Did France 2 TV Stage Coverage of Al Dura?

Did France 2 TV Stage Coverage of Al Dura?

French Court Will Decide Today

GAZA, Sept. 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following is being issued by SecondDraft.org:

A French court will hear arguments in the much-debated al Dura affair at the appeal of France 2 TV vs. Karsenty, TODAY, Wednesday, September 19.

This story of intentional murder of a defenseless child went around the world instantaneously, provoking public outrage in the West. The Muslim world flared into burning anger and hatred. The image of Muhammad al Dura, terrified behind the barrel, became the "icon" of the Intifada, used as a justification for suicide bombings, the acts of Osama bin Laden and the murder of journalist Daniel Pearl.

On September 30, 2000, the Middle-East Correspondent for France 2, Charles Enderlin, televised a report about 12-year old Muhammad al Dura and his father, apparently pinned down by gunfire and slain in Gaza. Enderlin was not there. He based his report solely on the testimony of his cameraman, Talal abu Rahmah. Enderlin alleged that the boy was "the target of fire coming from the Israeli position."

Subsequent investigations, however, indicated that, given the lines of fire and physical obstacles, the Israelis could not have hit al Dura. Evidence showed fire coming from Palestinian positions. In footage cut from the televised France 2 report, the boy, whom Enderlin had already pronounced dead, lifts up his arm and head and looks around, before resuming the "dead" position. This and many other details suggest that the entire scene was staged by Palestinian propagandists.

In 2004, based on this counter-evidence, Philippe Karsenty, principal of the media oversight organization Media Ratings, published an article that alleged that France 2 had used staged footage. In most free nations, a media outlet cannot sue a private citizen for criticizing them without proving libel. However, the same law that the French state used to prosecute Emile Zola for writing "J'accuse," Charles Enderlin brought suit against Karsenty for defamation.

Abu Rahmah's raw footage from that day has never been released to the public. In 2003 and 2004, several journalists saw these tapes and report that they show shocking signs of systematic "staging." Presenting staged events as "news" raises troubling questions about Enderlin's professional standards.

Despite the significance of the tapes, however, France 2, backed by the French court, refused to release the tapes. Citing a lack of any Israeli initiative in their own self-defense, the judges found Karsenty guilty.

In his appeal, Karsenty has called on the Israeli army to officially and publicly ask for the tapes from France 2. On September 10, 2007, they complied and sent Enderlin a formal request that France 2 has yet to comply with.

At stake here are critical issues of journalistic integrity but even more basic questions of fairness and respect for the public's right access to the crucial evidence. And at the core lies the question of what went into the making of the single image that -- more than any other -- has created deep hatred at the dawn of the 21st century.

CONTACT: Richard Landes, (617) 504-7837, rl.seconddraft@gmail.com or http://seconddraft.org/

Richard Landes is a Professor of Medieval History at Boston University, the creator of The Second Draft, and blogger at The Augean Stables. Having analyzed a major dossier of forgeries around the dawn of the second millennium, he has established himself as one of the foremost authorities in the manipulation and abuse of media power at the dawn of the third millennium.

Source: SecondDraft.org

CONTACT: Richard Landes of SecondDraft.org, +1-617-504-7837,
rl.seconddraft@gmail.com

Web site: http://www.seconddraft.org/

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Profile: International Entertainment