Resist the rush to judgment

[shira]

Last week, the media both at home and abroad swallowed - hook, line and sinker - allegations propagated as fact by the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) to the effect that on September 27, a young shepherd from Akrabeh, south of Nablus, had been shot and abducted by settlers from Gitit in the Jordan Valley.

The fact that Gitit, near Mechora, is hardly an extremist hotbed didn't serve to mitigate the instantaneous condemnation. But then both police forensic teams and the autopsy performed on 19-year-old Yihya Atta Bani-Minya revealed that not only were there no signs of the victim having been shot, death was in fact caused by his having handled an unexploded 40mm-shell.

The fact that the very dubious claims made by PCHR - which is hardly known for veracity and has glaring propagandistic ulterior motives - were so casually taken at face value even inside Israel is grave cause for concern.

For two days, leading politicians and journalists linked the shepherd's accidental death to the attack on Prof. Ze'ev Sternhell and even the Rabin assassination - without waiting for the investigators' conclusions. These unproven accusations, moreover, received considerable resonance, particularly in the electronic media, while the forensic findings weren't accorded commensurate attention.

<snip>

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1222017454654&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull

[shira]

1. the rest of the article

ALACRITY to convict, regardless of the evidence, can never be justified. This is true even if it's argued that the settlers' record is far from sterling and that the PCHR version sounded believable to some. The fact that it was Gitit in the dock should have given pause, as well as the fact that cases of Jews mowing down Arabs without provocation are rare.

A more worrying aspect yet is that PCHR continues to feature the unamended story on its Web page, omitting all reference to the police probe.



PCHR, its "report" says, "utterly condemns this heinous crime and reiterates that the neglect of complaints submitted by Palestinian civilians against Israeli settlers, plus the protection provided by the Israeli Occupation Forces to the settlers, have encouraged the settlers to continue launching attacks against unarmed Palestinian civilians."

But that's not all. "According to eyewitnesses," continues the still-circulated PCHR account, "the body had been hit by about 20 bullets to the neck, chest and legs." PCHR continues to demand that "the perpetrators be brought to justice" and that "all Israeli settlers be disarmed."

Such rush to judgment, especially when garnished with falsehoods, isn't of negligible significance. It can be incendiary. Disseminating untruths can be like tossing lit matches into a tinderbox.

PERHAPS PCHR wishes to inflame passions among local Arabs and instigate vendettas for a crime-that-wasn't. The sad fact is that PCHR boasts extensive ties with Israeli academics and human rights organizations and has cosponsored the campaign to try Israeli ex-generals - including Shaul Mofaz, Moshe Ya'alon and Doron Almog - for war crimes.

More reckless yet is the role of Israelis who uncritically echo such spurious charges. We must all be wary of repeating the Halhoul calumny of 1995 in which then Meretz head Yossi Sarid contended from the Knesset podium that a "settler underground" had murdered a Halhoul Arab. Eventually it emerged that bogus "credit" for the homicide was assumed by Shin Bet agent provocateur Avishai Raviv, and that the real killers were neighboring Arabs.

When wholesale blame is attributed to entire settlements, the majority of which are comprised of law-abiding citizens, widespread alienation and growing isolation results. This alienation from their fellow Israelis breeds the very extremism which the settlers' political antagonists censure.

When whole groups are pilloried as outcasts, some among them are pushed into dark corners where pent-up steam seeks outlets, even illicit ones. It is therefore to the very real benefit of the undivided Israeli aggregate that extreme self-control be exercised and the temptation to cast complete collectives in the same offensive mold be strongly resisted.

The last thing this society needs is more polarization, more radicalization, spurred by whichever element, and for whatever reason. What we most need are cool heads and moderation, even at the price of passing up political gain.

[shira]

2. to summarize

1. Completely bogus report
2. Eyewitness claims created out of thin air (where have we read of this before)
3. PCHR is known for not being trustworthy or reliable
4. PCHR is somehow still popular amongst academics and human rights orgs (why?)
5. Israeli press had no problem reporting this

=====================================================================

The person in charge of PCHR was formerly in B'tselem:
http://www.btselem.org/english/about_btselem/palestinian_sites.asp

The Palestinian Human Rights Monitoring Group
Founded in 1996 by former B'Tselem fieldworker Bassem Eid. Monitors human rights violations by both Israel and the Palestinian National Authority.

======================================================================

Imagine a pro-Israel group doing the same things by falsely accusing Palestinians of bogus crimes, with bogus eyewitness accounts, being supported by "respected" academics and human rights orgs, and having their tripe published in mainstream media repeatedly w/o first waiting for validation of the alleged facts.

Where's the outrage?

[azurnoir]

3. LOL again?

Take your own advice

So now we can add PCHR to your list of "enemies of Israel" the listb includes Amnesty International, B'Tselem, Peace Now, who did I miss perhaps UNHRC?

Wgat is truly interesting is that PCHR's website most recent listing of incident is from 8/28 to 9/3 the date given for this incident is 9/27

http://www.pchrgaza.org/files/W_report/English/2008/04-09-2008.htm

And it is not a factual article that this news was taken from but rather an editorial meaning its someones opinion .

[shira]

4. nothing to LOL about....

http://www.pchrgaza.org/files/PressR/English/2008/89-2008.html

Would you like a mulligan? Try again.

[azurnoir]

5. Dated for 9/28

and I could not find it on a search of their web site not to mention an editorial is not fact just opinion and who did the investigation again?

But do keep trying

[shira]

6. you can't find this "opinionated editorial" on their website?

http://www.pchrgaza.org/files/PressR/English/2008/press2008.html

Sept 28...press release. It's right there. Unchanged. Still on the website.


on edit:
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1025445.html

Neighbors and relatives of the teenager had accused extremist settlers of killing him, and police looked into that possibility. But spokesperson Micky Rosenfeld said forensics experts determined the shepherd was killed after he picked up an unexploded shell that detonated in his hands.

Rosenfeld said the shepherd's body suffered shrapnel wounds, and there were no signs the shepherd was shot.

[azurnoir]

8. Ah yeah

the article you posted was an editorial not factual and where did the shell come from? But do go on you need to smear any and all human rights organizations apparently.

[Shaktimaan]

11. who told you that editorials are not factual?

An editorial is an opinion piece where the author states his/her viewpoint on a given topic and then backs it up with FACTS. "Opinion" does not mean "unproven" or "untrue." By their nature facts are either true or untrue. Opinion never enters the equation.

You really don't know the difference between a fact and an opinion? It is not a question of one or the other, they are apples and oranges. Editorials are still news; they are still supposed to be factually accurate.

But do go on you need to smear any and all human rights organizations apparently.

Wow. You are really, REALLY missing the point here.

[Shaktimaan]

7. what are you talking about here?

It isn't an editorial at all. It is a press release... as close to "breaking news" as an organization like PCHR can produce. Besides that, the idea that an opinion piece is somehow not obligated to be factually accurate is nonsense. Yes, they can give an opinion. They can not print unsubstantiated reports under the guise of "opinion." None of this matters anyway because the PCHR did not put out an opinion piece but a PRESS RELEASE.

And I have no idea why you can't find it on their website. Go to their webpage. Click on PCHR Documents. Click on Press Releases. Click on the 7th item down, "Palestinian Shepherd Killed by Settlers in Nablus." Or you can click on search and type in "Palestinian Shepherd Killed by Settlers in Nablus." It will take you to the same Press Release.

OR you can just click on the link that shira provided.

Do you have anything at all to refute the OP? Are you insinuating that the PCHR's Press Releases should not be taken literally since they might be based on someone's opinion of what may have transpired, (instead of on hard facts, like most news outlets, such as the J-Post)? I'm not getting your point here. The PR is there in PCHR's website, you've seen it. They have yet to amend it, despite new evidence that it is completely untrue. (as compared with their complete lack of evidence to support their report.)

And you think that SHIRA is the one that should keep trying? Well, maybe so... after all, she's the one who's winning. She should keep trying, she's doing well so far. You, on the other hand... you should just give the fuck up already. Seriously, stop trying. It's sad to watch.

[azurnoir]

9. I did click her link

Oh it is still on their website so that must mean that everything there is a lie right that is what Shira is unsuccessfully trying to purport,
just when did this "investigative" report come out? who did the investigation was it as through
as the one into Hurndal's murder if I remember that was also called a through investigation too, did the report come out today maybe yesterday what an apology isn't coming fast enough or the Pro's see their chance to smear another human rights organization and oh goody an Arab one at that, the next time PCHR reports how terrible Hamas is this will come in quite handy though so thanks .

BTW the editorial is the OP not the PCHR press release

[shira]

10. to clarify, again

1. The press release is still on the PCHR website, as anyone here can click and see.

2. That press release remains unchanged even though the investigation - police and forensics report, autopsy was all done by 9/29 - within 48 hours of the PCHR report - close to a month ago. See the haaretz article in my post #6. It's been a month and PCHR has changed nothing on their website. They didn't even mention the police/forensics/autopsy, etc.

3. I don't know whether "everything" on the PCHR website is a lie - I have no reason not to believe that most is probably true. But how many outright lies and fabrications must they release as breaking press releases before they lose credibility in your eyes? My guess is that if a pro-Israel human rights org repeatedly smeared and demonized Palestinians with bogus reports, imaginary eyewitnesses, and the MSM didn't wait for verification, you'd level charges of rank far-rightwing bias, bigotry/racism, and extremist hatred against both the human rights org and the MSM.

[azurnoir]

12. Do you question the veracity of this?

PCHR Condemns Eruption of Violence at Gaza City’s al-Azhar University

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=124x224124

Must be false at least by your standards right? I do not question the veracity of either report, but I do question the Israeli investigation, which in the past have proven to be "incomplete" or quite biased, lets see 20 bullets vs a 40mm shell hmmmm I guess 20 bullets would leave no shrapnel right?

[eyl]

13. ACtually, not, they wouldn't

Depending on the circumstances, they might leave fragements, but those are considerably different than shell shrapnel.

[shira]

14. nope

Some of PCHR's reports on Fatah/Hamas violence are most likely true, but you need to understand PCHR cannot afford to criticize Hamas/Fatah as they do Israel (for that matter, neither can reporters/press criticize Hamas/Fatah harshly or they're kidnapped/booted, etc.).

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7642586.stm

The above is a BBC report on the autopsy/forensics report showing no bullets were shot. Realize also that the body was given back to the family, who could have easily tried proving the Israeli "narrative/bias" to be false. The Israeli autopsy/forensics report remains unchallenged by all to this day.

Besides, where's your evidence of Israeli police fudging autopsy or forensics reports in biased ways? Why should they do this now? It's very easy for Israel to admit this was an execution carried out by settlers.

[azurnoir]

15. So it is what I thought all along

faux manufactured outrage, PCHR is being honest when they are "bashing" Palestinians but when it is Israels it is a different story. Then you wait almost a month? Actually I read about this weeks ago there was a thread here about and I read Haaretz daily so it did not take long and the outrage because the former head of PCHR is now the BTselem? Why outrage, both organizations report wrong from both sides. Oh that's right its only the truth when it is about Palestinians killing Palestinians. that was why the initial LOL.

[shira]

17. faux outrage?

How many times must PCHR get it blatantly wrong when it comes to merely "criticizing" Israel? From al-Dura to Gaza Beach and now this fabrication (and there are plenty of other examples)...when does an organization like this start losing credibility in your view?

As for PCHR's reports on Hamas or Fatah, or for that matter ANY human rights org's reports on Hamas and Fatah - can you provide even ONE example of blatantly false propaganda, false witnesses, etc.. that has been reported and then covered by the mainstream media - that is blatant hate propaganda against Palestinians? Wouldn't you be outraged if this shit was happening frequently in reverse, against Palestinians?

[oberliner]

16. PCHR is a pretty interesting organization

They are often willing to be critical of Palestinian actions, both Fatah and Hamas, that they deem to be a human rights violation.