Observers cited the related phenomenon of journalists describing Jerusalem as “holy to three religions” without noting that the importance of the city to Christianity and to Islam derives directly from its centrality to Judaism.
Jerusalem, March 28 – Commentators and journalists who lack the basic knowledge that the location of both ancient Temples marks the most sacred spot on Earth to Jews, and not a portion of the retaining wall around the plateau on which it stood, somehow maintain their status as knowledgeable media sources on the matter.
No negative consequences to the credibility or to the number of appearances in media have accrued to the numerous reporters, pundits, interviewees, or panelists who, time and time again, mention the Western Wall in Jerusalem as Judaism’s holiest site, when in fact even young Jewish schoolchildren, Wikipedia, or a cursory Google search could inform them the Temple Mount holds that distinction.
Media watchdogs focused on coverage of Israel and Jews note that a full 30% of the corrections they demand from news sources relate to the centrality of the Temple Mount to Judaism. “We’d have a lot less work if reporters and so-called ‘experts’ knew what the hell they were talking about,” lamented Hugh-Kent B. Siryes of UK Media Watch. “Unfortunately, what passes for knowledgeability in today’s press falls far short of what people expect and deserve.”
Siryes cited the related phenomenon of journalists describing Jerusalem as “holy to three religions” without noting that the importance of the city to Christianity and to Islam derives directly from its centrality to Judaism, a status it attained many centuries before the appearance of either Christianity or Islam. “It’s as if many, if not most, of these experts assume history began in 1948 or 1967, and display no curiosity as to what might have happened in the thousands of years before then.”
Tamar Facepalm of the Committee for Accuracy in Middle East reporting in America (CAMERA) elaborated. “Israel voluntarily allows the Jordanian Waqf to administer the Temple Mount, and the latter imposes all manner of restrictions on Jews,” she observed. “So Jewish religious ritual takes place at the Western Wall, which welcomes them. That situation has made some observers assume, without checking reputable sources, that the Wall is where it’s at for Jews. Many of these commentators and reporters even grew up with some semblance of a religious education, so one might expect that they would have a clue. The Temple is one of the main venues for the great dramas of the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament. But nope. Flagrant ignorance.”
One observer attributed the phenomenon to malice and egoism rather than simple ignorance. “Remember, this is the same group of media personalities who trumpeted Russiagate without a critical thought because it confirmed their prejudices,” argued Simon Goodgrief of Honest Reporting. “The idea that Jews might have a historical claim to a place the world doesn’t want them to be doesn’t even register with these ‘experts’ as worth considering, and if it does, it’s to be suppressed like some unspeakable evil.”
Please support our work through Patreon.
From PreOccupied Territory, here.