i24NEWS Commentator Slams Israeli Media's Western Bias
Translated & summarized from Ice by baba
i24NEWS commentator Zvi Yehezkeli criticized Israeli media for a Western bias that hinders understanding of the Arab world. He contrasted Israeli war coverage with that in Arab countries, attributing the difference to "pride." Yehezkeli launched the program "Ha'Arabi'im" after October 7th to offer an Arab perspective to Israelis. He also argued that wartime media should be judged by whether it strengthens or weakens soldiers.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Zvi Yehezkeli criticizes Israeli media for a Western bias hindering understanding of the Arab world.
- He contrasts Israeli war coverage with Arab world coverage, calling the gap "unimaginable."
- Yehezkeli attributes the media's perspective to "pride" and a failure to understand the Arab "DNA."
- He launched the i24NEWS program "Ha'Arabi'im" to present lessons from October 7th through an Arab lens.
- Yehezkeli also criticized Galgalatz, stating wartime media should be judged on whether it strengthens soldiers.
Zvi Yehezkeli, an Arab affairs commentator for i24NEWS, has launched a sharp critique against segments of the Israeli media, asserting that they remain trapped in a Western mindset that prevents them from truly understanding the Arab perspective. Yehezkeli argued that while Arab entities study and analyze Israel, some Israeli media outlets fail to grasp the nuances of the other side.
Speaking on Sharon Gal's podcast, Yehezkeli highlighted a perceived vast difference in how wars are covered in Israel compared to the Arab world. He described this disparity as "unimaginable," attributing it to a Western perspective that he believes is detached and potentially arrogant, stemming from a "pride" that prevents genuine engagement with the Arab mindset. He noted this issue has persisted for years, even during his time at Channels 10 and 13, and was evident during operations like Protective Edge.
Yehezkeli explained that this critical approach led him to host "Ha'Arabi'im" (The Arabists), a program he initiated following the October 7th attacks. He proposed the show to i24NEWS News Director Yisrael Twito as a way to present the lessons learned from October 7th through an Arab lens to the Israeli public, describing it as a "new adventure" that is proving successful.
Furthermore, Yehezkeli extended his criticism to the military radio station Galgalatz, stating that during wartime, the media's primary role is to either strengthen or weaken soldiers. He believes that some broadcasts on Galgalatz weaken soldiers and that this should be the sole criterion for evaluating wartime media coverage.
