Mideast propaganda

Becir Tanovic

Published July 28, 2001

Lake Forest -- Tribune editors are to be commended for providing readers with a balanced but very rare opportunity to compare on the same page two opposing viewpoints on the Middle East conflict (Commentary, July 20). The contrast of the views is very educational--one is factual and legalistic; the other is pure propaganda.

M. Cherif Bassiouni was correct in stating that Israel's intentions are those of territorial expansion. It is appalling that Americans support, with our tax dollars, this brutal policy of ethnic cleansing, which is happening quite openly. The inordinate influence of supporters of Israel on our media and our politicians is the primary reason.

David Ivry, Israel's ambassador to the United States, on the same page, writes an article that portrays the problem as though it is a personal conflict between Yasser Arafat and a poor beleaguered Israel. Arafat's name is mentioned 17 times in the article, and he is portrayed as a little, evil dictator who is the source and inspiration of all the problems and all of the violence in the area. This, of course, is such abject nonsense that it does not even play well as propaganda.