Fog of War: The Media and the Israel–Palestine Conflict
Oct 13, 2023
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Intercept reporter Alice Speri and Palestinian American writer Yousef Munayyer discuss the recent violence in the Israel-Palestine conflict, the spread of misinformation, the historical bias of the media, and the impunity surrounding attacks by Israeli forces.
The media historically ignores violence perpetrated by Israel, allowing the government to collectively punish Palestinian civilians.
Hamas may strategically use actions to provoke Israeli leaders and question the effectiveness of international support for the Palestinian cause.
Deep dives
The cycle of violence and lack of sustained interest
The speaker discusses the cycle of violence between Israelis and Palestinians and the lack of sustained interest in the Palestinian perspective. He expresses his frustration with the repetitive nature of the conflict and highlights the need to address the root causes to break this cycle.
Implications of Hamas actions and Palestinian response
The speaker reflects on the calculated actions of Hamas during the recent assault, noting their awareness of potential Western sympathy and support. He suggests that Hamas may have reached a point where they question the effectiveness of international support for the Palestinian cause and prioritize sending messages to Israeli leaders.
Shifting Israeli public opinion
The discussion turns to the evolving Israeli public opinion, specifically the increasing mainstream belief that Benjamin Netanyahu is responsible for the current situation. The speaker highlights the growing understanding among Israelis about the contextual complexities and historical background of the conflict compared to the lack of context often found in American discourse.
Spread of misinformation and challenges in reporting
The challenges of navigating misinformation and propaganda during times of crisis are discussed. The lack of verified information and the spread of hoaxes and unfounded claims are highlighted, along with the difficulty for journalists to verify and report accurately. The importance of responsible reporting and fact-checking is emphasized.
This week on Deconstructed, Ryan Grim is joined by Intercept reporter Alice Speri, who has frequently reported from occupied Palestinian territory, and Palestinian American writer and political analyst Yousef Munayyer. Speri and Munayyer discuss the history behind the violence that exploded Saturday, with Hamas capturing and killing an unprecedented number of Israelis, including hundreds of civilians. They also examine the current spread of misinformation during the conflict, how the media has historically ignored violence perpetrated by Israel, and how the impunity surrounding many of those attacks by Israeli forces has given the government freedom to collectively punish Palestinian civilians broadly in revenge for the assault by Hamas.
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