Pajamas Media

The Reaction

When Israeli television's Channel 10 put PJM contributor and blogger Lisa Goldman on the air from Beirut it didn't go unnoticed. The Egyptian blogger Sandmonkey observes how the Lebanese opposition transformed the hapless Canadian-Israeli writer into a dangerous terrorist and spy.

July 12, 2007 - by "Sandmonkey"

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PJM contributor Lisa Goldman’s appearance on Israeli television’s Channel 10 on Wednesday night wasn’t your standard network news report. Her observations on the anniversary of the Israeli-Lebanese war took place on the balcony of a hotel room in Beirut, with the city as her backdrop — a spot where Israeli citizens do not venture publicly.

While the specifics of her story on what life was like across the border a year after the war were not political in nature - similar to those in the Pajamas Media story filed above, the reaction to it in Lebanon was explosively so.

Less than an hour after the show was broadcasted - Al Manar, Hezbollah’s TV’s Channel’s website, published a news item screaming bloody murder and attacking the government for permitting what they called “another Israeli breach into Lebanon on the eve of the war’s anniversary”.

They reported what Ms. Goldman, a dual Canadian-Israeli citizen said on Israeli television - similar to her reports for Pajamas Media, focusing naturally on the part where she displayed fear of entering the Hezbollah-controlled Dahiyeh neighborhood in Beirut, and how her friends and guides told her that the Hezbollah security apparatus would find out that she is Israeli by Googling her name, in which case she would risk kidnapped or worse.

They concluded their report with this paragraph:”The question is, is it hubris or a gamble from the Channel 10 reporter to enter Lebanon knowing that no one will intercept her or stop her, especially in that she spoke of friends of her in Lebanon that helped her and guided her and gave her advice. The more dangerous question is, if an Israeli reporter can walk around Beirut with her camera with such freedom, what’s to stop the Israeli intelligence from entering from that open door and implement operation that the recent bombings in Lebanon could be a part of!”

According to Hezbollah’s mouthpiece, Lisa Goldman’s 5 minute report from Israel acted as evidence that the Israeli intelligence apparatus, and not the Syrian intelligence goons, are the guilty parties behind the recent bombings and instability in Lebanon.

Her visit was also, according to Hezbollah’s ally Michel Aoun’s Tayyar party’s website, a damning security failure by the Lebanese government.

The Tayyar’s website ran Al Manar’s report word-for-word, but made sure to add their touch: They removed the part where Al Manar alluded that Israeli intelligence agents were behind the recent bombings, and at the end of the report, they added a direct attack on the Siniora government as their conclusion. They said: “there is another question that whoever is left of the Seniora team can answer: where is this reporter now, inside or outside of Israel? And is there an answer, or are they completely shameless?”

While the opposition’s official reaction is a fantastic exercise of political opportunism, the reaction in the comments section of Al Manar’s website is a great window into the mind of the average Hezbollah supporter in Lebanon and the Middle East at large, who view Lisa’s trip as another example of the Israeli conspiracy to further oppress and humiliate Arabs.

Below are some chosen gems from the comments section, translated from Arabic to English, that I thought I should share:

“As long as there are traitors in Lebanon, don’t be astonished (by Israelis entering Lebanon), even if it was Olmert himself”

“This is a very dangerous matter and a crossroad for the current government and parliament which should be dissolved and form a new government that is capable of protecting the Lebanese people. They should also start scrutinizing the Unifil troops for many of them are Jewish and some might be Israelis with dual citizenships.”

“Where is the national security? Are they asleep at the borders and the airport?”
“They do this on the anniversary of the great victory? I would say that this is a message to Hezbollah!”

“And Siniora says ‘don’t accuse us of treason’!”

“I am a regular Lebanese citizen and I really feel shocked and amazed at this nauseating scene that aims to provoke us with the sponsorship of Siniora and his people..”

“Let’s ask the authorities that gave her a visa. She naturally did not sneak in the country and had an official visa from the government and her accommodations is a great indication of who let her in the country and sponsored and protected her.”

“Is the group in power trying to ruin the first anniversary of the divine victory for us by using those cheap tricks? Well, if they think they will succeed at that, they are greatly mistaken, because the victory and the anniversary will not be ruined, God willing”

And this last comment was in English, from someone who calls himself Ahmed Al Asmar and who resides in the US:

“This is the best example that Lebanon and the Lebanese are not secure when Lebanon has such government that does not care about the safety of its own people and allows such person that no matter what her main concerns is to serve its own country. Definitely she is a spy using a European passport to enter Lebanon and using journalism to cover their terrorist acts. Remember that all Israelis with citizenship in Israel have to serve in the army no matter where they live or have another citizenship. She is definitely a spy and Israeli terrorist with some spies to help her in her in Lebanon. Thank Allah Almighty that Hizbullah is awake and care about Lebanon and the Lebanese.”

To think that the Channel 10 people simply thought it would be a cool journalistic feat to accomplish to send Lisa to report from Beirut.

And to think that Lisa, the proud recipient of a Brass Crescent award for sensitive blogging and dialogue between Muslims and non-Muslims has been transformed into a soldier, spy and a terrorist.

I love Lebanon!

Sandmonkey is a pseudonymous blogger living in Egypt, currently in hiatus

16 Comments

N.:

It is telling that Hizzbalas seem so incensed with the idea that there can be friendship between the Jewess Lisa and some Lebanese persons, and that she could roam the street freely and take pictures. These are severe breaches of two of their Islamist principles: that there can be no friendship with Jews (other than dhimmi relationship, I presume) and that the freedom that comes from a democratic ethos is a serious threat to their worldview.

I urge PJM readers to visit the good neighbours blog where friendship and mutual solicitude between Lebanese and Israeli participants are the norm that defies what this organization wishes to consolidate:

http://gnblog.com/?p=246

Jul 12, 2007 - 5:49 am dick:

It’s really great to hear from the monkeyman again. And, as always, an insightful and informative post.

Sam, I miss your blog. Come back soon.

Jul 12, 2007 - 8:26 am sue:

And, we are expected to negotiate with people who have become paranoid because of their “perceived” leaders bastardizing of their religion. It is simply not possible and we had better understand that and get used to it. As long as we believe that everything should be equal, then our future is not secure.

Jul 12, 2007 - 8:35 am IMBch:

What a Joke - So they want to screen the UNIFIL troops to check if there are jewish soldiers??? Mendiants et orgeuilleux….

Jul 12, 2007 - 8:55 am Battal Agha:

It seems like a joke - They want to know who are the UNIFIL soldiers of jewish religions?? Not even Saudi Arabia dared do such a thing…

Jul 12, 2007 - 9:06 am tedders:

From other news sources I’ve read recently:

“Iran, Syria Hezbollah feared stoking major conflagration in Lebanon to forestall Security Council reprimand on July 16. Saudi and Lebanese intelligence report sighting hectic preparations by Iran, Syria and the Hezbollah to foment major trouble in Lebanon up to and after mid-July. They intend the eruption to throw off track the July 16 UN Security Council session called to castigate their non-implementation of its Resolution 1701, especially their defiance of the clauses banning the continued arms smuggling to Hezbollah from Iran and Syria.”

“Washington sources connect the cancellation of defense secretary Robert M. Gates four-tour national Latin American tour this week, among other things, to the deteriorating security situation in the Middle East and Gulf.”

“Damascus is also moving home Syrian students at Lebanese universities due to unstable conditions.”

“intelligence sources expect the ructions already gripping Lebanon to escalate from mid-July and climax in the first week of September, when the pro-Syrian president Emil Lahoud ends his tenure. Damascus, Tehran and Hezbollah are aiming to bring down the pro-Western Fouad Siniora’s government in Beirut or at least shrink its jurisdiction to a number of neighborhoods in the capital similar to Nouri al Maliki’s administration in Baghdad.

Word has reached Riyadh from Damascus indicating that president Bashar Assad plans to use the showdown in Lebanon to ignite war clashes in all of Lebanon and against Israel on two fronts, the Golan and the Gaza Strip.”

If these reports are true, doesn’t it seem Syria, Iran and their minions might be overplaying their hand? Some of the readers responses in the article spoke of: “the first anniversary of the divine victory” and “victory and the anniversary “. What are these people on? In what way, any possible way, can the fiasco Hezbollah started last year that almost completely destroyed southern Lebanon be considered a victory? Starting a war, hiding behind civilians, destroying Lebanon’s infrastructure, then passing out counterfeit $100 bills to rebuild what they destroyed. Only in the pitiful mindset of radical Islamist could this be considered a victory. One can only shake ones head at the incompetence demonstrated by Hezbollah leadership. God bless the good people of Lebanon and the region to see past lies and misogyny of the fools that want to grab the Tiger by the tail, again.

We want Sandmonkey back! Good to see your still voicing your opinions though. Keep safe!

Jul 12, 2007 - 9:10 am M Paris:

Sandmonkey, how come you only picked selected parts of the comments where some crazies were foaming, and not the rest of the sane comments saying it was fairly unremarkable that a reporter got in and did her job (a majority).

Jul 12, 2007 - 9:32 am The Sandmonkey:

What rest? It was only one comment among a dozen others. Are you kidding me?

Jul 12, 2007 - 4:36 pm valerie:

Sam,

Fine column. Miss you.

Jul 12, 2007 - 6:45 pm lirun:

poor lisa.. a spy.. dont think so.. more like someone who cares..

interesting that there wasnt a single positive spin here..

Jul 13, 2007 - 2:02 am Carl in Jerusalem:

According to Webster’s “hapless” means “having no luck.” Who wrote that line?

Jul 13, 2007 - 3:25 am bongo:

it is not about being a spy. It is about the security of the country. Imagine having a Almanar reporter in Israel and reporting live without the permission of the government, how would you feel about that.

You should start looking and commenting on such issues in a more objective manner, regardless if you like Hezboullah (or lebanese in general) or not.

Was it a security breach for lebanon? Yes
Was the current lebanese government (Saniora government responsible)? Yes
Does Hezbullah and allies constitute more than 60% of the population of lebanon? Yes

Taking into account all the above, Hezboullah and allies have the full right to consider whoever they want as alie or foe. In this case, and as always been, Israel has been Lebanon’s foe. This is not to say that Syria was not at a point of time an indirect foe, but if more than 60% of the lebanese people are willing and want to have a good relation with Syria, then it is thier right. It is exactly what the Europeans have done with Germany after the 2nd world war, especially France, and even Israel, or jews in general as Germany has the most concentration of jews in the world after Palestine, and the USA.

In conclusion, I wish that Lisa and all reporter are able to report from any part they chose, but we can not ask this of Hezboullah while the israeli authorities restricted the reporting on the war last year even for israeli reporters.

Lisa, by entering in such debates you only damage your credibility as a reporter and the ethics of this profession demands that you rise above your personal, religious, and national preferences and keep the profession best interest above all.

Jul 13, 2007 - 6:18 am Moishe3rd:

A note to both Sandmonkey and Lisa Goldman - this is why I rely on Pajamas Media for my news. Because of people like you all.
Thank you.
And, (bongo)?, your viewpoint reflects the disassociation from reality that is prominent in much of the mainstream media.
Contemplating people’s “sensitivities” and how they should be pandered to, is the registered trademark of MSM. It promotes false news stories and panders to values that embrace murder and vile chaos in the name of some mythical Grievance - this is the illusion of mores that is the hallmark of the tribal Arabs/Muslims that we are fighting…

Jul 13, 2007 - 7:48 am Carl in Jerusalem:

Bongo,

As it happens, al-Manar had a reporter on the ground in Israel during the war who was letting Hezbullah know where its Katyusha’s hit. See that story here.

Jul 15, 2007 - 4:28 am Carl in Jerusalem:

By the way, I’m still waiting for an answer to who decided Lisa was ‘hapless.’ I would say she was anything but hapless.

Jul 15, 2007 - 4:30 am Matt:

I agree with Carl. Hapless was a very poor choice of words. It probably wasn’t what you even meant.

You were going for something like naive, pollyanna, guileless, or something like that right?

Someone who goes into dangerous situations but who is not really aware of the danger. A Mr Magoo type perhaps? Somehow despite being unaware of the danger always coming out unscathed. Someone who would walk into a minefield to smell a pretty flower.

You were looking for a word to describe that, right?

Jul 15, 2007 - 9:19 pm