Israel, Zionism and the Media

Day: 19 August 2010

On the wing and a prayer – Itay Shecheter scores for Hapoel Tel Aviv

Hapoel Tel Aviv player Itay Shecheter’s goal celebration seems to have upset the Portuguese referee.

Having scored  after running almost from the half-way line, he produced a Hapoel kippa from inside his sock.

Having donned said head-covering he proceeded to go down on his knees, cover his eyes and appeared to offer a prayer to the Almighty.

Why was he booked? Here’s the YouTube video of this event:

The manager said that when Christian players cross themselves when they score no-one makes a fuss. Muslim player also seem to acknowledge Allah.

Maybe there’s some FIFA rule about wearing items of clothing or something. Maybe he thought he was advertising.

Maybe he was just advertising his religion.

Salzburg slaughtered by Shecheter*!

*if you don’t get this joke, check a Yiddish dictionary.

BBC – well it couldn’t last

Hurray for Panorama!!

Boo!! to Paul Wood, BBC News reporting on Eden Aberjil’s disgusting Facebook images of her posing with Palestinian prisoners.

(http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-10997011)

Here’s why:

A great many young Israeli soldiers have photograph albums quite similar to Eden Aberjil’s ‘The army: the best days of my life’.

The only difference is that they do not post them on Facebook.

That explains her remark that she still did not “understand what was wrong” and the comment of Dr Ishai Menuchin of the Committee Against Torture in Israel that “she is a bad apple, but all the box are bad apples”.

The IDF likes to think of itself as the most ethical army in the world and so condemned the photographs in strident terms. (They are also no fools when it comes to public relations).

For most young conscripts, and young Israelis who have completed their military service, I suspect the reaction will not be outrage but a simple shrug of the shoulders.

Ouch!!

“No fools when it comes to public relations!? you gotta be kidding. But suppose they didn’t condemn it? Can’t win if you are an Israeli.

I’d like to see some of the UK soldiers’ picture albums.

Of course Dr Ishai Menuchim is a totally dispassionate observer. Where’s the evidence for all these sweeping statements? Did they do a survey?

“I suspect”, he says. I suspect that you are an extremely bad journalist, but at least I now have evidence to prove it.