Thursday, 22 September 2011
Israel is attempting to get its take of the Palestinian U.N statehood bid out to the world. (Photo by AFP)
As international diplomats press an offensive for or against the Palestinian bid for U.N. membership, Israel is waging a media war to get its story over and ensure its view is understood.
“I speak to dozens of journalists every day, not counting e-mails Facebook messages, and radio and TV interviews,” foreign ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor said.
In a video posted on YouTube earlier this week, Palmor spelled out Israel’s perspective.
“Israel does not oppose Palestinian statehood. Israel wants peaceful coexistence side-by-side with a future Palestinian state, but peace can only be reached through direct talks, there is simply no other way.”
“I speak to dozens of journalists every day, not counting e-mails Facebook messages, and radio and TV interviews,” foreign ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor said.
In a video posted on YouTube earlier this week, Palmor spelled out Israel’s perspective.
“Israel does not oppose Palestinian statehood. Israel wants peaceful coexistence side-by-side with a future Palestinian state, but peace can only be reached through direct talks, there is simply no other way.”
The last round of direct talks collapsed in September 2010 when Israel refused to renew a moratorium on building Jewish settlements on land the Palestinians view as part of their future state.
The Palestinians insist there will be no direct talks unless there is a settlement freeze.
Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas will on Friday deliver a request for full membership as a state to U.N. secretary general Ban Ki-moon while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu uses all his rhetorical skills to argue against it from the rostrum of the General Assembly.
Israel is vehemently opposed to the diplomatic campaign, arguing that a Palestinian state can only arise out of bilateral negotiations, and cannot be imposed by an external body.
Accompanying Netanyahu as he flew to New York on Wednesday was a phalanx of spokespeople, media specialists, ministers and deputy-ministers.
Defence Minister Ehud Barak travelled there last week and has been giving television interviews as well as lobbying U.N. delegates.
The Israelis have set up a “dialogue tent” near the U.N. building where they will explain their position.
Cabinet secretary Zvi Hauser says the aim of the campaign is “to make it clear who is offering their hand in peace and who is refusing.”
Netanyahu on Monday called on Abbas to meet him in New York to re-launch direct negotiations.
“I’m going to the United States to take part in the Israeli media campaign to get the support of our American friends against the demand for a Palestinian state,” Danny Danon, an MP from Netanyahu’s Likud party, told AFP.
Back in Israel, the Government Press Office is getting a helping hand from non-governmental lobby groups such as The Israel Project (TIP), Media Central and INFO: The Israel Newsmakers Forum, which have been offering briefings by Israeli officials and study trips around the country.
Israel’s former UN. .ambassador Gabriela Shalev has also been mobilized to speak to the foreign press.
Naftali Bennett, who heads the Yesha Council which represents Jewish settlers in the West Bank, is quick to denounce what he sees as the overwhelming dominance of “the Palestinian narrative in the foreign media.”
“To create a Palestinian state is a serious mistake because it will endanger the future of Israel,” he tells journalists, showing them photos of Tel Aviv taken from settlements to illustrate how close the West Bank is to the Jewish state’s major urban centers.
But the Israeli public seems to be largely unaware of the media frenzy over the Palestinian bid to secure membership in the world body.
“When I ask people in the street about the events of September, they ask me what I’m talking about,” said a French television correspondent.
The Palestinians insist there will be no direct talks unless there is a settlement freeze.
Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas will on Friday deliver a request for full membership as a state to U.N. secretary general Ban Ki-moon while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu uses all his rhetorical skills to argue against it from the rostrum of the General Assembly.
Israel is vehemently opposed to the diplomatic campaign, arguing that a Palestinian state can only arise out of bilateral negotiations, and cannot be imposed by an external body.
Accompanying Netanyahu as he flew to New York on Wednesday was a phalanx of spokespeople, media specialists, ministers and deputy-ministers.
Defence Minister Ehud Barak travelled there last week and has been giving television interviews as well as lobbying U.N. delegates.
The Israelis have set up a “dialogue tent” near the U.N. building where they will explain their position.
Cabinet secretary Zvi Hauser says the aim of the campaign is “to make it clear who is offering their hand in peace and who is refusing.”
Netanyahu on Monday called on Abbas to meet him in New York to re-launch direct negotiations.
“I’m going to the United States to take part in the Israeli media campaign to get the support of our American friends against the demand for a Palestinian state,” Danny Danon, an MP from Netanyahu’s Likud party, told AFP.
Back in Israel, the Government Press Office is getting a helping hand from non-governmental lobby groups such as The Israel Project (TIP), Media Central and INFO: The Israel Newsmakers Forum, which have been offering briefings by Israeli officials and study trips around the country.
Israel’s former UN. .ambassador Gabriela Shalev has also been mobilized to speak to the foreign press.
Naftali Bennett, who heads the Yesha Council which represents Jewish settlers in the West Bank, is quick to denounce what he sees as the overwhelming dominance of “the Palestinian narrative in the foreign media.”
“To create a Palestinian state is a serious mistake because it will endanger the future of Israel,” he tells journalists, showing them photos of Tel Aviv taken from settlements to illustrate how close the West Bank is to the Jewish state’s major urban centers.
But the Israeli public seems to be largely unaware of the media frenzy over the Palestinian bid to secure membership in the world body.
“When I ask people in the street about the events of September, they ask me what I’m talking about,” said a French television correspondent.
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