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July 18, 2012
Where’s the Coverage? Israelis Help Syrian Refugees in Jordan and Turkey
As Syria spirals out of control, tens of thousands of refugees attempt to escape the violence. Rightfully the media continues to cover this story. A Google News search turned up 9,580 results in 0.10 seconds.
Among the media stories, Fox News reported on Syrian refugees in Jordan and The Washington Post reported on Syrian refugees in Turkey. Reuters’ AlertNet reported that:
...Syrian refugees are dependent on humanitarian aid, with some coming with only the clothes on their backs...
So there are stories on Syrian refugees in Jordan and Turkey receiving humanitarian aid. Yet there are no mainstream media reports on Syrian refugees in Jordan and Turkey receiving humanitarian aid from Israelis. But they are and the Israeli media has covered the story. The Times of Israel wrote:
Israeli aid groups are providing "food, medicine, and a lot of help" to Syrian refugees who have fled to Jordan and Turkey, Likud MK Ayoub Kara told AFP Thursday. The Israeli groups have been working under the auspices of European institutions to provide direct aid to the refugees, including children and infants, over the past two months, he said.
Israel National News (Arutz Sheva) wrote:
Kara, a member of Israel's Druze minority, said the governments of Jordan and Turkey "know about the work of the Israeli organizations."He also noted that efforts are underway in an attempt to bring wounded Syrian refugees to Israel for treatment, AFP reported.
Note that both of the stories refer to Agence France-Presse reporting and while numerous mainstream media outlets frequently pick up AFP stories, none has seen fit to follow up on this one. As far as CAMERA could determine, the only outlet, other than Israeli media, to cover the story is L'Orient Le Jour, a French language Lebanese newspaper.
When it comes to Israel and refugees, the media is awash in flawed and incomplete stories portraying Israel negatively. A recent CAMERA article, "On Refugees and Racism, a Double Standard Against Israel," noted:
Recent press attention has focused on the repatriation of illegal African migrants from Israel. Reuters, the Associated Press, AFP, and UPI have disseminated stories. The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, New York Times, Financial Times, ABC, CNN, CBC, BBC and others have added their own reports.
But, when Israelis go out of their way to help refugees from a country at war with Israel in countries unfriendly to Israel, The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, New York Times, Financial Times, ABC, CNN, CBC, BBC and others are silent. Where's the fairness? Where's the balance? Where's the coverage?
Posted by SC at July 18, 2012 09:26 PM
Comments
Very good point. There should certainly be
coverage of Israel's humanitarian aid. Hope
this will be looked into. Am proud of Israel.
Posted by: Selma Soss at July 19, 2012 11:41 AM
While it is true that media should report what Israel is doing to help the Syrians, my question is why are they doing it??
How many times has Israel helped their Arab enemies only to have them come back stronger and more determined to kill more Jews?
To me this is foolish and stupid. The Jewish bible says that he who is merciful to the cruel ends up being cruel to the merciful.
The Syrians have been our most vicious enemies.
Let them solve their own problems.
Posted by: Alyn at July 29, 2012 12:56 PM
With the situation being what it is, the problem with refugees continues to escalate. I did a little reading on the issue today and this article I found says it all: http://www.pressdisplay.com/pressdisplay/showlink.aspx?bookmarkid=5CSX97QCGGI4&preview=article&linkid=913e9840-0e45-492f-b43b-6d2a6d4f40ab&pdaffid=ZVFwBG5jk4Kvl9OaBJc5%2bg%3d%3d and I pray for these people.
Posted by: Elene Parker at September 4, 2012 11:39 AM
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