Summary: AOL / Time Warner and
CNN chief Ted Turner calls for moral equivalence between homicide bombers and
military action to stop terrorism. The comment was made during an interview
with the British Newspaper, The Guardian.
The Israeli Yesha council of towns in
Judea, Sumaria (west bank) and Gazza released a statement on June 20, 2002
announcing it will be ceasing all cooperating with CNN and its representatives
in Israel, calling on the over 140 Yesha communities to follow. The statement
released by council spokesman Yehoshua Mor-Yosef
follows.
"In light of CNN's repeated lack of
objectivity and professionalism regarding the Israel-Arab conflict and
especially the scandalous remarks made by Mr. Ted Turner yesterday, I must
inform you that the Yesha Council of Jewish Communities in Judea, Samaria and
the Gazza district has decided to cease cooperation with CNN and with its
correspondents."
The Ted Turner comment was "Aren't
the Israelis and Palestinians both terrorizing each other?" The Turner comment
suggested moral equivalence between homicide bombers going on Israeli busses
and blowing up civilians and Israel's actions to arrest terrorists and stop the
violence.
Yehoshua Mor-Yosef continued: "I am sending
this communique to the spokespersons of the 144 communities in Yesha as well.
The Yesha Council will reevaluate its position should we discern a genuine
change in your reporting which reflects an honest and fair perspective rather
than one-sided reporting which directly or indirectly supports and justifies
Palestinian terror."
Conclusion and
opinion
Boycott Watch reports that CNN shares
media offices with Palestinian TV in at least one Palestinian held city,
suggesting bias in reporting since Palestinian TV is directly controlled by
Yasir Arafats Palestinian Authority, thus CNN is and has been directly
influenced by one side in the conflict by choice, thus adding credibility to
this boycott call. BW
