"ALL CAPS IN DEFENSE OF LIBERTY IS NO VICE."

Saturday, June 21, 2014

YEDIOT ACHRONOT CENSORS SARA NETANYAHU'S VISIT TO FAMILIES OF KIDNAPPED YESHIVA STUDENTS

Israel HaYom's told how leftarded papers like Yediot Achronot have routinely censored positive coverage of the prime minister's wife:
If U.S. first lady Michelle Obama would visit the families of the kidnapped Israeli teenagers and aid children afflicted with cancer, or children in danger of deportation, or the elderly, it is reasonable to assume that such an event would attract adoring media coverage. Sara Netanyahu does all of these things. Here, however, someone is trying to impose upon us an attitude that says, "Let us ignore the positive and invent the negative."

Unlike what happens in most other countries where the press offers level-headed, serious coverage of the spouses of presidents and prime ministers, the best that Sara Netanyahu can hope for here is to be completely ignored by the media. When there is coverage, it is mostly scornful and libelous. The differences are too stark to ignore. When Ehud Olmert was prime minister, his wife, Aliza, was the subject of fawning news stories. Yedioth Ahronoth described the Olmerts as a close-knit family which also looked out for the children of foreign workers. Aliza Olmert's painting was also a theme of these stories.

This past week, numerous members of Knesset and other VIPs paid visits to the families of the three kidnapped soldiers. [Note by me: there's apparently a typo here. That should be "students".] The coverage was detailed. On Sunday, Sara Netanyahu also came to visit. I was outside the Yifrah family's home in Elad when Mrs. Netanyahu arrived and then left.

Just as she was completing her visit, one of the people present in the house during her stay told me: "She's an impressive woman. You could feel that she's a psychologist. She sat with [the boy's parents] Iris and Uri, she held their hands, she strengthened them. 'My husband, the prime minister, doesn't sleep at night,' she told them. 'He's working hard to bring the children home safe and sound. You need to pray.'"

Every news media outlet covered the visit and reported her statements, except one newspaper -- Yedioth Ahronoth.

This isn't the first time that Yedioth has acted this way. The newspaper did the same when Sara Netanyahu led the campaign against the deportation of the children of migrant workers, an agenda that Yedioth itself promoted. In August 2010, Mrs. Netanyahu wrote to then-Interior Minister Eli Yishai: "I appeal to you as a mother of two young boys and a psychologist who serves the public. I am asking from the bottom of my heart to allow most of these 400 children to remain in Israel...I want to believe that my appeals contributed to the prime minister's decision to support allowing 800 of the 1,200 children to remain...This issue is close to my heart, as I see the profession I have chosen as a personal crusade to help and care for children. I am convinced that, even in this case, you can have creative solutions." Nongovernmental organizations and aid organizations hailed the Sara Netanyahu's letter. Yedioth Ahronoth did not.
Now I'm sure the part about immigration issues will be seen as questionable by some. But that aside, it's offensive how, of all the leftarded papers that could be hostile to her, it's Yediot Achronot, the same company that wants to damage Israel HaYom's status. In fact, much like Haaretz, there's a lot of news in them that has to be taken with a grain of salt, or is just downright offensive. Exactly why nobody need waste their time on such a filthy rag.

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