UK's oldest mum-to-be hides from media

One angry local [right] argues with a reporter

“It’s like the land that time forgot,” said one of the reporters gathered outside the house of Britain’s oldest mum to be, Elizabeth Adeney, who has single handedly managed to distract the tabloid media away from MP’s expenses. “You can’t get a signal at all,” the frustrated reporter continued as he tried to make a phone call.

He was one of dozens who had descended on a leafy lane in the Suffolk countryside in an attempt to get a statement from Ms Adeney following revelations in the Daily Mail and Mirror on Saturday.

The papers revealed she had become pregnant through In-Vitro Fertilisation treatment obtained in the Ukraine. But she insists age doesn’t matter and says she is delighted to be expecting.

Media unwelcome in Suffolk village

The presence of reporters, photographers and TV crews was not well received by many locals. “Get of my drive or I’ll call the police,” one angry neighbour shouted at reporters as he drove off in his van. Others were a little bemused and unaware of the news. “What’s going on?” one man asked the assembled press as he drove his family down the narrow country lane. But for those who knew her, there were some mixed views. “Well, I knew it had to be IVF,” one man said, “I didn’t think the press were interested in witches!”

Ms Adeney refused to see reporters all morning despite repeated knockings. For a person who received few visitors, according to neighbours, there was much activity however. Several maintenance men arrived at the house. A satellite installation team were the first to arrive, followed soon after by a pool maintenance engineer and a gardener. One of the workers was even sent out to retrieve the post and told reporters she did not wish to pose for pictures and had no plans to go out.

But after the satellite men and pool man left there followed a bizarre series of events. The gardener drove Elizabeth Adeney’s turquoise Renault from the house and up the road creating a panic amongst snappers. Shortly afterwards the gardener returned saying that she’d gone. But surely a heavily pregnant woman had not made her way across country to where the gardener had left the car. This, it seemed, could be the only explanation, but it created some speculation that the pregnancy might even be fake!

Despite best attempts at finding her, Ms Adeney managed to evade the press throughout the day and did not return to her house before nightfall.

Anger towards press builds

Patience amongst the locals was wearing thin concerning the large gathering of media. Late into the afternoon a returning local jumped from his people carrier and launched into a verbal tirade of abuse.

“How long’s this going to go on for?” he shouted. “Don’t know mate,” one photographer replied.

“What if a fire engine wanted to get through with all these vehicles here, it couldn’t,” the angry man continued. “I’m fed up with this, why don’t you all fuck off? Do you wanna scrap? I’m good at that,” he proclaimed. “Why don’t you all grow up? She’s only having a fucking baby.”

Soon after, another aggrieved resident pulled up in his car and none too politely told the press to go away before telling them the police had been called.

One lone Police Community Support Officer arrived but was particularly amicable and said that since no-one was causing an obstruction there was little she could do. “There are no parking restrictions,” she said, “I think people are just upset because little happens around here so you’re the focus of attention.”

It wasn’t too long before one of the angry locals drove back. “Haven’t you gone yet?” he asked before arguing with two journalists. As he did so the situation became a little dangerous as on letting off the brake his vehicle rolled back and nearly ran over a dog being walked by a local woman.

Surreal behaviour

The afternoon became surreal as another dog walker passed by and pulled a face while pushing out her jumper with her fist. “Da da,” she exclaimed as she pulled her hand from beneath her jumper in a gesture of holding a pillow or baby. “Why’s this a story?” she said later, “She didn’t conceive, she had an egg put inside her and it’s going to be a corrugated [sic] birth.”

Meanwhile ‘Mr Angry’ returned; this time armed with a camera, perhaps in an attempt to intimidate the few remaining reporters and photographers. After sharp words, and an inference that vehicles could be damaged by “persons unknown”, he retreated.

As the sun began to set over Suffolk there was one last visitation from the locals. “You won’t get her coming in here, the witch usually flies in on her broomstick,” he joked. “She's a bit odd, that one” he said.

From the bizarre behaviour displayed by locals, she is not the only resident who was strange, if not a little over protective about “their road”.

[BBC / Pregnancy over age 50-Wikipedia].

Media coverage of Thai riots draws criticism

Protests in Thailand have fizzled out and with it the media coverage. British broadcasters BBC and Sky News which covered the protest by red shirted demonstrators extensively over the past week, gave only scant coverage to the story today. But high tensions remain in the country and there are strong divisions developing amongst the population.

The blogosphere is alive with comments and those in support of the current Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, have been particularly active. Many have left comments on news websites and blogs criticising the media. Impartiality is of particular concern.

Some berated the media for “not reporting the truth.” One insisted that it was not protesters who were killed but instead that “Two annoyed and angried [sic] villagers by destructive rioters' action (who) were shot dead by the red-shirt rioters.” Another writing under the name of Milan says, “PM Abhisit did not even use any violence even when he's almost been killed by the red shirt mob who broke into the Interior Ministry compound, vandalised his car, and beating his security officials. You red shirt mob, if you were in the US, you would probably be history by now. Two people who lost their lives were those who were shot by the red mob during the clash between the residents and this red shirt mob in Nang Lerng market. There they destroyed the shops, carts, and shot the mosque's windows.”

Patriotism was also in much evidence. “I love my country, I love my King, I love my people” said one who left a comment on this blog. “Thaksin has corrupted Thai people for long long time. He cheated Thai people. He tried to sell my country,” he adds.

It is a sentiment repeated by dozens of others. Many posted their comments anonymously but one writing under the name of Paul Cooper said the former prime minister Thaksin “raped Thailand dry once and now he wants to do it again.” Writing on the Sky News website he adds, “The majority of Thais follow the Yellow shirt ideals, it is wrong to suggest Thaksin is popular amongst the poor.”

In a report broadcast on CNN, ITN’s John Ray described the protesters as “outnumbered and outgunned” and that Thaksin Shinawatra remained “popular”. But it is difficult to gauge the true support he may have.

Both the pro-Royalty yellow shirts and the pro-Thaksin red shirts have been vocal in their demonstrations over the last few months. Last year the yellow shirted protesters shut down international flights into the country after they occupied the main airport. Those demonstrations also brought international headlines but the protests ended peacefully. The recent red shirt demonstrations have also brought international press attention, but outside the country there is little understanding as to the dynamics of the situation or the complicated politics of this Asian state.

The protests have left much damage in their wake. At least 120 were injured in the sometimes violent protests and two people have died. There has also been widespread damage to property including a fire which damaged part of the Interior Ministry [CNN]. It remains unclear what will happen over the coming months. But there are some deep wounds that need repairing.

Italy quake draws little media coverage

Although the story is the top headline, coverage is scant

Unlike previous earthquake tragedies, the Italian earthquake has failed to draw the usual saturation coverage from news channels. Although the news broke in the early hours of Monday, pictures were slow to role in. In Britain several domestic stories also took up much airtime which also pushed the Italian earthquake back on the news agenda. For much of the day CNN continued with regularly scheduled programming with Living Golf and World Sport remaining in place. Other news channels also brought scant coverage of events happening in Italy. Although al-Jazeera, Press TV, France 24 and Russia Today all covered the story, none gave it more than a few minutes airtime.

The 6.3 earthquake struck at 03:32 local time [01:32 GMT] at a depth of only 10 km. Striking in a rural area it has hampered rescue efforts. The tremors also hit towns and villages with extremely old buildings and hardly any remained unscathed. Initially more than 50,000 people were said to have been made homeless in the town of L’Aquila, which means eagle in Italian. But by Tuesday morning the town’s mayor revised this figure down to 10,000. However this still accounts for at least 1 in 7 of the population.

The death toll rose however. First reports indicated a relatively low death toll of some 50 individuals. As night fell the figure had risen to 91. Official figures released on Tuesday morning put the death toll at 179. But many people remain trapped in rubble and rescue efforts are continuing despite there being relatively little coverage of events on the ground.

The effort to dig injured people from the rubble of the ancient town has been difficult. Several aftershocks as large as 4.9 on the Richter scale have shaken the region making the search extremely dangerous. The weather has so far remained clear, but with temperatures falling to as low as 3 degrees Celsius at night, it is imperative to reach those trapped as quickly as possible. Day time temperatures are a little more tolerable reaching about 16 degrees, but Wednesday may bring rain which will add to the problems faced in the rescue effort.

At least 1,500 people have been injured and rescuers have pulled some 100 people alive from the rubble. Authorities say at least 34 people are still missing, but it is not clear whether all the rural areas have been searched. The BBC, which have given the most extensive news coverage, visited the deserted village of Onna where hardly a single property has remained unscathed. The thousands made homeless by this disaster face an uncertain future. New homes will almost certainly have to be built. Even those still standing remain structurally unsafe. As to who will pay for the reconstruction, is also an unknown quantity [BBC / Sky News / CNN].

G20 - "long, boring & an anti-climax"

Journalists at the start of a long day at the G20 Summit

It was a long day at the ExCel Centre. For journalists and photographers it was longer. The gathering of politicians perhaps had an easier time, even if the weight of the global economic crisis was sitting firmly on their shoulders.

The G20 leaders arrived in London on Wednesday as thousands protested against capitalism, bankers and the government. But few if any saw nor heard the calls for change. US President Barack Obama was one of the first to arrive, touching down in Airforce One at London’s Stansted airport amid high security. News channels were particularly focused on his arrival while other leaders’ arrivals were virtually ignored.

Obama spent Wednesday meeting with Gordon Brown giving a press conference where he asserted his commitment to solving the economic crisis and affirming that the special relationship between the US and Britain was as strong as ever. On leaving he went on to meet with Russian President Dimitri Medvedev to talk about issues of security ahead of the NATO summit. Meanwhile media speculation grew over whether French President Nicholas Sarkozy would even attend after it was revealed that he was apparently unhappy that certain issues were not being discussed at the summit. He and Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel gave a joint press conference later in the day which at least clarified the two leaders were committed to the process.

To watch the entire conference one would have had to tune into Euronews since both the BBC and Sky, who had waited patiently to bring the event to viewers, cut away almost immediately as they had no translation. The Euronews translator was rather whimsical, especially in his description of a French newspaper journalist’s question. “Actually there are so many questions in his question it is hard to know how they [Sarkozy and Merkel] are going to answer,” the translator said. Sarkozy, responded eventually with apparent sarcasm to the journalist’s diatribe.

And there was a certain amount of ridicule in the way Sarkozy was treated by the media. His arrival at Downing Street for the so-called working dinner, a supposed 10 minutes late, was criticised by both Sky and the BBC as being a snub.

The details of what was discussed as the munched through smoked salmon, lamb and Bakewell tart and custard, was not revealed. But there was widespread discussion in the papers as to the seating arrangement. President Hu Jiantao was sat next to Gordon Brown looking somewhat bewildered. He’d have perhaps been better placed next to Australian PM Kevin Rudd where he could have at least chatted about the weather. Rudd of course speaks relatively fluent Mandarin. Sarkozy was not seen in the pictures and it was joked on the Sky News paper review that he may have been served in the kitchen because of his late arrival. As for the wine, French, Italian, Spanish Californian? Nobody knows.

On Thursday the cavalcades of security carried the G20 leaders to London’s Docklands for their final get together. There were some 200 protesters, but they had been kept well back from the ExCel Centre in a so called “designated protest area”. The last time that phrase was used it was in connection with the Beijing Olympics. Though the media did not equate the corralled nature of the protests to the stifled way protests are handled in less democratic countries. Protestors also gathered at the Bank of England, but the numbers were far smaller than seen on the Wednesday. A minutes silence was observed for a male protester in his 50s who died in the early evening of Wednesday. The circumstances of his death are unknown but there was anger expressed towards police with some saying that they had failed to attend to the man quickly enough.

Back at the ExCel Centre journalists, photographers and television crews gathered in a large hall awaiting communiqués arising from the G20 Summit discussions. Representatives from government and institutions paraded around the room giving interviews. Amongst them was British Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling and a rather bored Sir Bob Geldoff.
The G20 leaders meanwhile posed for the family photograph. That in itself proved troublesome with some of the contingent going AWOL. First the Canadian PM Stephen Harper disappeared, apparently on a call of nature. After his return, it was the Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi who was absent. But on the third attempt they managed to assemble for the picture.
After four hours of discussion the press waited for the release of the final communiqué and addresses from Brown, Sarkozy and Obama. All leaders were late in giving their speeches and their was a further souring of protocol as Sarkozy and Brown gave their speeches at the same time. No sooner than President Sarkozy had said bonjour, than PM Gordon Brown sauntered onto the stage in another part of the centre to deliver his speech. As such their was little coverage of the Frenchman’s delivery as Sky, the BBC and CNN all cut to the British PM.
In his 1,500 word address Brown said there had been a strong consensus from the G20 members and that this was the fist step in solving the global economic crisis. In his dry and wordy speech Brown said an unprecedented era of international cooperation had begun. “I think a new world order is emerging and with it a new and progressive era of international cooperation,” Brown said.

Obama was far more inspiring with his delivery. Confident, optimistic and even witty he delivered his address like a true statesman. For the media, Obama stole the show. British media of course paid lip service to the speech made by Brown, but it was the US President and his glamorous wife that became the focus of attention these last few days.

As the last journalists packed up their laptops and left the ExCel Centre, many were too tired and weary to make any clear assessment of the day’s proceedings. Many had been focused on getting out their stories about what was said and by whom. “I thought it was a bit of an anti-climax,” one Chinese reporter told tvnewswatch, “What does it all mean at the end of the day?” It will take sometime to absorb what effects the G20 will have, and if the Summit’s proposals will solve the economic crisis. But that will be reported on another day.

Media run risks to report from Gaza

Reporters Sans Frontières have hailed the release of two Palestinian journalists employed by the Iranian Arabic-language TV station Al-Alam. The two had been held by the Israeli authorities for 10 days on spying charges. But they are not the only journalists who have had difficulties in recent weeks attempting to cover the Gaza conflict.

On Friday CNN’s Ben Wedeman reported that a journalist working for Italian newspaper Corriere Della Sera was shot at by Israeli troops as he attempted to make his way north from Khan Yunis to Gaza city. At least 15 rounds were fired into his vehicle and according to Reporters Sans Frontières he sustained a minor injury to his hand as his car clearly displaying ‘TV’ was fired upon at an Israeli checkpoint. It was not the only incident to occur this week. On Thursday a television centre was struck causing outrage amongst journalists working in Gaza [AP]. At a press conference one journalist called the Israeli foreign minister Tzipi Livni a terrorist and some likened Israel’s bar on foreign correspondents from crossing into Gaza to that of Robert Mugabe who has consistently refused access by western media into Zimbabwe [Haaretz].

But even before last week’s incidents several other journalists have been killed or injured. According to the International Federation of Journalists at least five journalists have been killed during Operation Cast Lead. Alwan Radio broadcaster Alaa Murtaja died after being seriously injured in a bomb attack on his house in Gaza City on 9th January. Israeli warplanes also bombed the home of Palestinian public TV cameraman Ihab al-Wahidi the previous day and there are reports that journalist Omar Silawi was killed by an IDF attack on 3rd January.

Basel Faraj, who worked as an assistant cameraman for the Algerian TV network ENTV and the Palestine Media and Communications Company, was wounded as a result of an Israeli air strike on his crew on the first day of the military offensive, 27th December. He died on 6th January. Two other journalists were also injured in the strike.

Even before the latest operation media workers were being injured. Hamza Shahin, a photographer with the Shehab News Agency, died on 26th December from wounds sustained in an Israeli air attack on 7th December.

Even Friday’s apparent targeting of a television centre was not the first. Israeli aircraft also bombed Al-Johara Tower in Gaza City, on 9th January despite being clearly marked as housing media staff [IFEX]. More than 20 news organisations work in Al-Johara, including Iran's English-language Press TV and the Arabic language network Al-Alam. Satellite transmission equipment on the roof of the building was destroyed and at least one journalist was reported injured.

A day before the ceasefire was announced several journalists managed to gain access to Gaza via the border with Egypt. Many organisations took the decision to cross via Egypt after continued calls on Israel to allow them to cross into Gaza were ignored [RSF / CNN]. But crossing over from Egypt did not come without its hurdles and much negotiation. The first British journalist to arrive in the war torn region was the BBC correspondent Christian Fraser. CNN’s Ben Wedeman had also crossed into southern Gaza and later filed a report by telephone. Although some journalists are arriving as a tenuous ceasefire begins, they may at least be able to report on the humanitarian disaster that is beginning to take hold in the devastated region.

Gaza - Media in the firing line

The media have become the latest victim in the continuing conflict

After 20 days of violence more than 1,000 have died and over 5,000 have been injured in what some have called war crimes by Israel. But Tzipi Livni, Israel’s Foreign Minister, has defended the operation and was evasive when questioned if the bombardment would end soon.

Three Israeli civilians have died in the last three weeks and 10 army personnel have been killed. Rockets fired by Hamas continue to be fired into Israeli territory despite the military onslaught aimed at degrading the militant organisation’s weaponry. But the retaliation wrought by Israel has been called “disproportionate”. The damage to Gaza is widespread and not confined to military targets. Whether intentionally or otherwise, dozens of civilian buildings have been destroyed. A television centre has been hit and at least three hospitals have been severely damaged. Several United Nations buildings have been directly and indirectly struck by Israeli bombs and there are accusations of Israel using white phosphorus and depleted uranium [al-Jazeera / CNN / CNN].

There have been predictable condemnations from countries like Iran. However the apparent deliberate targeting of a UN compound, where Israel says three Hamas militants were hiding, has created widespread concern. Although Israel’s Prime Minister Ehud Olmert apologised to UN secretary general Ban Ki-Moon, the air strike sparked anger from UN officials on the ground. The strike destroyed food, fuel and medical supplies, much needed humanitarian aid as the crisis continues. Judy Clark UNRWA told the few reporters that are on the ground that the damage was severe and called on Israel to stop the bombing. “We have lost all our food and medicine from this fire” she said.

International media have been barred from entering Gaza and those that are on the ground run the risk of being caught up in the violence themselves. New York Times reporter Taghreed El Khodary said at least three journalists were injured when the TV centre was struck including one employed by Sky News. Four journalists have so far died according to al-Jazeera’s Sherine Tadros who broadcast a report from the stricken media centre belonging to Ramattan TV. An Abu Dhabi TV journalist and a Reuters cameraman were injured in the blast that shook the Al-Shurouq Tower shortly after an Israeli army spokesman had contacted the Reuters news agency’s Jerusalem bureau to verify the location of its Gaza bureau. Reporters Sans Frontières have called on the Israeli military to explain how the 16 storey media centre was struck by the IDF.

Despite the risks CNN’s Ben Wedeman has managed to get into the Gaza strip through the Egyptian border. Reporting via telephone from a region shrouded in darkness he said that there was no running water and that electricity had also been cut. But most western reporters remain stuck on the Israeli-Gaza border, though Sky have managed to secure two trips into Gaza with the IDF. Their reports are however censored by the Israeli Defence Force and certain scenes such as the filming of destroyed houses were prevented by their military guides.

Last week the UN Security Council passed a resolution calling for an immediate end to hostilities. But both sides have ignored the call and there is no end in sight despite calls from the international community. At the UN several nations directly criticised Israel. But Israel’s Ambassador to the UN Gabriela Shalev described the statements as “deceitful”. She asked why there was no condemnation of the Katusha rockets being fired into Israel and the funding of Hamas by countries like Iran.

The conflict has not only brought criticism from politicians. Around the world there have been growing numbers of protests and calls for a boycott of Israeli products. Even bin Laden returned with a new tape release calling for a jihad [al-Jazeera]. Israel may have a right to defend itself but it will have a new war to fight in the months to come as it attempts to defend its image abroad.

Army of journalists build on Gaza border

Most reporters have been prevented from entering Gaza

After 12 days of shelling, at least 700 Palestinians have died in the Gaza strip. Israel has suffered its own casualties, but the numbers barely make double figures. Seven Israeli soldiers have been killed and three civilians have died at the hands of Hamas.


There are diplomatic efforts to end the violence but with both Hamas and the Israeli Defence Force blaming each other for the renewed conflict it will be difficult to pull the two sides apart. Last night the United Nations gathered to discuss the deteriorating situation in the region and call for a ceasefire such that humanitarian aid could flow. Israel agreed to a three hour cessation of hostilities and some aid has made its way into Gaza city. However several convoys came perilously close to being hit by Israeli shells as they travelled along a road towards the city just prior to the ceasefire coming into effect [BBC / Sky News_ / CNN / al-Jazeera].

Missiles have also landed close to journalists attempting to cover the story. Yesterday a Sky News crew were just metres away from where a Hamas rocket landed. Most media organisations have only been able to report on the border between Israel and Gaza as Israel have prevented journalists entering the Palestinian territory. A growing army of journalists and television crews have gathered in a small spot allocated by the Israeli military. As such there are few pictures coming from Gaza itself. Iran’s Press TV and al-Jazeera both have crews in the city and the Ramattan News Agency has been providing an almost constant video feed overlooking the city which Western media has occasionally dipped into. Israeli military and Hamas have also made pictures available to the media but the view they represent is far from impartial.

Impartiality is not the only victim of the conflict. Several journalists and cameramen have reportedly been injured in the ongoing violence. According to Ramattan News Agency one cameraman had died and at least three others had sustained injuries during the bombardment. Basel Faraj a cameraman working for the Algerian TV died in an Egyptian hospital after being transferred from Gaza to Egypt last week. He had been injured on the 27th of December. Three other journalists were also injured at the same location that day. They were named as Mohammad At-tannani, a cameraman, Mohammad Madhi, a camera assistant, and Khaled Abu Shammalah, another cameraman who works for the Moroccan TV. The news agency said that several Palestinian journalists were also injured over the last two weeks, one of which was a Ramattan News Agency camera assistant Ihab Al shawwa.

On the other side of the border some journalists were also experiencing various problems. While some where becoming frustrated at trying to report from the border and being constantly moved around by the Israeli military, others were being arrested and detained. Reporters sans frontières has said that two journalists have been taken into detention by Israeli police. According to the Ramallah-based Palestinian Journalists Syndicate, soldiers arrested Khodr Shahine, a correspondent of the Iranian TV station Al-Alam, and his assistant, Mohammed Sarhan. Both were arrested on Tuesday in Jerusalem where they are residents. They were taken to Petah Tiqva, near Tel Aviv, for interrogation and were brought before a military judge who ordered them held for another six days. According to RSF their lawyer was not able to visit them. The arrest of Shahine has only been reported by Press TV thus far. The Israeli army accused Shahine, named by Press TV as Khezir Shahin, of breaking a martial order about limited media coverage regarding the beginning of the Israel Ground Operation in Gaza.

But it is the civilian casualties that has been the focus of most western news organisations. Of the 700 Palestinians killed thus far, a third are said to be children. Three schools have been targeted in the last 24 hours, but Israel has dismissed allegations they deliberately targeted civilians saying they had information that Hamas were using the schools as bases. But John Ging, director of operations in Gaza for the UN Refugee and Works Agency, has denied any military activity at the UN run school which was struck on Tuesday leaving at least 40 dead and over 100 injured [BBC].

The targeting of the schools and the killing of so many civilians has prompted accusations that Israel has broken the rules of war. In particular some have said the 4th Geneva convention has been ignored. There have even been claims that the IDF have used weapons containing depleted uranium. The reports came from the Iranian news channel Press TV which said that fragments of the radioactive metal had been found in some of the victims treated at Gaza’s hospitals.

Speaking on al-Jazeera, Clare Short, Labour MP for Birmingham, dismissed Israeli suggestions that civilians should flee from Gaza and accused Israel of ignoring international law and of engaging in war crimes.

But most politicians have aired a far more moderate voice in the wake of all the killing. George Bush has blamed Hamas for the current crisis, but while the British have also criticised Hamas, they have called on both sides to stop the violence. David Miliband, Britain’s Foreign Secretary, who was attending a meeting at the UN last night said today, “Frankly the situation in Gaza is a crisis” and called for both sides to get around the negotiating table. But with Hamas not recognised by the United States and not being represented at the United Nations it was up to others to mediate a peace deal. French President Nicholas Sarkozy has helped draft a possible deal with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. And last night there were attempts at the UN to broker a resolution for peace. But both Hamas and Israel are unlikely to accept the current proposals. In fact the issue became even more complex as al Qaeda’s number two, Ayman al Zawahiri entered the frame calling Mubarak and US president elect Barack Obama traitors to Islam [ABC]. There is little affiliation in Gaza to al Qaeda, but the perceived injustice and disproportionate violence inflicted upon the Palestinians has become an issue which is beginning to group Islamic extremists together. Demonstrations have been seen across the world especially in Arab countries and the same rhetoric can be heard and seen. Shouts of “death to America” and even criticisms of their own Arab leaders are becoming louder and there are fears the anger may spawn terror attacks across the West. Even Britain‘s MI5 Director General Jonathan Evans has warned that the situation in the Middle East will do little to stamp out the terror threat saying “Gaza provides ideological ammunition” to terrorists. The threat may be even more deadly if Hamas obtain rockets with an even greater range than they currently possess.

This week The Times reported that Israel’s secretive nuclear facility at Dimona could be at risk if Hamas obtained long range missiles. Until recently, Hamas only possessed Qassam rockets with a range of around 10 km. But Hamas have now equipped themselves with Grad or Katusha rockets with a range of up to 40 km. Israeli towns such as Ashdod, Beer-Sheva and Yavneh that were once out of reach are now under continued attack. While Dimona remains well out of reach of such rockets if launched from Gaza, some parts of the West Bank are only 38 km from where it‘s believed Israel keeps its nuclear arsenal. Of course, the West Bank remains outside Hamas’s control, but there is the fear that even if Fatah does not ally itself with Hamas, the militants in Gaza may soon have Fajr-3 missiles in their arsenal increasing their strike range to 45 km. Not quite the 80 km needed to hit the Dimona reactor, but many Israelis believe it is only a matter of time before Hamas become equipped with something more deadly. “Maybe Hamas will get a big present from Iran or Hezbollah, a few good long-range missiles and they’ll use it,” says Limor Brina, 40, an Israeli who is in constant fear of rockets landing on her town. It is this fear that fuels the war against what many see as a terrorist organisation that wants to see Israel destroyed.

Hamas claim they are merely defending themselves from Israeli aggression and punishment. They say that Israel had not honoured the ceasefire agreement and blocked aid and supplies flowing into Gaza. Israel has said the blockades were put in place to stop the flow of weapons. But the blockade along with attacks on militants in Gaza throughout November strained tensions eventually leading Hamas to announce it would not renew the ceasefire which had been in place since July [BBC]. Although Hamas have claimed Israel began attacks on its militants, the BBC reported on the 30th October that a little known group calling itself Hezbollah Palestine had fired a rocket into Israel effectively ending the four month truce. The tit for tat that continued finally led to the full scale assault which began after Christmas.

Robert Fisk who was one of several guests speaking on the BBC World Service on Wednesday says that journalists should be able to report from inside Gaza freely. Questioning the reasons why Israel is preventing journalists from entering Gaza, the veteran Middle East correspondent who writes for the Independent asks what Israel is trying to hide. He points out in today’s paper that the war will do nothing to quell the increasing hatred of the West [Independent].

It is this hatred that is part of the reason why many Western media organisations do not have a permanent office in Gaza. The BBC pulled out of the region after one of their own correspondents, Alan Johnston, was kidnapped in 2007. Although it was Hamas who helped secure his safe release, the incident scared away most news organisations and effectively denied Gazans a voice when it mattered most. The story is now starting to drift away from the top headlines on some news bulletins. Sky News was tonight leading with a story about Britain’s cricket captain quitting the team. Europe is now more concerned over domestic issues such as the increasingly cold weather and concern over its gas supply after pipelines were shut off between the Ukraine and the rest of Europe this week [BBC]. Even those news stations which led with the story, most devoted only a few minutes of airtime compared to the saturation coverage of a few days ago. After all, a correspondent standing in a field imparting second hand reports does not make for good television.
[BBC]

Gaza - The propaganda war intensifies

Eight days of violence has left 455 dead in Gaza. Four Israelis have so far died.

As the Israeli assault on Gaza enters a second week a propaganda war has also increased as both sides attempt to air their respective points of view. On Saturday tens of thousands took to the streets in protest of Israel’s action. Singer Annie Lennox joined up to ten thousand demonstrators in London demanding and end to hostilities. Speaking at an earlier press conference she said she was “shocked to the core“ by the violence and questioned the logic of the attacks. “How is this going to be a solution to peace” she added. Some of the protesters gathered in Whitehall and threw shoes towards Downing Street, while politicians gave speeches in Trafalgar Square. Tony Ben an outspoken critic of Israel’s action in the Middle East appeared on both the BBC and Iran’s Press TV calling the bombardment disproportionate [BBC / Sky News / CNN] .

While the story remains at the top of the news agenda for all news broadcasters, Press TV is providing saturation coverage which at times verges on blatant anti-Israeli propaganda. Many of the pictures coming out of the Gaza strip are extremely disturbing. But while many broadcasters are shielding viewers from the worst of the images, Press TV has shown graphic images of mutilated and wounded civilians caught up in the violence. As dozens of injured arrived at a hospital following an Israeli air strike on a mosque, cameras captured the horrific sight of people with missing limbs. Pictures were also aired showing children lying dead on hospital floors. According to reports at least 16 were killed as they attended prayers and dozens more were injured [Sky News / CNN / Press TV].

The images of dead has angered many people around the world, but demonstrations are mostly confined to Arab countries and Europe. While the demonstrations have been covered by Sky, the BBC and CNN, the events have been given greater prominence on al-Jazeera and Press TV.

Israel has also launched its own propaganda machine by way of a dedicated You Tube channel [CNN]. On the site videos attempt to dispel the “lies and rhetoric” of its enemies. But the site has already served to increase criticism of Israel [BBC].

Iran's Press TV arrives in Europe

Press TV joins the ever growing number of news channels on Astra

Iran’s news channel Press TV has joined the free-to-air line-up of channels available in Europe via the Astra satellite [channel 525]. Along with Sky News, the BBC News channel, CNN, al-Jazeera English, France 24, Russia Today and Euro News it brings the number of rolling news stations to eight. Though not entirely geared to news coverage, China’s international station CCTV-9 also complements the ever increasing line up of world media broadcasters providing different slants to news around the globe.

As regards its global footprint CNN still provides the best coverage, even available in hotels across China where foreign media is still highly restricted. BBC World is also becoming more accessible in many countries but lags way behind that of CNN. Europe is privileged in as much as it is served by many news channels both domestic and global though some remain encrypted and are only available by subscription. MSNBC, Fox News and India’s NDTV are available on Astra but require a monthly fee.

Press TV’s coverage is in sharp contrast to that of other broadcasters. Opinion aired on the channel is often particularly critical of Israel. During some of today’s programming, a Beirut correspondent, Matthew Cassel, described coverage on CNN and the BBC as biased in respect to pictures it showed. He claimed that while the suffering experienced by Israelis at the receiving end of rockets launched by Hamas was shown, there were few pictures of the suffering endured by those in Gaza. Indeed the rolling pictures shown on Press TV have been far more graphic than those seen on other television news channels. Al-Jazeera has shown some pictures which are often described by TV anchors as ‘disturbing’, but Sky, the BBC and CNN have tended to shield viewers from the most graphic pictures. The BBC have described scenes of carnage and the condition of some victims, but pictures tend to be of destroyed buildings and long shot of distant explosions and flying F-15s.

Bardia Honardar, Press TV’s anchor, said the latest death toll was 385 and that 1,700 had been injured during Israel’s bombardment while they had suffered losses amounting to 5 dead. The numbers of dead vary between different broadcasters. The BBC and al-Jazeera are saying that there are now 360 dead in Gaza while Sky states “at least 360” have perished. Meanwhile, CNN says that the death toll has risen to 375.

Time given over the story also varies considerably. Though somewhat rambling in its coverage, Press TV is almost constant in its reporting. Al-Jazeera and CNN have given almost equal time to the story while the BBC and Sky ‘s reportage has begun to wane after four days of fighting. While it remains the top story for other channels such as RT and France 24, the coverage has dropped to only a few minutes per hour.

[CNN / Sky News / BBC / al-Jazeera / CCTV / Russia Today / France 24 / Press TV / Euronews]