Intense coverage reflects high Arab emotions about Israeli sea attacks
News of the Israeli attacks on humanitarian Gaza-bound ships on Monday dominated international media, but for different reasons.
Arab television channels interrupted their regular programmes and focused on the developments resulting from the killing of activists after Israeli commandos stormed an aid convoy sailing to the Gaza Strip.
In the absence of solid news from the site of the attacks, pan-Arab television channels relied on phone interviews with people linked with the convoy in Arab countries and in Turkey. Coverage of the angry Turks demonstrating in front of the Israeli consulate in Istanbul was also given prominence in the coverage of people’s reactions to the dawn attacks on the international mix of activists with different national, ideological and political backgrounds.
Doha-based Al Jazeera channel, the main station watched by Arabs in times of crises or wars involving Muslims or Arabs, carried live statements made by Arab leaders such as Qatar’s Emir, Shaikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, or Hamas President Ismail Haniya, or activists in Palestine, Jordan and Turkey. Al Jazeera also beamed live comments by Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa.
The channel also carried live interviews with legal experts and analysts to seek their input on various aspects of what Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas termed as “massacre.”
Al Jazeera also reported live press conferences given by Israelis trying to explain, and at times, excuse the attacks.
However, Syrian Presidential Political and Media Advisor Dr Bouthaina Shaaban in a short window of opportunity criticized Al Jazeera for “giving around 30 minutes to the Israeli deputy foreign minister at his press conference.”
“They do not allow us to speak for even one minute on their televisions,” she said. “There is no focus on what the Arab officials are doing.”
Other Arab news stations were also expansive in their coverage and people’s angry reactions were repeatedly displayed.
Arab online journalism closely followed the events and several websites posted the latest information gathered internationally from television stations and news agencies and locally from local sources.
Al Aan, a Kuwaiti news portal, reported on the status of the 16 Kuwaiti members of the convoy.
Western coverage of the attacks was not so intense and had other priorities
Most television news channels and media with online possibilities reported the attacks, but had various figures of the casualties.
The media focused on the Israeli explanations, Western reactions and the political and economic repercussions for the region. But the usual graphics and colourful charts explaining what happened were sourly missing. There were no immediate contacts with analysts or activists who would help explain the situation to viewers or readers.
News about the possible postponement of Israel’s Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu to Washington, for some media, was far more important than the Israeli attacks on the ships and the death of at least ten people.
