Media Criticism

The Israeli newspaper Haaretz and its publisher Amos Schocken was highlighted recently in Monocle. The article was focused on the stalwart approach of Haaretz to an open perspective on solving crises in the Middle East. Photos of Haaretz’s editorial offices show art pieces by Israelis, Palestinians and others around the world that protest against the status quo. The photos met Monocle’s standard for colorful and glossy images but I found the content of the article much more enlightening.

There are several elements of Haaretz that act as a silver lining in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The pages of Haaretz do not feature the tabloid stories, gaudy advertisements and bright photos of competing newspapers. I have read a few pages of the English-language version of Haaretz and found it analytical in its approach to national and international news.

Monocle points out a number of events that have drawn the ire of die-hard Israeli nationalists. The sale of a portion of Haaretz’s stock to Dumont-Schauberg (a publisher with Nazi ties going back to the 1940s) created a firestorm among critics who felt that Shocken and his colleagues were betraying the six million Jews killed by Adolf Hitler. Schocken has used editorials to plead for reason in dealing with Palestinians, soften the nationalist rhetoric of the country’s anthem and support moderate policies in international affairs. The paper is read by many Israeli leaders but the publisher’s positions are at odds in a nation with past leaders like Ariel Sharon and parties like Likud and Kadima.

The fact that Haaretz is the nation’s longest-running newspaper is an impressive feat. I think the longevity of Haaretz has been possible because the paper fits into the original vision of Israel. The purpose of Israel to give disparate Jews throughout the world a home based on historical claims. The origins of Israel following World War II and the liberation of Middle Eastern countries from the yoke of colonialism meant that surrounding nations did not care for the ham-handed approach of the West toward creating Israel. The vision of Israel survives even as politicians cut it apart for scraps useful in gaining supremacy in the Middle East.

Israel was never meant to be a political tool, puppet or warring state; just a single place for the global Jewish community to live together. Haaretz represents reason, intelligence and patience in a region where all three are often in short supply. This newspaper will live or die by the next generation of Israelis and Palestinians who need to set aside the anger of past generations for the moderation and trust needed for a peaceful Middle East.

I thought I would add a bit of colour by discussing a highly important issue to me–Israel–through the eyes of an article from a foreign source.

Last summer, Israel’s war in Lebanon was a huge source of controversy. Photos circulated all over the globe of suffering citizens in Lebanon, news reports blasted Israel for the accidental killing of UN observers, and the Israeli people seemed to be generally unsatisfied with the outcome of the war. Israel traditionally gets bad press; somehow, no matter how many Israeli civilians die as a result of terror attacks, the front page seems to carry a picture of the poor, suffering terrorists.

However, this article paints a different picture. It doesn’t even mention the damage done to Lebanon; rather, it focuses on the suffering Israelis faced as a result of war. From evacuations to children suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, the BBC seems highly sympathetic towards the plight of a country at war.

Complicated issues breed complicated journalism.