Outbreak of Anti-Semitic Media in Arab Islamic World
In 2003, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International issued a joint statement on antisemitism: Recognizing anti-Semitism as a serious human rights violation, we also recognize our own responsibility to take on this issue as part of our work. It should not be left to Jewish groups alone to highlight this issue and to appeal to the international community to address it. We are firmly committed to joining their ongoing efforts and to helping to bring problems of anti-Semitism into the overall human rights discourse.
Scene from the upcoming Egyptian mini Series “Khaybar“.
The Middle East Foundation for Peace and Justice (MEFPJ) reaffirms our commitment to the 2003 declaration especially in light of the recent escalation of government sanctioned antisemitism proliferating throughout the Islamic countries of the Middle East.
The Media researchers at EOZ have documented recent antisemitic diatribes shown on Lebanese TV and in a popular Egyptian newspaper. Additionally EOZ reported on two current accusations of the medieval blood libel in Egypt, a newspaper series insulting Judaism in Jordan, as well as examples of antisemitism in the Iraqi media, a Saudi Arabian newspaper, a Palestinian Arab “human rights group” and “peace activist,” and pan-Arab media. The researchers have documented many more similar instances in the Arab & Muslim world.
In 2001, a hugely popular 30-part Ramadan TV series aired in the Arab world based on the Protocols of the Elders of Zion. It was rerun in Egypt this year. Iran released an antisemitic movie last year.
A purely anti-semitic TV series (“Khaybar”) is being filmed now in Egypt and Morocco to be shown on Arabic TV it will be used to incite hundreds of millions of people against Jews during Ramadan next year. The filming of the series gets regular coverage in Arab media, and they make clear that it is meant to demonize Jews. The director doesn’t even attempt to hide the purpose of the film.
As EOZ notes, “Peace is literally unthinkable when the Jewish people are viewed as evil incarnate. Human rights organizations have clout. Shining light on this problem is essential, and it is not an obstacle to peace – it is a prerequisite.”
The MEFPJ condemns the rampant and unchecked outbreak of antisemitism in Arab and Islamic Media. The examples displayed above and many others are inciteful and a violation of basic human rights. We call upon our sister human rights organizations to join us in exposing and condemning these activities.
MEFPJ Condemns Huffington Post Bias
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: The Middle East Foundation for Peace & Justice (MEFPJ) joins the Simon Wiesenthal Center in expressing concern for beyond the pale anti-Israel bias displayed on the pages of The Huffington Post. We condemn recent dishonest headlines and manipulative photographs clearly designed to dehumanize the Jewish state and her citizens.
A headline carried by the Huffington Post super-blog that read simply “Israel Strikes Again” has drawn criticism from the Simon Wiesenthal Center, a Los Angles based Jewish human rights group that “promotes human rights and dignity, stands with Israel” and “defends the safety of Jews worldwide.”
The headline, which linked to a story about recently reported Israeli strikes in Syria aimed at preventing the flow of advanced weaponry to terror group Hezbollah, according to US and Israel officials, provided no context regarding the strike. The story was accompanied by a picture of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu smirking and clapping, and appeared on Sunday afternoon as the main headline on the publication’s much visited homepage.
“President Obama underscored Israel’s right to strike inside Syria; a leader of Syria’s rebels went on Israel’s Channel 2 to thank Bibi and company for weakening Assad,” said Associate Dean Abraham Cooper in an email to The Algemeiner, “Apparently all that’s not enough for today’s Huffpost editors. They even trotted out a picture of PM Netanyahu scowling while headlining—Israel strikes again.” Read the rest at The Algemeiner.
The Middle East Foundation for Peace & Justice 