Over the past few days my report from Lebanon has elicited some very interesting responses.
On the one hand, I have received so many warm and supportive emails from Lebanese readers that I simply have not had time to respond to them all. Those emails came from people who identified themselves as Sunni, Shi'a and Christian. I am more touched and grateful for those emails than I can say. I have also received a lot of feedback from Israelis who saw the report and my follow-up interview on London and Kirshenbaum, and again the responses have been overwhelmingly positive. Quite a few Israelis told me that they never knew Beirut was so beautiful, lively and cosmopolitan, and that they were both intrigued and pleasantly surprised. As far as I am concerned, those responses mean mission accomplished for me.
On the other hand, Al Manar and Al Jazeera have both broadcast reports that are full of misinformation, half-truths and agenda pushing. I do not like being used to score political points or further editorial agendas. I have very low expectations of Al Manar, although I did ask a friend in Ramallah to ask the local correspondent if he would like to interview me. So far, no response. But hey, if you guys at Al Manar do decide that you want to broadcast the truth - just let me know. Your correspondent is most welcome to interview me at home: ahalan w sahalan.
Both Al Manar and Al Jazeera made the following claims in their reports:
1) that I broadcast live from Beirut;
2) that I had help from Lebanese citizens in entering the country;
3) that I used false documents in order to enter Lebanon.
None of these claims is true. What's more, Al Manar and Al Jazeera know that the first claim is false. The Lebanese Minister of Communications, Ghazi Aridi, stated on the record (I saw him make the statement on television) that I departed Lebanon for the second time on 10 July. That is accurate, as the exit stamp in my Canadian passport shows. However, my report was broadcast by Channel 10 on 11 July. How, therefore, can it possibly be claimed that I broadcast live from Beirut?
So here is my challenge to all you guys at the Al Jazeera desk in Doha who check my blog several times per day: interview me, and let your millions of viewers hear the truth. Let them hear that my report about Beirut was very positive - that I described it as a dynamic, open, cosmopolitan and beautiful city. Let them hear that I entered the country with no help from anyone, and that I traveled around the city on my own, on foot and by taxi. Let's tell the truth. The bureau chief in Ramallah has my mobile number. Call him and ask him to set up an interview, and send one of your stringers to my home. I'll even make him a nice cup of coffee, using the delicious Cafe Najjar (with or without cardamon - I'll let you choose) that I bought at duty free before I boarded my flight to Amman.
Yalla, guys. Are you the mouthpiece for Al Manar, or are you really independent journalists who reflect the mood on the Arab street? This inquiring Israeli mind really wants to know. Call me.
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Setting the record straight: a challenge to Al Jazeera
Comments
Re: Setting the record straight: a challenge to Al Jazeera
by
Scott
on Mon 16 Jul 2007 03:43 AM IDT | Permanent Link
Al Jazeera in America has become synonymous with reporting that totally lacks credibility just like the Russian Newspaper Pravda was during the Cold War.
Al Jazeera so totally lacks credibility that it doesn't even need to have its stories rebutted. To rebut Al Jazeera is like rebutting the Weekly World News. Al Jazeera lying, especially on a matter like this, is what expected from them. In fact the real news would be if they didn't. In America al Jazeera is seen by all but the very very extreme as the propaganda arm of the terrorists and that is why public sentiment has discouraged al Jazeera from being broadcast in the US. America is a very divided country, but on this we have formed a strong consensus. Point is you shouldn't have even given al Jazeera the satisfaction of a response. I haven't even heard of al Manar but if it is anything like al Jazeera then the same goes for them. Re: Setting the record straight: a challenge to Al Jazeera
by
Anonymous
on Mon 16 Jul 2007 06:07 AM IDT | Permanent Link
Well said indeed. Now that the gauntlet's been thrown, let's hope that at the very least those who do seek the truth can read it here (as opposed to finding your blog blacklisted..)
One minor linguistic quibble: Unless you're employing tongue-in-cheek Israeli pronunciation (in which case, that went way over my little head), there's no "7" sound in "ahlan usahlan." It's pronounced just like an Anglo h or Hebrew ה, whereas the 7 represents the Mizrahi "het" (ח)/Arabic (ح). My apologies for the geeky linguistic rambling. And, minor quibble notwithstanding, kudos on snapping the Middle East out of its apathetic doldrums. Re: Re: Setting the record straight: a challenge to Al Jazeera
Lisa, don't worry, i have a feeling that one day, the very same minister who Lost five minutes of his very precious time over the huge issue of " Lisa Entering Lebanon" will wish to visit Tel Aviv. If he has any problem with Canadian citizens entering his country, it's the Canadian Government he should deal with...in international relations, countries deal with Passports and Nationalities, not with DNA....But sadly enough : Egypt, Lebanon, Syria and other few countries over here deal with DNA and don't give a damn about Nationalities! " What is your Blood?" is a question that i'm often asked by Syrian, Lebanese and Egyptian Consulates here and there when applying for Tourist entry Visas using my foreign passport! Due to my name and my place of Birth , i'm always denied access...you SURELY visited more arab states than me :) Eventhough i don't really need entry visas to many of these countries ...they won't let me in!
Re: Setting the record straight: a challenge to Al Jazeera
by
Matt
on Mon 16 Jul 2007 07:35 AM IDT | Permanent Link
Yalla, guys. Are you the mouthpiece for Al Manar, or are you really independent journalists who reflect the mood on the Arab street?
They are the mouthpiece for Hezbollah. That is what they are hired to do. No surprise there, just like there is no surprise that al Jazeera is the front for terrorist propaganda. They are indeed the enemy, and everyone knows that. Oh, as for the Arab street they reflect what the islamoterrorists say. They are sheeple without an ability to think on their own. They are just a bunch of modern day Goebbels. Most of us know that. Don't worry, Lisa, no one ever takes anything they say seriously. Re: Setting the record straight: a challenge to Al Jazeera
pfft. Truth is overrated. Spend your uber-coffee on somebody far more worth it: me!
Re: Re: Setting the record straight: a challenge to Al Jazeera
I want coffee too (now there's a big surprise, I'm sure). I'll even bring pastries to go with it! :-)
Great piece, Lisa. I look forward to watching how this plays out. Re: Re: Re: Setting the record straight: a challenge to Al Jazeera
by
lirun
on Mon 16 Jul 2007 03:39 PM IDT | Permanent Link
i dont even like coffee but ill have some..
Re: Re: Re: Re: Setting the record straight: a challenge to Al Jazeera
by
nominally challenged
on Thu 19 Jul 2007 02:56 PM IDT | Permanent Link
Any chance of decaf? You know I don't do the real stuff ...
Re: Setting the record straight: a challenge to Al Jazeera
by
AM
on Mon 16 Jul 2007 08:43 AM IDT | Permanent Link
Way to go Lisaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa, I love you!
Yeah let's set some issues straight! A great post to start the day :D Bw, I really hope you receive some positive feedback from both ... am I dreaming? or being silly? or completely out of touch with reality? Ah, we'll see ... *Hug* Re: Setting the record straight: a challenge to Al Jazeera
by
AM
on Mon 16 Jul 2007 08:45 AM IDT | Permanent Link
Oh and A+ for the Najjar coffee line ;)
Re: Setting the record straight: a challenge to Al Jazeera
by
leb expat
on Mon 16 Jul 2007 09:43 AM IDT | Permanent Link
I understand why you're pissed at the way they're twisting all the facts surrounding your visit, but trust me it's better not to waste your breath with al manar and al jazeera.
The first station is nothing but a Hezbollah propaganda outlet. They don't ascribe to any journalistic ethics principles. People in Lebanon have lost count of the times when they broadcast flat-out lies on their news regarding national issues, from accusing a minister in the government of giving out coordinates of Hezbollah bunkers in the Dahieh to the IDF during the July war to portraying local civil defence rescuers as sunni militiamen during a sunni-shiite fight at a Beirut university and so on. The only reason for watching that channel is to get the latest updates on Hezbollah activities and positions (besides pro-hezbollah junkies who watch to get their daily fix of the al-manar poison). They have never retracted a story or posted an apology for any of their previous lies, and don't count on them doing it in the future. As for al jazeera, well around half their staff in Beirut used to work either for al manar or NBN (Nabih Berri's Amal propaganda mouthpiece); for instance Abbas Nasser their chief correspondant during the war is a seasoned al-manar veteran. The non-lebanese staff in their bureau is mostly old-style reactionary arabists that essentially come from the same school of misinformation as these formers, so again don't expect something much different. It's a lost cause to try to defend your visit and convince people of your good-intentions (as a side note al manar and a certain current in al jazeera most certainly object to having Beirut as an open, tolerant and cosmopolitan city) . If you followed the debate at LFPM, you'd noticed that you clearly have two camps, and that there isn't much discussion and arguing happening between them. People there know that it's pointless to try and convince the other, so each camp is mainly just repeating and reasserting their own positions over and over again. You can't please everybody, but those that you can please are waiting impatiently to read the rest of your report. and p.s : congratulations on becoming a minor celebrity in the Lebanese and Arab media world! You are referred to as Lisa Goldman in most reports as opposed to the impersonal "zionist informer" label that would get applied to other similar cases. Maybe it's because the al manar producer found you cute :p Re: Re: Setting the record straight: a challenge to Al Jazeera
by
bad vilbel
on Mon 16 Jul 2007 07:54 PM IDT | Permanent Link
Interesting background info. I didn't realize that the Beirut Al-Jazeera folks were recycled Al-Manar or NBN employees. That's interesting.
As stated here, I realize Al Manar is nothing but a propaganda outlet. What bugs me more is Al Jazeera. Someone posted that no one takes them seriously anymore in the West, or that we know them for being the mouthpiece of terrorists. But truth is, I think a lot of people around the world do still listen/watch to Al Jazeera and rightly or wrongly buy into a lot of the lies and propaganda that come out of there. Re: Re: Re: Setting the record straight: a challenge to Al Jazeera
by
adiamondinsunlight
on Sun 22 Jul 2007 11:52 AM IDT | Permanent Link
I think its a bit strong to call Jazeera's reporters "recycled". After all, most people change jobs within their industry because they see better opportunities in their new position - not because they want to infect it with the views of their old firm.
As you probably know, Jazeera's editorial policies have recently changed - a good reminder that, as investment firms say, past performance is no indicator of future results. In any case, Nasr is no longer at Jazeera. He'll be working for the new BBC Arabiya - along with a number of other Jazeera alums. Re: Setting the record straight: a challenge to Al Jazeera
You are more of a danger to Hezbollah than the IDF or the Israeli government because you incarnate the human side of Israel.
Hezbollah can easily handle the Israeli military, but to see an Israeli entering Beirut freely, walking around, making contacts with its people and on top of it reporting back to the Israeli people about the resemblance between Beirut and Tel Aviv that is totally outrageous for Hezbollah… Your visit and report put the entire “raison d’etre” of Hezbollah in danger… You are enemy number one to them Bravo!!!!! And double bravo for café Najjar…the best coffee in our beloved Beirut Re: Re: Setting the record straight: a challenge to Al Jazeera
by
bad vilbel
on Mon 16 Jul 2007 07:57 PM IDT | Permanent Link
I agree with this comment 100%. There is nothing more dangerous to people who base their power on ignorance and scapegoating than the truth and putting a human face on "the enemy".
Re: Setting the record straight: a challenge to Al Jazeera
by
Mohamed
on Mon 16 Jul 2007 05:47 PM IDT | Permanent Link
Hmm, Lisa, relax. I know you're upset but hey, it's part of the game. But I think you should let it go. Because, whether they lied on purpose or not (they very much might have done), they fulfilled their purpose and have no reason to rectify it at the expense of showing that they were wrong (or worse, lying).
Scott, I disagree that the widespread view of Al-Jazeera is THAT bad. It ain't bright, i give you that, but give it some journalistic credit. A channel that manages to upset most Arab regimes this much, a channel that has probably been the first to have israeli officials on air in arabic, deserves some credit. (oh, and to Matt (07:35), who thinks that the Arab street is 'sheeple' (with the L.E.:) you're too racist for me to try to rebuke you.) Look, press sometimes manipulates info and footage, then promising to retract things they never eventually retract. Remember when, in 2001, CNN showed footage of 1990 and claimed it was of people cheering the September 11th attacks? It was a huge scandal (though not half as big as it should have been, though). My point is, these two channels sought to score a point. But it's not at your expense, Lis. I would love to see you go on air in Al-Jazeera, but i doubt it'll happen. Heck, I can even tell them myself that your report was positive and honest. Though I will demand a cup of this coffee, though. Be well, friend. Err, no.
by
JSinger
on Mon 16 Jul 2007 11:33 PM IDT | Permanent Link
Remember when, in 2001, CNN showed footage of 1990 and claimed it was of people cheering the September 11th attacks? It was a huge scandal (though not half as big as it should have been, though).
That story was completely untrue. The footage was provably new, and there wasn't even any plausible reason to have claimed otherwise. Re: Setting the record straight: a challenge to Al Jazeera
by
adina
on Mon 16 Jul 2007 06:14 PM IDT | Profile | Permanent Link
Al Jazeera sounds a lot like America's Fox News.
It's not about truth - it's about the spectacle. Every trash media outlet puts babes next to inflamatory headlines. You gave them both in one story! Re: Setting the record straight: a challenge to Al Jazeera
by
Anonymous
on Tue 17 Jul 2007 02:13 AM IDT | Permanent Link
Hey Lisa,
Quite a thumpin in The Daily Star. http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=2&article_id=83870 You should respond to them you got uncle nassrallah mad @!@
by
Anonymous
on Tue 17 Jul 2007 09:44 AM IDT | Permanent Link
Oh, I thought starbucks was the best coffee in town ?! bass cafe najar is not that bad. very snob cunts there !
Anyhow Lisa , bravo you got uncle nassrallah very mad at you and somehow you fucked up the Lebanese government by making them look pro-israel but well aren't they!? ... OH! don't tell me about almanar and aljazeera propaganda, they are simply ridiculous . what the heck ! they are gone mad ! fanatic freaks. P.S : some Lebanese like the word PEACE :) but some Iranians don't :) you still did a mistake going there ... it ain't worth it and it's very expensive ... on the other way , maybe if the arab tourists didn't come this year to beirut . maybe we can get the Israelis tourists ... :) it's all about the $$$ ... imagine a few buses from tel Aviv to dahye . could be a nice step for peace and more business for the dying Lebanese economy :P Lisa when do you come to dahye ???! the boys are waiting for you ... hihi , sorry for being cynical but that's how u become when you live in Lebanon. Dahye = Tehran , ma heik ! yalla bye. by the way , daily star had a point but am sure their staff did not mean to bitch u , they are jealous because they cant make it to Israel :) Re: the daily star article
by
adina
on Tue 17 Jul 2007 06:19 PM IDT | Profile | Permanent Link
Well, you *did* say not-so-nice things about Rami a few years ago at a conference. Perhaps that did not, exactly, ingratiate you to the paper?
At any rate, it must have been hard to know that this story would get such wide coverage outside of Israel. I can imagine that your interview subjects are spooked! I am not a journalist, but there are two interesting discussion points in this article: 1) was it unethical journalism in any way to misrepresent yourself, even though it was for your own security? 2) was the quote about the bombing area incorrect? If so, it would be great to correct/discuss that assumption with other facts from other sources. Re: Setting the record straight: a challenge to Al Jazeera
Lisa, I think you've been spammed. Please try to eliminate the stuff that pops up every time your blog is loaded, thank you!
Re: Re: Setting the record straight: a challenge to Al Jazeera
Now the junk pops up when a click on the "Comments" link.
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