Media coverage of Israel (and Palestine)

Whilst media coverage focuses on Ariel Sharon's health, a significant impediment to peace between the Palestinians and Israelis is being ignored. The Palestinian Authority is holding parliamentary elections but Israel has refused to allow Palestinians living in Jerusalem to participate in the vote. Candidates who attempted to lobby for votes in Jerusalem were stopped by Israeli security officers. One of the most moderate candidates, Mustafa Barghouti, and a key aide of another moderate candidate, Hanan Ashrawi, were arrested. A clear pattern has emerged. Block the moderates for they pose the greatest threat to Israel's colonial designs over the West Bank.

The most moderate candidates pose the greatest risk to Israel, because these moderates are most likely to seek a peaceful, and just, resolution of hostilities. Israel has no interest in anything other than eventual takeover of all of the lands still inhabited, in ever so rudimentary a fashion, by the Palestinians. This is evidenced by the fact that Israel refuses to recognise any Palestinian connection to Jerusalem. Even though this connection significantly pre-dates the State of Israel. There is also, of course, the ever expanding system of settlements in the Occupied Territories. These settlements are illegal under international law, as affirmed by an overwhelming International Court of Justice majority decision in 2004. The settlements continue to expand, taking all of the most valuable land - the highest ground, the most fertile fields, the greatest access to fresh water, and so on. Most significantly, the settlement program could not exist without billions of dollars worth of funding from the United States government on an annual basis. There is no coverage of this in the mainstream media.

Instead, we read of the travails of Ariel Sharon's health. That peace in the region is diminished if Sharon is lost to the political process. There is even talk of the dilemmas faced by the United States if Sharon is no longer Prime Minister.

In comparison there is limited reporting of Israel's abject refusal to allow Palestinians from Jerusalem to participate in political life. Even where there is reporting, there are no headlines noting the simple fact that Israel is steadfastly opposed to any meaningful recognition of a Palestinian state. Not to mention the pivotal role played by Ariel Sharon in maintaining this opposition. Orwell has been tossed and turned in his grave by so many writers since he died such that his corpse has now shredded into a million miniscule pieces. So I won't make the obvious comment about how Orwellian the mainstream media coverage of Israel and Palestine is.