That which is left unsaid
Our dear friends on the wires have recently committed the sin of omission, when covering Israeli protests against the government's "behavior" in Lebanon. We're told by the Associated Press that these pictures are "reserve soldiers and activists" who are protesting "the Israeli leadership's performance during the fighting." What does the AP want us to believe? That these people are against the war, and that they are calling for Israel to hold its leaders accountable for starting war.The reality, as usual, isn't so simple. What these reservists, according to Yoni the Blogger, are actually doing, is protesting Israel's lack of preparedness in the recent conflict with Hezbullah. The signs they're holding contain no anti-war messages. The protesters are not against what's happened in Lebanon. They merely want the army equipped with the material and provisions it needs to complete its mission successfully. So, instead of being an anti-Israeli protest against the war, these protesters are actually supporting the IDF against the ineffective and indecisive civilian leaders.
No wonder the protests weren't given more media coverage!
Many of these photographs even appeared on the Yahoo! Anti-War Protests wire slideshow, even though the protesters were not protesting the war!
Yoni provides a translation (via e-mail) for the following photograph: The first sign call for an investigation committee and the sign in the back states the investigation begins in the north.
And, for this sign: The sign by it self says the government and chief of staff resign.
UPDATE 16:15 EST: Even though these aren't "anti-war" protestors, these photos came across on Yahoo's anti-war slideshow:
Yoni provides a translation (via e-mail) for the following photograph: The first sign call for an investigation committee and the sign in the back states the investigation begins in the north.
Israeli reserve soldiers hold signs calling to investigate the Israeli leadership's performance during the fighting with Hezbollah, as they protest outside the Prime Minister's office in Jerusalem, Monday, Aug. 21, 2006. Hundreds of Israeli reservists pushed Monday for an investigation of how the government and army handled 34 days of fighting with Hezbollah guerrillas, saying they were rushed into battle without enough food, water and equipment. Sign on right reads 'Investigation Committee Now!', and 'The Investigation will come from the north' which is a paraphrase on a Biblical expression. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)
And, for this sign: The sign by it self says the government and chief of staff resign.
An Israeli activist holds a sign calling for the resignation of the Israeli government and the army's senior leadership during a protest outside the Prime Minister's office in Jerusalem Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2006. Israel's Defense Ministry has suspended a review of the military's performance during the war against Hezbollah, awaiting a government decision on whether to order a broader inquiry, officials said Tuesday. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)
Israeli soldiers silhouetted on the beach near the northern Israeli city of Nahariya. Commander David Tatarsky has seen a lot of Israeli wars in his lifetime, but the recent conflict in Lebanon was too much. Armed with a huge Israeli flag and protest signs, the sexagenarian set up camp outside parliament on the eve of the truce declared August 14, demanding Israel's army chief resign. He has been there ever since.(AFP/File/David Furst)
Israeli reserve soldiers wave their national flags as they protest outside the Prime Minister's office in Jerusalem, Monday, Aug. 21, 2006. Hundreds of Israeli reservists pushed Monday for an investigation of how the government and army handled 34 days of fighting with Hezbollah guerrillas, saying they were rushed into battle without enough food, water and equipment. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)
Israeli reserve soldiers and activists wave Israeli national flags as they protest outside the Prime Minister's office in Jerusalem and call for an investigation into the Israeli leadership's performance during the fighting with Hezbollah Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2006. Israel's Defense Ministry has suspended a review of the military's performance during the war against Hezbollah, awaiting a government decision on whether to order a broader inquiry, officials said Tuesday. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)
UPDATE 16:15 EST: Even though these aren't "anti-war" protestors, these photos came across on Yahoo's anti-war slideshow:
Ultra-Orthodox men watch Israeli reserve soldiers and activists wave Israeli national flags as they protest in Jerusalem and call for an investigation into the Israeli leadership's performance during the fighting with Hezbollah Thursday, Aug. 24, 2006. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is expected to decide within days what kind of inquiry of war-time performance will be conducted. The most sweeping inquiry would be a state commission, with powers to dismiss government and military officials. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)
Israeli reserve soldiers and activists wave Israeli national flags as they protest in Jerusalem calling for an investigation into the Israeli leadership's performance during the fighting with Hezbollah Thursday, Aug. 24, 2006. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is expected to decide within days what kind of inquiry of war-time performance will be conducted. The most sweeping inquiry would be a state commission, with powers to dismiss government and military officials. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)
Ultra-Orthodox men watch Israeli reserve soldiers and activists wave Israeli national flags as they protest in Jerusalem and call for an investigation into the Israeli leadership's performance during the fighting with Hezbollah Thursday, Aug. 24, 2006. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is expected to decide within days what kind of inquiry of war-time performance will be conducted. The most sweeping inquiry would be a state commission, with powers to dismiss government and military officials. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)
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