Pro-Israeli U.S. Media Bias Broken

international | rights, freedoms and repression | news report

Thursday January 29, 2009 15:19

by Maidhc Ó Cathail

Apartheid in Palestine Shown on American TV

After 60 years of one-sided reporting on Palestine, a major U.S. TV network finally shows the reality of life for Palestinians in the Occupied Territories.

Last Sunday, CBS's 60 Minutes news programme presented "Is Peace Out of Reach?" It marked a historic moment in U.S. reporting on Palestine.

In the words of the US Campaign to End the Occupation of Palestine:

"This piece marks the first time that a mainstream U.S. media outlet has dared to accurately portray what Israeli occupation and settlement mean for Palestinians living in the West Bank and to explain to the American public why this system is apartheid."

The significance of "Is Peace Out of Reach? can not be overstated.

As Americans become aware of Israeli oppression of Palestinians in the Occupied Territories, they may begin to push their elected representatives to end the United States's financial, diplomatic and military support for Israel's illegal occupation of the West Bank which it annexed after the 1967 war.

The long overdue 60 Minutes report on Israeli apartheid in Palestine may also encourage other news media in the U.S. to pursue a more balanced coverage of the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians which - if not soon resolved in a peaceful and just manner - threatens to engulf not only the Middle East but the entire world in what could be the final world war.

"Is Peace Out of Reach?" may be viewed here:
http://www.endtheoccupation.org/article.php?id=1811