Palestine story was not balanced
REGARDING the allegations of Palestinian journalist Mohammed Omer in the last issue, I would like to suggest the Journalist sets an example to members by also printing comments from those who dispute his claims in many important aspects.
Accusations of torture are extremely serious, and there can be no excuse if journalists suffer simply because they are carrying out their job. It is clear, however, that the Journalist printed this story without checking the facts or seeking corroboration of Omer’s story.
A report in Ha’aretz for example noted that “Dr Diaa Husseini, who examined Omer at the (Jericho) hospital, said the journalist had no signs of physical injury. He said Omer had suffered a nervous breakdown brought on by emotional stress and was given stomach medication and released after two hours.”
As NUJ members we subscribe to a Code of Conduct, and thus we expect our flagship magazine to at least aspire to high standards of balanced reporting.
I trust the next issue of The Journalist will also report on the condemnation by the Palestinian Media Union of both Fatah and Hamas for “involving” Palestinian reporters in their ongoing power struggle, and how death threats, arrests, the banning of newspapers and, most recently, the destruction of the WAFA News Agency offices in Gaza by Hamas militia, are being used as tactics of intimidation against journalists.
Clarissa Hyman
Manchester
Journalist was taken in
MR OMER has a history of filing untrue allegations about Israel, but his latest story is so full of contradictions and inconsistencies it is incredible it was given such credence.
The Israeli security forces fully accept that “due to suspicion that he had been in contact with hostile elements and had been asked by them to deliver items to Judea and Samaria,” they searched both him and his bags, but that, “in contradiction to his claims, at no time was the complainant subjected to either physical or mental violence”.
It is disappointing that the Journalist should have been taken in.
Joy Wolfe
Manchester
I’m not anti‑Israel
I NOTE with little surprise that Neville Davies (last issue) accuses me of being “anti-Israel” for daring to comment about the antics of a single political faction. I can’t say that I am too bothered by his stereotypical assumptions though I doubt that my Israeli friends who share my views would be so forgiving.
He goes on to accuse my reporting of being “one-sided” because I was driven to locations of my choice in South Lebanon by a Palestinian. That says it all really.