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WHILE Israel fights Hezbollah with tanks and aircraft, its supporters are campaigning on the internet.
Israel’s Government has thrown its weight behind efforts by supporters to counter what it believes to be negative bias and a tide of pro-Arab propaganda. The Foreign Ministry has ordered trainee diplomats to track websites and chatrooms so that networks of US and European groups with hundreds of thousands of Jewish activists can place supportive messages.
In the past week nearly 5,000 members of the World Union of Jewish Students (WUJS) have downloaded special “megaphone” software that alerts them to anti-Israeli chatrooms or internet polls to enable them to post contrary viewpoints. A student team in Jerusalem combs the web in a host of different languages to flag the sites so that those who have signed up can influence an opinion survey or the course of a debate.
Jonny Cline, of the international student group, said that Jewish students and youth groups with their understanding of the web environment were ideally placed to present another side to the debate.
“We’re saying to these people that if Israel is being bashed, don’t ignore it, change it,” Mr Cline said. “A poll like CNN’s takes just a few seconds to vote in, but if thousands take part the outcome will be changed. What’s vital is that the international face of the conflict is balanced.”
Doron Barkat, 29, in Jerusalem, spends long nights trawling the web to try to swing the debate Israel’s way. “When I see internet polls for or against Israel I send out a mailing list to vote for Israel,” he said. “It can be that after 15 minutes there will be 400 votes for Israel.
“It’s very satisfying. There are also forums where Lebanese and Israelis talk.”
Israel’s Foreign Ministry must avoid direct involvement with the campaign but is in contact with international Jewish and evangelical Christian groups, distributing internet information packs.
Amir Gissin, the Israeli Foreign Ministry’s public relations director, said: “The internet’s become a leading tool for news, shaping the world view of millions. Our problem is the foreign media shows Lebanese suffering, but not Israeli. We’re bypassing that filter by distributing pictures showing how northern Israelis suffer from Katyusha rocket attacks.”
– By Yonit Farago in Jerusalem
Popularity: 1% [?]
I hate war, but if Hamas is so stupid to tease Israel with bombs, they deserve to be blown away. At least the students are trying to give an alternative view for those obviously not understanding all sides of an issue. It’s sort of like Shock Jocks. I don’t see anything about Air America and Mr. Al (full of hate) Franken.
Now that I think about it Media Channell isn’t too fair either. There’s only one opinion thought to be right which is a joke because it’s so far left. Sorry guys, your hatred and bias are just as bad, if not worse, than all the conservatives.
this is wrong. info-war psyops.
What is happening to world mentality, morals and values?
Not much intelligence is required to have known that Israel should not have handed Gaza back, yet notwithstanding this knowledge Israel still attempted to find a solution to the whole question.
Knowing Hamas’s rejection of Israels right to exist and its continuous terror attacks against Israel, the Palestinian people voted for Hamas. The “innocent” people of Gaza must not complain as their own vote and support of the Hamas Terrorist is causing them their grief. They must not now search for world sympathy.
Any nation who does not want to recognize the right of another nation to exist they themselves deserve to be destroyed. The Palestinians are now only reaping what they themselves have and are sowing.
Lastly, Hamas is defiant and does not stop the sick suicide and missile attacks on Israel. No one can blame Israel for bombing Gaza, in actual fact I cannot understand why Israel does not take it back.
Vic - South Africa
ISRAEL IS A EVIL, RACIST, APARTHIED OCCUPYING FORCE. HOW DO YOU JUSTIFY TAKING ANOTHER PEOPLES LAND BASED ON SOME BIBLICAL BULLSHIT OR “WE ARE THE CHOOSEN PEOPLE” NONSENSE. THE PALESTIANIANS HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO RESIST THE VICIOUS EVIL THAT IS ISRAEL. IT’S FORTUNATE FOR THE CRIMINALS OF ISRAEL THAT A RACIST MORON LIKE BUSH IS IN OFFICE. HE AND MANY OF THE SO-CALLED CHRISTIANS WHO SUPPORT THE ABOMINATION THAT IS ISRAEL SHOULD BE DRAGGED TO THE HAGUE AND PUT ON TRIAL FOR WAR CRIMES AND GENOCIDE.
It doesn’t matter who started it or if rockets are still being fired from Gaza. What matters is that, until Israel started bombing Gaza, not one Israeli had been killed by whatever rockets were being fired and even after a week, only 3 Israelis were killed. In Palestine, over 400 people have been killed including approximately 50 children. Israel has starved and blocked every attempt for Hamas to make life better in Gaza. No wonder the natives are frustrated and have resorted to rockets, as ineffectual as they are.
The first and third comments (by EC Lewis and Vic) are so funny. Such a perfect illustration of the article. Ah Ah Ah!!
Thanks for printing this article, there’s so few media left that are willing to defy the Israeli /zionist agenda and tell us what they’re up to. I go to as many of their sites on utube as I can and post the facts. God help the Palestinians, the ‘powers that be’ are on the Israeli side.Without US media control they couldn’t have achieved that.
we need a new holocaust now
im dead serious fucking jews
who do they think they are?
murderers liars
Wow… the Jews are constantly scheming, typical Zionist tactic to, secretly subverting forums and polls.
Do want to know the magic of online games, and here you can get more Pirates of the Burning Sea Gold. Do you want to have a try? Come on and potbs gold can make you happy.
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By Danny Schechter
As millions of homes are foreclosed upon, as unemployment grows and inflation mounts, it is time to understand the origins of the crisis and the need to fight for economic justice.
Written by veteran media critic and Emmy winner Rory O'Connor, Shock Jocks features unsparing profiles of the ten worst conservative radio talkers in America, including Michael Savage, Bill O' Reilly, Rush Limbaugh, Don Imus and the rest.