By ELIE LESHEM, JPOST
Israel’s image in the international media has deteriorated since the 2005 disengagement from the Gaza Strip, despite expectations to the contrary, according to a study conducted at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
According to a statement released by the Department of Media Relations at the university, instead of helping mend Israel’s “image as an occupier and an oppressor,” and decreasing international demands for major territorial concessions on Israel’s part, the disengagement only served to aggravate Israel’s already poor showings in the international media arena.
Researchers Dr. Tamir Sheafer and Itai Gabai tracked representations of Israel in the American and British media and found that, despite temporarily finding favor in the media’s eyes directly following disengagement, Israel was generally represented “in a more negative light after the disengagement in comparison to the period that preceded it.”
“We found that one of the main reasons for this phenomenon is that Israel continues to be viewed by the world as a occupying state,” Sheafer explained. “We also found that the demands from Israel to territorial concessions in the Territories not only were not lessened following the disengagement, but actually became stronger.”
Former prime minister Ariel Sharon, speaking before the plan was carried out, had said that “In the wider view, the Disengagement Plan improves our international standing and promotes the chance of peace in our region.”
Shaefer and Gabai gleaned their data from thousands of on-line articles, and statements made by US and British leaders, ministers and politicians on the Israeli-Palestinian issue.
The study also showed, however, that the Palestinian Authority was also unable to rectify its international image. According to the conclusions, the PA, which had hoped to improve its media standing by holding elections, was unsuccessful in selling its exercise in democracy.
“Although the Palestinian Authority tried to market the January 2006 elections as positive and democratic, the elections were ultimately portrayed in a negative light in the foreign media due to their strengthening of Hamas,” Sheafer said.
I wonder how the French would react if the rockets were coming down on Paris or the Americans if they were raining down on Virginia?
Oh wait! That comes later when the portable nuclear or biological weapons get sold to the terrorist groups. By that time “I told you so” will be beyond meaning.
The French sold their soul long ago. It was a French exocet that blew up a British Carrier in the Falklands War. And yet the French feel snobbish and superior, Which French statesman was it that called Israel a “dirty little country”? I forgot, but that is so à propos illustrating the popular French attitude.
Is there any country that has less respect than the Frogs? They are so afraid of conflict that they have placed their arsenals up for sale. A French rifle goes for for 5 Franks. Dropped once.
Money!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’ve wondered why Barak thinks French opinion is more important to him than the security and well-being of Israel’s citizens. I would have slammed down the phone on Bernard Kouchner. What the French think should have no bearing upon Israel’s prosecution of the war.
He should have told kouchner to go fuck himself. The olmert government has learned nothing from the Lebanon war.
Hamas has enough stockpile of weapons to keep hammering Israel for years. This is why Israel has to reoccupy Gaza. Air power alone will not bring peace and quiet to southern Israel.