Israel Intercepts Aid, Education

"Ship Bound for Gaza Strip and Carrying Aid Supplies Is Intercepted by Israeli Navy"
A8, Friday 2/6/09,
By Ethan Bronner and Isabel Kershner

Why does the title state that the ship was “carrying aid supplies” when in the body of the article the actual cargo was qualified with “its organizers said”? At least the online's headline indicated simply it was a "ship bound for Gaza."

A small and insufficient paragraph conveys not that this is one of many such publicity stunts, but one of many “boats by activists” that have “challenged Israel’s control of Gaza’s waters”. Readers may be left to assume this was another genuine attempt to get needed goods to Gazans. No Israelis are quoted on the propagandistic nature of this stunt.

As to those on the boat, thankfully, the sordid resume of the former terrorist-abetting archbishop of Jerusalem was revealed. Furthermore, an Al Jazeera reporter on board spoke by telephone to television viewers saying that Israelis had pointed their weapons and assaulted some on the ship. This is appropriately contrasted in the same article with the boat having tried to fake out Israeli naval boats. Some human rights mission.

The violence of Hamas is whitewashed when it is written that “Hamas took over in a brief civil war with its rival”. The standard “seized power in a violent coup” would’ve been fine. Then “Israel maintained a strict blockade of Gaza since Hamas took power” would sound like more of a reasonable Israeli response. Of course there is no expectation Bronner or Kershner would report on Hamas’ history of firing on border crossings and thus the impossibility of maintaining security cooperation at those crossings.

Of course, they’re not saying Israel’s blockade is wrong, but well, yea, kind of.

It’s also unacceptable that 1. they report 1,300 Palestinians dead; and 2. they don’t offer a citation. It’s no longer “according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which is run by Hamas," which was actually rarely used during Israel's recent operation.

John Ging should’ve been counter-pointed. As long as Hamas keeps its rocket and mortar firings going, there can’t be an operational border crossing. Bronner and Kershner should’ve cited recent militant acts by Hamas to provide balance to Ging's lament of limited Gaza access.

Ging points out that UNRWA created a “new human rights curriculum," which is being prevented from reaching students...by the Israelis. The supposed irony was intended, but a bigger irony is that UNRWA has created a human rights curriculum for a people they've helped keep in squalor and depradation. There is also hypocrisy which needs to be pointed out. Ging complains that Israel is limiting supplies into Gaza, yet his agency itself shut down distribution to Gaza in response to Hamas' actions -- which aren't nearly as violent as what Israel faces.

Ging goes on to state that Hamas, in stealing blankets and food from the UN, was “acting in a reckless manner.” Hamas shooting rockets at homes hasn’t warranted this kind of condemnation.

This entire boat stunt warranted a news brief, no more. Instead, it served as an opportunity to question Israel’s border closures and deflect blame from Hamas – which was reprimanded, like
mischievous children, for stealing supplies.