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Deir Yassin Remembered receives library of late AMW member
Monday, December 01, 2008 (6 reads)

27 November 2008

Margaret Nashashibi, widow of the late Arab Media Watch member Issam Nashashibi, has donated his extensive library on Palestine to the Deir Yassin Remembered Archives. This wonderful collection (24 boxes) of rare books and periodicals will be available to the public when the archives are reinstituted at Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Geneva, New York.

Arab Media Watch mourns member Chris Leadbeater
Friday, November 28, 2008 (35 reads)

26 November 2008

Arab Media Watch mourns the passing away of Chris Leadbeater, and sends it heartfelt condolences to his family.

"Chris was one of our first and most active members, an ardent supporter of the oppressed and opponent of injustice," said AMW chairman Sharif Hikmat Nashashibi. "He was a valiant fighter, a passionate writer, and a friend. Chris will be greatly missed. On behalf of all of those at AMW who had the privilege of knowing him, our thoughts and prayers are with Chris's family during this tragic time."

Commentary by AMW adviser: Making sense on Iran in Washington
Friday, November 28, 2008 (21 reads)

By Rami Khouri, Arab Media Watch adviser, director of the Issam Fares Institute at the American University of Beirut, editor-at-large of the Beirut-based Daily Star, and co-laureate of the 2006 Pax Christi International Peace Award.

26 November 2008

Perhaps the most interesting case to watch in these days of American power transition is Iran.

Not the "threat" of Iran, or the "puzzle" of Iran - as some of the wild-headed in Washington and Israel refer to it; but, simply, the Iran that is developing a full uranium enrichment nuclear fuel cycle. The worst and best aspects of American political culture are on display here, as different domestic and foreign groups do battle to win the dominant position of influence on Washington's policy towards Iran in the Obama administration.

Russian news agency publishes article on Syria by AMW adviser
Thursday, November 27, 2008 (29 reads)

By Rime Allaf, Arab Media Watch adviser and associate fellow at the Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House).

25 November 2008
Novosti - Russian News & Information Agency

There was much ado about very little last week, as British media covered the visit of Foreign Secretary David Miliband's visit to the Middle East. In particular, his trip to Syria was feted as an exploit of British diplomacy, with various journalists and analysts describing the event as a move to "bring Syria in from the cold" and to lead it back into the greener pastures of the Anglo-American sphere (also known as "the international community").

While a few reports reluctantly acknowledged that France had actually initiated the rapprochement earlier this year, this was apparently just "breaking the ice;" in other words, we are to understand that Britain is single-handedly bringing Syria out of its isolation, so long as the latter undertakes to tackle the usual set of demands. Speaking to the BBC, Miliband summed up his diplomatic stance with great precision, stating that Syria could be "a force for stability or it can be a force for instability."

This seemingly vague explanation is actually a fitting illustration of Britain's current political position, especially in the Middle East, and especially during this transitional period when nobody is quite sure how the new American president will conduct foreign policy. By the time President Obama gets settled in January 2009, the region will be expecting elections in Israel (February), in Lebanon (May) and in Iran (June), in addition to the provincial elections in Iraq scheduled for end January. While this would put many big decisions on hold, politics and bilateral relations have continued to develop while Britain was a mere spectator, and this might explain its eagerness to claim its stake in the regional pie. However, for the time being, it is unclear exactly where Britain stands, as demonstrated in its equivocal and hesitant approach.

AMW media interactions: 17-23 November 2008
Wednesday, November 26, 2008 (33 reads)

During the week of 17-23 November 2008, Arab Media Watch published a study on British media coverage of the recent US raid into Syria; a study on British media coverage of Israeli settlements; a document on settler violence; and a request for volunteers from a journalist doing qualitative analysis of Arabic TV and Internet output.

AMW had meetings with Al Jazeera English, Al Jazeera and Dubai TV.

Al Hayat published a commentary by AMW chairman Sharif Hikmat Nashashibi on British media coverage of the recent US raid into Syria; and the Independent published a letter co-signed by AMW adviser Dr Ghada Karmi, entitled "Shut out by Israel's Gaza blockade."

Al Jazeera English requested two interviews on Palestine with Nashashibi, and an interview on Syria with AMW adviser Guy Gabriel. AMW also helped Al Jazeera English with interviewees on Palestine and Syria.

Independent Middle East correspondent Donald Macintyre replied to an email about Israeli settlements from Nashashibi; and a Guardian journalist replied to an email about Sudan by Gabriel, who also wrote to the Times about an article on Sudan.

Nashashibi presented Press TV's Middle East Today programme. He interviewed Karl Sabbagh, author of "Palestine: A Personal History," Matthew Harris, secretary of the Liberal Democrat Friends of Israel, and Ahmed Yousef, former senior political adviser to Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.

AMW director Muna Nashashibi was part of a panel discussing Western perceptions of the right of return of Palestinian refugees at a conference in Damascus.

The producer of a forthcoming documentary on Iraq sought AMW's help.

AMW liaised with every British national daily broadsheet newspaper, as well as the Observer, Daily Mail, Al Jazeera English, ABC News, Al Hayat, Arab News Broadcasting, Press TV, Human Rights Watch, and the Palestinian and Syrian embassies.

AMW document: Official positions of Quartet & NGOs on settlements
Wednesday, November 26, 2008 (29 reads)

25 November 2008

A study by Arab Media Watch has revealed that many of the criteria relevant to the significance of settlements are not frequently reported. Vital information such as their position under international law, their construction on occupied Palestinian land, and their contravention of the peace process, are often omitted.

AMW has therefore produced an easy-to-read document to clarify these issues, as well as the positions taken by the "Quartet" (UN, US, EU, and Russia) and international NGOs with respect to the settlements.

AMW study: Mideast Sovereign Wealth Funds in the British Media
Tuesday, November 25, 2008 (38 reads)

Sovereign wealth funds have recently become far more prominent in the media than ever before. Their prominence has been exacerbated by a global economic shift in which the relative financial power of the West is declining - a trend that has been picked up by commentators in the press. Much of the focus on SWFs belies a frustration at this shift and raises concern as to "knee-jerk jingoism."

For this study, Arab Media Watch examined coverage of Middle Eastern SWFs in the British press. The study revealed that many sections of the press focus on easy-to-repeat controversy in ominous or uncomplimentary language, rather than examining what is still an evolving and partially understood, globally distributed phenomenon. AMW found that views are often formulated on partial and distorted information, with a lack of facts and accuracy in reporting creating a hole that is often filled by hyperbole and overstatement.

This study sheds light on the misconceptions and grey areas reported in the media, accompanied by evidence.

Events on Israeli occupation with Arab Media Watch adviser
Tuesday, November 25, 2008 (37 reads)

On Saturday 29 November 2008, Arab Media Watch adviser Dr Karma Nabulsi joins a panel alongside Israeli professor Ilan Pappe (Exeter University) and Gideon Levy of Israel's Haaretz newspaper, entitled "The occupation and Israeli civil society."

On Tuesday 2 December, Nabulsi joins a panel with Levy and Israeli Eyal Sivan of the University of East London, entitled "The Israeli occupation: Apathy in society."

Arab Media Watch document on settler violence
Friday, November 21, 2008 (45 reads)

19 November 2008

Arab Media Watch has produced a document on settler violence against Palestinians.

AMW study: British Media Coverage of Israeli Settlements
Thursday, November 20, 2008 (63 reads)

The issue of Israeli settlements on occupied Palestinian territory has long been a serious obstacle to peace, leaving Palestinians with a fragmented, non-viable, non-contiguous homeland. Despite full knowledge of this, global opposition and international law, Israeli settlements continue to expand, causing deep concern among Palestinians and observers worldwide over their detrimental effects.

This Arab Media Watch study contains two parts. The first analyses the way settlements are reported in the British national press (using Lexis Nexis, excluding the Financial Times and Daily Express) during three months: 1 April - 1 July 2008. The second part is an analysis of how settlements are discussed in commentaries and editorials. AMW found that news coverage of settlements only partially conveys the full import of their presence in the occupied Palestinian territories.

AMW study: British Media Coverage of the US Raid on Syria
Tuesday, November 18, 2008 (68 reads)

On 26 October 2008, the US military mounted a raid inside Syrian territory near the border with Iraq, in which eight people were killed. Arab Media Watch monitored subsequent press coverage, analysing news articles for the number of sources quoted on each side, and the amount of word space given to each.