PRESS RELEASE FROM THE NATIONAL UNITY COALITION FOR ISRAEL
PHONE: 913 432 7900 FAX: 913 432 7997
EMAIL: voicesunited@mindspring.com
WEBSITE: www.israel-unitycoalition.com

OP-ED FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: ESTHER LEVENS - 800 688 2204

This is a report from the frontlines in Israel. It is an account by one who participated in a Solidarity Mission to lend support to Israel under siege. It provides a glimpse into the new intifada in a small country whose citizens are being attacked by deadly terrorist bombs, bullets, and a biased world media. Video and audio accounts are available upon request. Eyewitness Report on the New Palestinian Intifada Flagrant News Distortions by BBC

Almost from the moment KLM flight # 462 took off from Tel Aviv on December 10, carrying interfaith members of Bridges for Peace Solidarity Mission back home to the US, we began to receive propaganda and distorted accounts refuting what we had just witnessed with our own eyes.

The BBC World News report of the latest Intifada events shown on our flight from Tel Aviv can only be described as biased and unprofessional. Passengers on KLM who had visited Israel for whatever reason, business or pleasure, were treated to a propaganda barrage on leaving that presented a lethal assault on the truth obviously intended to color reports going back to the US.

Palestinians were painted as the victims and Israelis the aggressors, while evidence we gathered indicated the reality is just the opposite. The Days of Rage every Friday for six weeks has been orchestrated by Arafat and he has encouraged the violence including rock throwing, firebombing and terrorist attacks, killing and maiming hundreds of his own people as well as Israelis. The Israeli response has been mild and ineffectual, and always just that, a response to the aggression, but labeled by the United Nations as "excessive force."

Our visit to Gilo, the Jerusalem suburb subjected to nightly attacks, included inspection of the concrete barriers erected to deflect the gunshots coming from Beit Jala in the Palestinian Authority controlled territory. These attacks are aimed at the Israeli apartment buildings we inspected that are situated across a valley about 300 yards away from the attacking Arab village. We examined the bullet holes that dotted the stucco exterior walls of the Israeli apartments and we saw the bullets that had lodged inside residents' living rooms. We spoke with mothers who told us their young children have been traumatized by the six weeks of nightly shooting that begins routinely at 4:00 pm and lasts for hours.

The three women who emerged from the Gilo apartments to learn who we were and to tell us their story said they have no argument with their Arab neighbors in the adjacent village, with whom they have been friends for years. They describe these Arab neighbors as also being victims of the Tanzim, Palestinian terrorists who nightly take over their apartments to shoot the Gilo Jewish residents. They said these Arab neighbors are under threat of death if they protest the Tanzim takeover of their homes as a base for shooting Israelis.

We have extensive proof of these statements in the form of video footage and audio tapes of the targeted residences and an interview with three mothers from Gilo who gave their testimony. This video is available for any TV or radio station, individual or group. To order call 952 898 3306 or fax 952 898 3651, Bridges for Peace, the coordinator of the trip or call 913 432 7900 or fax 913 432 7997 to order from the National Unity Coalition for Israel, co-sponsor of the Solidarity Mission.

This footage should be shown on BBC to provide an accurate account of the Palestinian guerilla warfare aimed at Israeli civilians currently taking place. Certainly BBC can send a video crew to do their own interviewing if they choose to do so.

Several members of our Mission wandered into the area of the Western Wall Plaza and witnessed the surreal activities beginning about 1:00 pm last Friday, another orchestrated Day of Rage called for by the Palestinians. There was an early exodus of hundreds of Palestinian women and elderly from the old city through the Dung Gate. They had been alerted to the fact that the Palestinian rioting would soon begin. The Palestinian flag was raised over the Mosque. Later the Israeli helicopters began circling overhead and the IDF were stationed on the steps leading down to the Western Wall, poised to protect masses of worshippers who were praying and singing below, undeterred by the prospect of violence. Other soldiers were stationed on the building tops across the street, ready for any attacks on the people gathered for prayer. Heavy smoke billowed from behind the Mosque, fueled by a fire set by the mob. Mostly young Arabs were throwing jagged rocks, propelled by slings made of leather or cloth and hurled down into the street below. The street became cluttered with piles of these rocks. One member of our Mission was hit but fortunately was not seriously injured. The Israeli soldiers with whom our group spoke expressed extreme frustration. They were under orders not to respond, and could only fire a few shots into the air. We could only speculate as to how the US would respond to such anarchy perpetrated within our borders. Certainly not with such restraint.

Those who had not actually witnessed the events would be inclined to accept BBC's accounts as accurate, labeling Israel the aggressor. Only those of us who were eyewitnesses can refute the lies and spin tactics. What is even more significant is that the rest of the world, not merely the few passengers on KLM, is influenced by the BBC distorted "voice over" word images.

Their report could easily have been written before the current outbreak of Friday's latest Day of Rage, because it bore no similarity to the actual happenings on the ground at both the Temple Mount or in the Jerusalem suburb of Gilo. Without question, their reporting indicated a preconceived policy and reflected no attempt to remain neutral, to investigate the realities, or to question participants on both sides. Simply stated it demonstrated no serious effort to provide an accurate account and report the truth.

Had we not visited the areas of Gilo and the Temple Mount, witnessed the orchestrated Palestinian violence and spoken directly with the Israeli victims, we would have had no alternative but to believe BBC. Because of our direct experiences, we were able to recognize as obvious brainwashing the fictional reports emanating from the BBC broadcast.

We can only speculate at this point as to whom is behind this overt propaganda. Who are the advertisers? Where does BBC funding originate and who has an intrinsic stake in the false reporting?

More importantly, who will hold BBC accountable?