Berl Falbaum
Veteran Political Journalist/Author
In my more than six decades of scribbling, ranting and pontificating about our politics, I long ago stopped writing about hypocrisy or double standards because they are the only consistencies for those who lead us.
It became repetitive and tiresome to point out that politicians said X on Monday, but the opposite on Tuesday, and did not hold everyone to the same standards but, instead, gave breaks to those who could serve their special interests.
The facts might have been different in each instance, but the story and point were always the same. Thus, I stopped griping about that reality.
But I am going to make an exception in this column by discussing hypocrisy and double standards as they pertain to the Israel-Hamas war and the Russian onslaught of Ukraine.
The Ukraine war and its humanitarian suffering may not have totally disappeared from the world’s radar, but it is not receiving the attention it deserves and needs from the UN, world leaders or the media.
It is not dominating the news while Israel is bashed from all sides and the media can’t print or broadcast enough stories on the plight of Gazans. The PBS NewsHour, for instance, devoted several consecutive days reporting on the misery of Gazans without hardly mentioning Israel in its stories.
I forgot, there was one exception when its reporter said she saw one Israeli throw a stone and injure the eye of a bus driver.
Russia’s cold-blooded attack also never was the subject of around-the-clock coverage as Gaza has been. Yes, at the start of the war, it received extensive attention but that passed relatively quickly.
Now, there are periodic stories despite the following numbers: More than 70,000 have been killed in Ukraine and 100,000-120,000 wounded. Millions sought refuge by fleeing the country and millions have been left homeless.
The following statistic is particularly hard to grasp: between 15,000-20,000 Ukrainian children have been kidnapped and deported to Russia. (Reports vary on the exact number.) Also, Russia specifically targeted hospitals, schools, homes and the country’s power infrastructure.
Like Gazans, Ukrainians desperately need food, water and fuel, but while Israel is pressured from all sides to provide these in Gaza -- which may end up in the hands of Hamas -- the world is relatively silent in demanding Russia provide humanitarian aid to ease the desperation of Ukrainians. Unlike in Israel, there is no threat that a Hamas would confiscate this aid in Ukraine.
Also often neglected are the reasons for Israel’s military response. It acted after being victim of the kind of brutality, viciousness and butchery not experienced by Jews since the Holocaust. But that context is almost entirely ignored by critics and some in the media, thereby seriously distorting the conflict.
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin did not attack because Russians were butchered savagely, beheaded or burned alive. He just wanted more land.
This distinction also has not moved the UN to act forcefully on Russia’s inhumanity. Russia remains a member of the UN’s Security Council though it was ousted from the Human Rights Council. That must have instilled the fear of God in Putin.
António Manuel de Oliveira Guterres, UN secretary-general, told us Hamas’ cold-bloodedness did not “happen in a vacuum,” meaning that Israel is at fault and brought the massacre upon itself. He also remained silent on the Russian invasion until, under fierce political pressure, he was forced to criticize the onslaught.
With Israel’s counterattack apparently making inroads after just three weeks, many of Israel’s critics are demanding a cease fire, including, Putin who, at the same time, continues his assault unabated on Ukraine. Talk about hypocrisy.
Then, we might point out, depending on one’s definition of war, there are from 20-30 other military conflicts in the world. Most have not received any attention, including one of the worst in Yemen where a war, which began in 2014, between the Houthi and the internationally recognized Saudi coalition, claimed 377,000 lives -- that’s 377,000, of which about 150,000 were killed in military actions and the rest died from starvation due to famine and disease.
Let us not forget the country’s campuses where our “idealistic” students are awash with fiery protests of Israel but are strangely silent in the face of Putin’s inhumanity.
One more point on media coverage: While the public is deluged with videos of wounded children in Gaza, hospitals under siege, Gazans digging with their hands searching for survivors, the media have not aired or printed any photos of the carnage perpetuated by Hamas because they are too gruesome to broadcast.
None of this is intended to minimize the humanitarian disaster or human tragedy in Gaza. As I have written often since the war broke out, the suffering of civilians in Gaza is a tragedy and heartbreaking. One keeps hoping and praying that relief comes and comes quickly.
Nor do I mean to imply, in the least, that Israel should be immune from criticism.
But as a friend of mine put it, Israel’s critics -- and there are many, too many -- are very selective in what he called “moral indignation.”
It is important to seek balance from the powerful who can bring relief and hopefully peace. In addition, we should and must also demand more fairness and objectivity from the media.
Do I expect that to happen? What do they say about flying pigs?
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