Post by Teddy Bear on May 4, 2009 21:54:31 GMT
When I saw this headline from the BBC it struck me that it was a bit 'odd' - Gaza patients questionings 'rise'
Reading the story it immediately hit me that it was doing its best to present as negative a view of Israel as possible, particularly on a subject that if one think sabout what is actually described is quite reasonable on Israel's part.
Further investigation revealed something else about this story that shows a clear intent by the BBC to distort and twist the truth.
First here's the initial story, judge for yourself how you see it as presented.
Simple common sense by anybody with half an understanding about what is going on in this part of the world would explain why the Israel security services should interview those coming from openly hostile areas into Israel to determine any underlying motive. Lest you think that the BBC is only guilty of lacking that basic common sense, then consider that almost exactly a year ago the BBC ran a story about a similar theme, but this time from the Israeli perspective and shows the real humanity displayed by them Israel's dilemma over sick Gazans
The plot further thickens when the 'Israeli group' named in the initial article as Physicians for Human Rights are an independant group funded by various vested groups, and have no connection to the international group of the same name based in the USA. The name 'Israel' should in fact be added after the the title of the group.
According to the NGO (Non Governmental Offices) Monitor,
Since the mission statement itself of this group is to concern itself with dedicated to promoting and protecting the medical human rights of all resident of Israel and the Occupied Territories.
I fail to see where Gaza comes into it.
Plain truth is, if Israel gives free and generous medical treatment to those who are its open enemies, then any supposed 'human rights' group should be applauding its humanitarian gesture rather than castigate it for subjecting potential patients to a security interview.
It does show the real biased character of the BBC however for giving this unbalanced spin the space it has.
Reading the story it immediately hit me that it was doing its best to present as negative a view of Israel as possible, particularly on a subject that if one think sabout what is actually described is quite reasonable on Israel's part.
Further investigation revealed something else about this story that shows a clear intent by the BBC to distort and twist the truth.
First here's the initial story, judge for yourself how you see it as presented.
Gaza patients questionings 'rise'
The number of Palestinians forced to provide information before being let out of Gaza for medical treatment is rising, an Israeli group has reported.
In the first three months of 2009 more than 400 patients were interrogated, Physicians for Human Rights says.
They say Israeli security services are involved in a systematic attempt to recruit Palestinians as collaborators.
Israeli officials say they are carrying out security checks to ensure those entering Israel do not commit attacks.
Spokesman Mark Regev told the AFP news agency that 13,000 Palestinians are treated in Israel each year.
However, Physicians for Human Rights says Israel also interrogated children, detained patients for undisclosed periods of time, and intimidated them during interrogations.
Those who did not co-operate were refused permission to leave Gaza for treatment, the group says.
Between January 2008 and March 2009 at least 438 patients were summoned for interrogations at Erez Crossing, the main crossing point for people between Israel and Gaza, the group says.
The data collected by the group has been presented to the Geneva-based UN Committee Against Torture.
"The data points to an increase in the ratio of the number of interrogations to the total number of applications submitted to the authorities at Erez Crossing," the organisation says.
The process of referring Palestinians in Gaza for medical treatment in Israel, or further afield, is a complicated one.
It was administered by the Palestinian Authority even after Fatah, the faction led by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, was ousted from Gaza in June 2007.
Earlier this year the World Health Organisation warned that the feud between Hamas and the Palestinian Authority was putting at risk the lives of critically-ill Gazans.
This followed the takeover by Hamas officials of the office that ran the referrals process in Gaza.
Because Israel refuses to deal with Hamas, which it considers a terrorist group, this effectively closed down the referrals process.
Hamas officials have long maintained that the process is inefficient and corrupt.
The number of Palestinians forced to provide information before being let out of Gaza for medical treatment is rising, an Israeli group has reported.
In the first three months of 2009 more than 400 patients were interrogated, Physicians for Human Rights says.
They say Israeli security services are involved in a systematic attempt to recruit Palestinians as collaborators.
Israeli officials say they are carrying out security checks to ensure those entering Israel do not commit attacks.
Spokesman Mark Regev told the AFP news agency that 13,000 Palestinians are treated in Israel each year.
However, Physicians for Human Rights says Israel also interrogated children, detained patients for undisclosed periods of time, and intimidated them during interrogations.
Those who did not co-operate were refused permission to leave Gaza for treatment, the group says.
Between January 2008 and March 2009 at least 438 patients were summoned for interrogations at Erez Crossing, the main crossing point for people between Israel and Gaza, the group says.
The data collected by the group has been presented to the Geneva-based UN Committee Against Torture.
"The data points to an increase in the ratio of the number of interrogations to the total number of applications submitted to the authorities at Erez Crossing," the organisation says.
The process of referring Palestinians in Gaza for medical treatment in Israel, or further afield, is a complicated one.
It was administered by the Palestinian Authority even after Fatah, the faction led by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, was ousted from Gaza in June 2007.
Earlier this year the World Health Organisation warned that the feud between Hamas and the Palestinian Authority was putting at risk the lives of critically-ill Gazans.
This followed the takeover by Hamas officials of the office that ran the referrals process in Gaza.
Because Israel refuses to deal with Hamas, which it considers a terrorist group, this effectively closed down the referrals process.
Hamas officials have long maintained that the process is inefficient and corrupt.
Simple common sense by anybody with half an understanding about what is going on in this part of the world would explain why the Israel security services should interview those coming from openly hostile areas into Israel to determine any underlying motive. Lest you think that the BBC is only guilty of lacking that basic common sense, then consider that almost exactly a year ago the BBC ran a story about a similar theme, but this time from the Israeli perspective and shows the real humanity displayed by them Israel's dilemma over sick Gazans
The plot further thickens when the 'Israeli group' named in the initial article as Physicians for Human Rights are an independant group funded by various vested groups, and have no connection to the international group of the same name based in the USA. The name 'Israel' should in fact be added after the the title of the group.
According to the NGO (Non Governmental Offices) Monitor,
Physicians for Human Rights (Israel)
Website: www.phr.org.il/phr
Founded 1988, based in Israel (PHR-I is not part of the US-based Physicians for Human Rights).
According to its mission statement, PHR-I is "an Alliance of Science and Conscience" and "a ...non-partisan, nonprofit organization, dedicated to promoting and protecting the medical human rights of all resident of Israel and the Occupied Territories.
In practice, PHR-I's primary objective is strongly political, despite claims that it opposes "the subjugation of medical care to political considerations of any kind..."
As a result of PHR-I's radical political agenda, the Israel Physician's Union halted cooperative activities.
Funders include the EU, Finnish Embassy, church organizations, private donations.
Website: www.phr.org.il/phr
Founded 1988, based in Israel (PHR-I is not part of the US-based Physicians for Human Rights).
According to its mission statement, PHR-I is "an Alliance of Science and Conscience" and "a ...non-partisan, nonprofit organization, dedicated to promoting and protecting the medical human rights of all resident of Israel and the Occupied Territories.
In practice, PHR-I's primary objective is strongly political, despite claims that it opposes "the subjugation of medical care to political considerations of any kind..."
As a result of PHR-I's radical political agenda, the Israel Physician's Union halted cooperative activities.
Funders include the EU, Finnish Embassy, church organizations, private donations.
Since the mission statement itself of this group is to concern itself with dedicated to promoting and protecting the medical human rights of all resident of Israel and the Occupied Territories.
I fail to see where Gaza comes into it.
Plain truth is, if Israel gives free and generous medical treatment to those who are its open enemies, then any supposed 'human rights' group should be applauding its humanitarian gesture rather than castigate it for subjecting potential patients to a security interview.
It does show the real biased character of the BBC however for giving this unbalanced spin the space it has.