Aibu to be incensed at the lack of coverage of the protests against Israel by the mainstream media?

[runes]

Over 100,000 people descend on London to protest against Israel slaughtering the people of Gaza. Where are the reports on the bbc, sky etc?? I'm appalled, not only at the horrendous mass murder of the Palestinian people, but the obviously corrupt and biased pro Israeli media

That's one example from one American newspaper - what about our newspapers? Can anyone come up with an example with bias for Israel in British newspapers or newsrooms.

Runes, again, it is not for the media to condemn, to be outraged, to pass judgement. We have a free press who report on the world's news.

So you're angry with Cameron and Obama? Fine, I get that. Completely different matter though isn't it? This thread was about media bias.

But they are biased because they are not putting anything in context. Just watching the mainstream media I would've thought that it was mostly Hamas at fault, they are called terrorists who fire thousands of rockets and refuse a ceasefire. It is only from social media and my own subsequent reading that I have learned anything about the background of this situation. The Gaza blockade, illegal Jewish settlements, the oppression of the people of Gaza and their terrible living conditions. This stuff is all relevant.

Yes of course it's all relevant I agree with you but a) we REALLY can't depend on social media especially images which have been proven to be manipulated or false for this and other conflicts (just because a 'fact' or image does the rounds on social media and is commented on by millions - even respected news agencies or politicians - does not make it true) and b) I still have not had the same experience that you've had when consuming news on this issue. I've honestly seen the opposite bias.

Anyhow I do share your horror and waking up to today's news is so awful. If I was religious I would be praying for innocents on both sides. Living in dread, fear and grief we can't comprehend.

The reason why public demonstrations receive little or no coverage on the BBC or other media outlets is because THEY ARE NOT THAT INTERESTING!

Runes - also relevant are Hamas using schools and hospitals as rocket bases and using civilians and children as human shields.

Seriously guys - what would we do if say Wales or Scotland were firing rockets on us from our boarders and wouldn't stop? Do you really think any other country would do it differently? I hate that they have to fight this war that way but I can't see another way? Can anyone else?

But no other country has illegally occupied a native population and caged them in a 25 mile prison with totally closed borders. If we rounded people up and put them in an open air prison on the seafront, removed all basic human rights, destroyed infrastructure and services, dehumanised them then we would expect some resistance, no?

"Living in dread, fear and grief we can't comprehend."

I have lived through this as an Israeli young person. It's horrific. I feel empathy for families and innocent civilians on both sides. No matter what you believe and whose political agenda you support, it's impossible to feel anything but horror when seeing the pictures of small coffins.

When most parents on here send their children to nursery or school, the worst that will happen is their child has a bad day. When a Palestinian or Israeli sends their child, there is a real possibility that their child will return traumatised, if at all.

It would be good to have more coverage of the whole context of the current horrific events, including the issue of arms sales from and to Israel.

Electricfairy

We banned arms sale to Israel in the 70s and 80s including during the Yom Kippur war, when Israel for some time looked as if it was going to be overrun. This had two unintended consequences: 1) the Israelis never believe they can rely on European "guarantees" of their security; and 2) the Israelis now have a thriving arms industry of their own. In particular, countries are queuing up to buy the Iron Dome.

Wow MyFairyKing. I just can't imagine it.

I'm glad there are more varied opinions on this thread now. As I said upthread there was an ironic bias on here. I'm not saying there should be more pro-Israel posts and opinions, but just that we must all keep open minds.

thewitch Ffs think about it!! The human shields thing is disgusting Israeli propaganda designed to portray the Palestinians as heartless monsters. Do you really think that Hamas hold their own people in such contempt??? Even if it were true, and I don't buy it for a second, it STILL doesn't justify Israel's actions. If a bank robber grabs a member of the public to take cover do you think a police officer should blast the innocent person to get to the criminal, especially when that criminal poses very little real threat. The fact is Israel are murdering innocent Palestinians indiscriminately and the world looks on and does nothing

Israel closed their border with Gaza to keep out Hamas which is understandable until peace can be reached (if it ever is). However, Egypt have also closed the southern Gaza border. Why haven't they tried to help their fellow Muslims?

It is awful that so many innocent people have died but Israel has to defend itself against the rocket attacks in the way that any other nation would. Hamas has yet to recognise that Israel has a right to exist.

Runes, the UN has found rockets kept in schools and homes situated in Gaza so they are using their own people as human shields.

Finding rockets in schools or homes doesn't automatically mean that Hamas are happy for their people to be murdered by Israel!! If Hamas live among the people where else do you think their weapons would be stored. They don't have an army or navy or military bases where you would expect such weapons to be stored. Even if Hamas were evil enough to deliberately place their own people in such danger it DOES NOT excuse Israel pulling the trigger Do you get it??? The children would not die if Israel did not kill them.

Runes - you think no governments/regimes hold their people contempt?

There are and have been leaderships that kill, torture and starve their own people, let alone use them as human shields.

You are getting very worked up and angry with people on this thread yet it's you who seems the most blinkered in this 'debate'.

There is propaganda on all sides but you are choosing toonly listen to one.

Runes, sorry but I do believe Hamas holds their people on such comtept. They are pawns to beat Israel with! Hamas don't care about 'their' people, they want the Jews gone, end off.

Another poster up thread was talking about no other country illegally occupying another, let's give the USA back to the native red Indians, Austalia to the Aborigiones, New Zealand, South Africa - shall I go on?

Runes, can't they store their rockets in warehouses, silos, waste land. Why actually pick schools and hospitals when - I'm sorry - but there are many placed with way less children!

Runes - what would u do in Israel's place? Please give another solution?

thewitch How do you know how Hamas view their own people??? You wouldn't have got this view from Israel You still haven't answered, even if Hamas do view the Palestinians as cannon fodder does that make it ok for Israel to KILL them???? It doesn't change the fact that Israel are the ones MURDERING huge numbers of innocent people. You ask what else Israel could do? They could stop killing and start talking???? They could get the fuck off the land that they have illegally settled on and lift the blockade that the UN has called a "collective punishment" which has resulted in the "impoverishment and de-development of a highly skilled and well-educated people". Israel do not need to do this but they obviously want to.

The problem is that Hamas have to stop killing Israelis and they don't want Israel to exist let alone to live in peace with them. If it is a choice between allowing rockets to land in Israel or killing the people who fire them then they have to fight back.

Israel agreed to the recent cease fire but Hamas chose to ignore it and continued to fire rockets. It's sad but Hamas hate the Israelis more than they love their own people.

Jesus have you all been brainwashed?? Where is the evidence that Hamas hate their own people???? Fuck me How can Israel get away with this. THEY ARE SLAUGHTERING INNOCENT PEOPLE

AND YOU KETCHUP AND WITCH ARE JUSTIFYING IT. DISGUSTING.

What Ketchup said basically, I think it was Golda Meir that said 'we can forgive you for killing our children but we can't forgive you for making us kill yours.

Rune, they leaflet and telephone areas before bombing, telling civilians to move out. Also, google knock knock, they try to only bomb 'military' targets.

God there are some disgusting apologist views on this thread.

Supporting apartheid, persecution and the oppression of a dehumanised nation is not something to shout about. Shame on you all. Israel is behaving despicable and you all know it. Perhaps you would feel different if your children were being pulverised.

israel are so gracious to forewarn before murder aren't they?

Some really vile views expressed here. Have some compassion for the people who have been being relentlessly attacked for nearly 2 weeks now. When this is over and apartheid ends I'm glad i will be one of those who can say i opposed that regime.

No Somewhere, not disgusting, more informed!

My DP is Jewish, I decided to look into both sides off this after a Muslim colleague told me I was marrying down - seriously, I'm not disgusting.