Israel Initiative)

Monday 28 November 2011

A Traveller Of Mixed Heritage In The Middle East (videos)

I approached this programme (uploaded by theworldvideos) with misgivings, since it was not only made by Al Beeb, but has been tweeted by my local Palestine Solidarity Campaign group, who've asked their followers to request a repeat.  It's a documentary showing the reactions of one of their presenters, Reya El-Salahi, born to a Jewish mother and a Muslim father, on her first visit to Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza.

To be honest, I've only looked at one of the videos, the one to which the local PSC linked on Twitter.  I thought the presenter, of whom I've never previously heard, likeable and honest but politically unsophisticated.  She's obviously been well-drilled in BBC-speak ("militants" instead of terrorists). I sighed at the part where she denounced the gender segregation at the Western Wall, when she'll certainly find the same at the Al Aqsa mosque, which was to offend her for different reasons - they wouldn't let her in. She didn't think much of the separation wall; it's not pretty, of course (though despite the impression given it's not a solid structure "for hundreds of miles), but then neither is suicide bombing.  Overall, however, I didn't find the segment I watched overly biased one way or the other. I was left wondering "where's the sting in the tail?"

Reya El-Salahi has also blogged about her experiences here




2 comments:

  1. Biased to begin with;

    They don't even ask her Dad his views but her mother doesn't support a Jewish state but says it should be "secular." Does she think the same of all of the Arab or Islamic republics/Kingdoms none of which are secular?

    Her brother was (is?) a pro-Paletinian activist.

    I guess that's what passes as neutrality in modern UK media.

    The dangerous thing about shows like this is that the European media broadcasts "options" for Israel something they never do about, say, Pakistan.

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  2. I missed all that, Anon. Thanks for exposing it.

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