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Opinion

Palestine 9 Israel 0: If the Middle East conflict were a game of football.

January 25, 2011 12:37
2 min read

In the battle for the hearts and minds of the public Israel has suffered its worst defeat for many years, if not ever. The revelations, publicised by Al Jazeera, that the West Bank leadership offered Israel a couple of years ago nearly everything it was demanding and that Israel turned them down flat is deeply damaging. At the time the Israeli government was led by Ehud Olmert, a middle of the road moderate according to the BBC. It confirms the Israelis as arrogant, unreasonable, intransigent and not wanting peace. (Bit like ManU maybe). Conversely, the Palestinian leadership glow in the flattering light of being reasonable, ready to compromise, willing to go the extra mile, and brave enough to take risks for peace.

As with our MPs expenses scandal, the damage is compounded by the revelations being released bit by bit on successive days. The veracity of these revelations has been questioned not just by the Palestinians but also leaders in other countries including former Saudi ambassador Prince Turki Al Faisal, but not by media interviewers.

News programmes on every channel have carried the story with interviews with Palestinians making the usual accusations lambasting the Israelis. This has allowed them to score a large number of goals. It has been compounded by the interviewers, or if you like the referees, accepting the vitriol, slanders, venom and hatred directed at Israel as fact without question. The viewer/listener therefore assumes it all to be true.

Conspicuously, not a sound has been heard from Israel or its supporters. It’s as though they haven’t even bothered to turn up for the game.