The panel discussion on the Middle East at San Francisco’s Commonwealth Club was as acrimonious as the volatile subject itself.
In fact, Barbara Lubin, the moderator for what was ostensibly a discussion on the media coverage of the Middle East, opined that she was far more hopeful for a resolution between Palestinians and Israelis than between the participants in last week’s talk here.
The hourlong discussion seemed, at times, to be a verbal sniping contest waged between Lubin, who is the executive director of the Middle East Children’s Alliance, and John Rothmann, a political consultant and KGO-Radio talk-show host.
Lubin took the opportunity during the discussion to respond to criticism for her role in protesting former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent visit to Berkeley. Commenting on the fact that Netanyahu wasn’t allowed to speak, Lubin said she had been dubbed the “Ayatollah of Berkeley,” and then quickly told the mixed Arab and Jewish audience that she didn’t consider that a grievous insult.
But panelist Rothmann took exception to her actions, saying the demonstration constituted a deprivation of free speech and calling it a “shameful” act.
Lubin icily interrupted Rothmann, informing him that she was a veteran of hundreds of protests, but that the only one that caused repercussions involved criticism of Israel.
In his own remarks, Rothmann said each of the panelists, including himself, has a proven track record of bias.
The discussion centered on the realities of covering the Middle East.
Alexander Cockburn, a columnist for The Nation and the Los Angeles Times, said the Western press deserved some half-hearted kudos for its coverage.
“Twenty years ago, no one even mentioned the word ‘Palestinians.’ It was as if a whole race of people didn’t exist. Now, at least their presence in the Middle East is acknowledged, so I guess that could be considered progress.”
Referring to the latest development in Israel — the election victory of Likud leader Ariel Sharon — Cockburn sounded a pessimistic note. “Here is a man stained with crimes against humanity and blood, a man just as rank as [exiled Argentinean leader] Augusto Pinochet, and he is entrusted with establishing a just peace. I fail to see how that could happen.”
Cockburn’s sentiments were seconded by Nadine Naber, the national coordinator of the Arab Women’s Solidarity Association. In addition to suggesting that Sharon be tried as a war criminal, Naber said that any examination on the media coverage of the Middle East had to start with questioning who had access to the press.
Naber called Western press coverage of the Middle East invalid because of its tendency to portray Arabs as “others.”
“There is a huge process of racialization occurring in the press,” Naber said. “Arabs and Palestinians are portrayed as violent and sexist. That paradigm implicitly omits women, who are such a vital component of the culture.” Naber added that in order for Israel to be considered civilized, the press needs to paint Palestinians as “uncivilized.”
Freedom of the press occupied a substantial part of the discussion, and nearly all of the panelists agreed that the Israeli press could be a good source of information about the conflict. However, Michael Jacobs, chair of the San Francisco Israel Center, commented that the corollary isn’t true.
He pointed out the situation concerning the two Israeli soldiers who were murdered in Ramallah, and left hanging outside of a window, while their Palestinian assailants rejoiced with bloodstained hands. Jacobs said that, although many photographers were present, most of their film was confiscated by the Palestinian Authority. The film that eventually was printed belonged to an Italian crew, who immediately apologized for it and vowed to abide by the media guidelines laid down by the Palestinian Authority.
“One has to wonder how many other things remain hidden by Yasser Arafat and the Palestinian Authority,” said Jacobs, adding that the murder provided a glimpse into “the story behind the story” in Middle Eastern coverage.
Lubin closed out a question-and-answer session by recalling her recent trip to the Middle East. The product of a “right-wing Zionist” household, she now finds herself appalled at the treatment of Palestinians and Arab minorities by Israelis.
“The only solution to the crisis in the Middle East is to end U.S. economic aid to Israel,” she said to a mixture of vocal applause and loud hisses of disbelief.