Guest comment:Admirable Israeli handling of this Hamas PR ploy of protesting European "human rights activists." Journalists are finally learning to investigate and not take at face value statements made to reproters.
But look at the spin on the story appearing in the San Francisco Gate written by and contributed to by two Arab (if not Palestinian Arab) reporters. They laud the effort as huge success, failing to go behind the scenes. Pay special attention in each article to the quote of the retired Gazan school teacher, one following his every step while the second taking his statement at face valvue. Note also the choice of words in describing the cross border violence: "bruising Palestinian rocket attacks and deadly Israel airstrikes." Also lacking is an explanation for the shortage of necessities in Gaza.
Aggie
Joel Leyden
Israel National News Agency http://tinyurl.com/3zhcgc
Jerusalem, Israel --- August 23, 2008 … Israel's PR has always been lacking. One can find three very well substantiated reasons: lack of professional public relations manpower in government, lack of funds and lack of coordinated communications between the Israel Prime Minister's Office, the Israel Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Israel Defense Forces. But today was different. The terror group Hamas tried to stage a media PR event and failed big time.
"We knew about this Hamas attempt to create a PR event at sea for weeks," Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesmen Arye Mekel told the Israel News Agency.
"We knew who's on these boats and what they contain, and therefore we decided weeks ago to allow them to come into Gaza. They were not carrying weapons and had only a handful of equipment for the hearing impaired."
It appears that hearing aids for Hamas are needed. So are prescription eyeglasses.
According to the Israel Defense Forces, approximately 300 humanitarian trucks filled with food, medical supplies and fuel pass daily into Gaza. "Gaza has food," says Mekel. "They only thing they lack is freedom and democracy."
Under the security closure imposed by Israel in June 2007 after Hamas violently attacked the Palestinian Authority in Gaza, Israel has allowed tons of UN supplied humanitarian supplies into Gaza.
So as Hamas failed to create an "Exodus" type event at sea, they also failed to please their own people in Gaza. Since leaving Cyprus on Friday, the failed PR event staged by the US - based Free Gaza Movement had always been in doubt.
The residents of Gaza were disappointed by the total lack of food supposed to have been brought in by the two Palestine boats carrying international leftist activists.
"Many people thought these boats would make a significant contribution to break the siege, not only politically but also in terms of bringing in goods, equipment, food, and medicine," one Gazan said. "However, once it turned out these boats contained no food and only activists, most people left the beach disappointed."
Israel government sources state that tons of UN, US and Israel humanitarian aid never even reach the citizens of Gaza. The food is confiscated by Hamas, given to their own people, some of the UN and Red Cross supplies are sold on the black market and about 30 percent is simply destroyed to create a PR image of Gazans going hungry.
All the same it was Pallywood, a Hollywood event which begged hundreds of Gazans to come to the beach and greet the leftist activists at the beach.
The two Palestinian boats, carrying 46 international left-wing activists who support Hamas suicide bombers and rocket attacks on Israel towns and cities, reached the Gaza beach at around 6:00 pm today. The 46 activists from 14 countries included an 81-year-old Catholic nun and Lauren Booth, the sister-in-law of international Mideast envoy and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Dozens of Gazans headed out to sea in fishing boats to welcome the Hamas supporters. Among these were a Tunisian, German, US citizens, as well as an Israel activist.
Mekel confirmed that the failed PR stunt was staged by Hamas.
"One cannot place any responsibility on the Palestinian Authority for these theatrics as the PA has no control of Gaza."
What Mekel was stating was that this was not a "Palestinian" public relations event. In fact, the PA and it's forces have been at odds with Hamas for many months with much blood shed between the two. The PA supports the Middle-East peace process, while Iran backed Hamas continues to openly call for the destruction of Israel and attacks Israel city and town with Qassam rockets.
The so called "peace activists" which were on their way to Gaza illustrated a complete and total disregard for innocent Israel terror victims, said MFA Frimet Roth.
The Israel Foreign Ministry exposed the foreign supporters of Hamas saying that they did not deserve to be referred to as "peace activists," labeling them as a "handful of provocateurs seeking a public relations stunt who initiated a political protest aimed at boosting Hamas' regime of horrors in Gaza."
"How does such delusional journey promote peace?" the Israel Foreign Ministry added. "What kind of contribution does this journey make to the promotion of ideas of reconciliation and compromise? None."
Hamas spokesman Sammy Abu Zuhri said that Israel's initial insistence on torpedoing the arrival of boats carrying international activists headed to Gaza "attests to the Israeli distress caused by this international peace initiative." There were also reports that the protesters radio equipment had been jammed by the IDF.
"None of this was true," said Mekel. "They were looking for anything they could find to make a news story out of thin air. Not one IDF ship was ever seen by these protesters."
Mekel pointed out that the decision not to prevent the protesters from reaching Gaza was "made at the highest level of government." Which means that Israel Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, his security cabinet and Israel's Minister of Defense and Foreign Affairs were not going to allow another Pallywood production. In the past, Palestinians have been filmed being shot and appearing to be dead. During Operation Defensive Shield Israel video footage clearly shows Palestinian actors either falling off or getting off first aid stretchers.
video
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Resurrection+in+Palestine&search_type=&aq=-1&oq=
[TRANSLATED] Resurrection in Palestine
While Mekel would not admit that it was clearly a public relations victory for Israel, one can clearly see that Israel has come a long way in its professional and honest approach with the media. Even if the IDF has made a mistake for which they could easily take a spin on, senior officers at the Israel Defense Forces Spokespersons Office will not allow any lies.
"At the end of the day, we do not need to lie," said an IDF spokesperson. "If we make a mistake we will be the first to admit it. While the international media sees day after day pure propaganda coming from Gaza. The international media has come to learn the difference between democracy and free speech at work in Israel and Hamas terrorism in Gaza. Journalists have long memories. And many remember Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl and the recent kidnappings of journalists in Gaza by Hamas."
Israel officials made a point of highlighting that sincere humanitarian groups could continue to provide humanitarian aid to the Palestinian population with aid to the UN and International Red Cross through existing land crossings. Israel has always drawn and respected the distinction between the civilian population in Gaza and Iran backed Hamas terrorists.
"They are very brave, they are very strong, I am proud of them," said Samira Ayash, a 65-year-old retired school teacher who came to watch the failed Gaza PR event. An European reporter followed Ayash as he returned to Gaza Port. He was greeted by two young men in beards who shook his hand and then took out a wallet and handed Ayash money.
Palestinians are well paid to speak to the press by Hamas.
The above news content was edited and SEO optimized in Israel for the Internet by the Leyden Communications Group.
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