Likud Party Accuses Media of Spreading Falsehoods Ahead of Elections
The Likud party issued a sharp statement on Tuesday, accusing media outlets and journalists aligned with the left of disseminating a "flood of false publications" aimed at influencing public opinion and harming the right-wing bloc as elections approach. The party claims these efforts are intended to create a public atmosphere conducive to replacing the current government.
Likud specifically targeted recent reports concerning alleged contacts between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the leadership of the United Arab Emirates. The party reiterated its denial of a report claiming that messages or warnings were conveyed to the Prime Minister during a conversation, asserting that media outlets continue to report this claim despite official denials from both Israeli and Emirati sources. The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs previously stated that Abu Dhabi does not comment on speculations regarding leader-level discussions but confirmed direct communication channels exist.
Furthermore, Likud strongly criticized The New York Times, questioning its coverage of Israel and the war in Gaza. The party referenced an opinion piece that included a controversial allegation of dogs being used for sexual assault of Palestinian detainees, a claim experts have cast doubt upon and which Israeli officials have vehemently rejected. The editor-in-chief of The New York Times, Joe Kahn, later commented that a news report would not have been published in the same manner as the opinion piece, though the newspaper stood by its publication, citing the need for discussion of the testimonies and sources.
Likud also addressed past controversy surrounding The New York Times' publication of a photo of an emaciated Gaza child on its front page, initially presented in a report on famine. The newspaper later added clarification that the child had pre-existing medical conditions affecting development, though it maintained the child also suffered from severe malnutrition. Critics argued the additional medical details should have been included initially, presenting a partial picture.
Concluding its statement, Likud asserted that the Israeli public is increasingly skeptical of such reports and that attempts to influence the elections through media publications will fail, stating, "The public is smart and has long stopped buying these lies." This statement aligns with a more aggressive stance Likud has adopted recently towards both Israeli and international media amidst the intensifying political battle and the approach of the elections.
