Channel 4/Haaretz and the Israel Lobby

[Oliver]

After reading that Channel 4 Dispatches has turned into a raving bunch of antisemites (http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1129102.html), an Israeli Correspondent himself criticizes the Israeli Lobby (http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1129517.html) that, according to him and Dispatches (http://www.channel4.com/programmes/dispatches/episode-guide/series-42/episode-1), seems to influence the British Government to a significant degree.

Now I would link to the controversial Channel 4 report I watched yesterday, but for some reason it was deleted from Channel 4's youtube channel (http://www.youtube.com/user/channel4).

So could someone shed some light into the accusations from both sides? Was the program antisemitic - and/or does the Israeli Lobby in the UK have a significant amount of influence by paying off conservative politicians? :confused:

Sources:
Dispatches: Inside Britain's Israel Lobby (http://www.channel4.com/programmes/dispatches/episode-guide/series-42/episode-1)
Haaretz: Britain's Channel 4 exposes 'power' of pro-Israel lobby (http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1129102.html)
Haaretz: Is the Israel lobby doing more harm than good? (http://haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1129517.html)

[JAStewart]

I wonder if they'd be accused of racism if they challenged Islam.

[Oliver]

I wonder if they'd be accused of racism if they challenged Islam.


Well, that did happen (http://www.sacc.org.uk/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=350&catid=44) as well. However, that isn't necessarily the topic at hand.

[ohms]

I wonder if they'd be accused of racism if they challenged Islam.

Like this (http://www.channel4.com/programmes/dispatches/episode-guide/series-19/episode-1) or this (http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/dispatches/undercover+mosque+the+return/2436087) you mean?

[Oliver]

I should add that I'm not that familiar with UK politics, so maybe some UK-Members are able to give some insight about the topic at hand.

[marksman]

After reading that Channel 4 Dispatches has turned into a raving bunch of antisemites (http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1129102.html), an Israeli Correspondent himself criticizes the Israeli Lobby (http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1129517.html) that, according to him and Dispatches (http://www.channel4.com/programmes/dispatches/episode-guide/series-42/episode-1), seems to influence the British Government to a significant degree.
The Israeli correspondent did not say that the lobbyists influence the British Government to a significant degree. In fact, the gist of the Haaretz editorial you cited is that the lobby is spending a lot of money to very little effect, and its uncritical eye towards Israel may actually be harming Israel more than helping.

You should also note that this specific correspondent is an ardent critic of Israel's West Bank policies, and thus may have a bone to pick with anybody who might try to defend or justify them in any fashion.

You need to work on your reading comprehension, Oliver.

[Oliver]

The Israeli correspondent did not say that the lobbyists influence the British Government to a significant degree. In fact, the gist of the Haaretz editorial you cited is that the lobby is spending a lot of money to very little effect, and its uncritical eye towards Israel may actually be harming Israel more than helping.

You should also note that this specific correspondent is an ardent critic of Israel's West Bank policies, and thus may have a bone to pick with anybody who might try to defend or justify them in any fashion.

You need to work on your reading comprehension, Oliver.


Well, I'm willing to enhance my English reading comprehensions, yet I still don't understand why Dispatches made an antisemitic report in the first place - if, according to your suggestion above, none of it is true.

[marksman]

I didn't suggest that "none of it is true", Oliver. I haven't seen the Channel 4 report on the Israeli Lobby. All I said is that your statement about the Haa'retz editorial was inaccurate, as could be seen by actuall reading the article to which you linked. I also pointed out that the editorialist has a self-admitted bias (as stated in the editorial).

Did you actually read my post?

[Oliver]

I didn't suggest that "none of it is true", Oliver. I haven't seen the Channel 4 report on the Israeli Lobby. All I said is that your statement about the Haa'retz editorial was inaccurate, as could be seen by actuall reading the article to which you linked. I also pointed out that the editorialist has a self-admitted bias (as stated in the editorial).

Did you actually read my post?


I did - and the correspondent confirms that some of the videos proposals are "not surprising". But that still doesn't confirm or deny anything. Sure, Channel 4 could have made an antisemitic piece of journalism, but I didn't see any hard evidence for that accusation or the reports claim that the Israeli Lobby does indeed influence the British government...

[Liszt]

try this, Oliver

http://www.youtube.com/user/TAofMoridura#p/u

it's all there in 6 parts, uploaded yesterday.

(I thought it was excellent, btw)

[Oliver]

try this, Oliver

http://www.youtube.com/user/TAofMoridura#p/u

it's all there in 6 parts, uploaded yesterday.

(I thought it was excellent, btw)


Hello Liszt, thanks for providing an alternative link to the controversial report, even if I saw it yesterday until it was removed on Channel 4's youtube channel. :) Personally, the report didn't strike me as a convincing piece of journalism, that's why I'm asking for some political insight from British people with some more UK-related knowledge.

[marksman]

I did - and the correspondent confirms that some of the videos proposals are "not surprising".
First, she's not a "correspondent". She's an editorialist. She's giving her personal views, not reporting facts. It's an important distinction.

Second, she didn't say that the Israeli lobby has a significant influence over the British government, which is what you said she wrote, and is why I told you that you were wrong.

So, no, I don't think you read her editorial (or if you did, you didn't understand it) and nor did you apparently understand either of my prior posts, since your responses have not addressed what I wrote.

[Belgian thought]

I think the post is aimed at the programme, and the additional links, showing the two sides of the argument taken up from one site, might detract from that.

Maybe we should concentrate on the original question and request - "So could someone shed some light into the accusations from both sides? Was the program anti-Semitic - and/or does the Israeli Lobby in the UK have a significant amount of influence by paying off conservative politicians?"

I am not able to answer myself, not being involved in UK politics. But I too watched the programme, and I found myself swinging between; this programme is hiding an anti-Semitic agenda, to, it is purely discussing international interference via lobbying.

I personally would also like to know more. Not so much about Israel's involvement, but how prevalent is this form of lobbying on behalf of other countries.

[Skeptic]

Reading the Israeli press, while some people are annoyed at the program, there doesn't seem to be any hysterical "they're antisemites!" reaction.