Tzipi, you failed

From Ynet news, 24/8/06, by Zvi Mazel ...

While the world was arduously buying Nasralla's lies, you remained in your office. Israel was defeated in the media war primarily because of you

For an entire month Israelis and the rest of the world eagerly waited to hear what Israel had to say about the developments in Lebanon . .... Even the Arab states wanted to hear Jerusalem's version so that they could prepare their arguments. Hizbullah waited in fear and anticipation: Would Israel refute its lies and expose them to Lebanon and the world? But nothing happened. You remained in your office.

... The Arab world took advantage of the media stage by spreading lies and distorted reports that went unheeded: Nasrallah sighed a sigh of relief.

You are Israel's face and voice
... Tzipi, today's war is a combination of a violent clash at the front along with a fierce media struggle, which could prove to be more important than the conflict on the ground. We probably won this war by gaining substantial points in the fighting arena; however, Hizbullah declared victory and its declaration was accepted by the Arab world and by Iran. ....They are saying that Israel is no longer invincible, that its end is near, while at the same time moderate Arab states are apprehensive about the strengthening of radical Islam forces.

Washington's disappointment in Israel
...Washington is already talking about its disappointment in Israel, its loyal ally who was always able to win the battle.

Europe deepened its hatred and anti-Semitism towards Israel to the background of the false and exaggerated images coming out of Lebanon, which went by without an adequate response and without representing our side that could have shown bombed hospitals and senior citizen homes and the harm inflicted on our civilian populations; plus, there's a feeling in the Arab world that the strategic situation in the region has changed for the worse against Israel.

Hizbulla's aggressive media strategy
Hizbulla's media victory, which turned the tables, is the result of aggressive media and propaganda strategies adopted by all the Arab TV stations and which stemmed from its hatred toward Israel.

...However, it wasn't just Aljazeera and the other 500 Arab TV channels, but also the European media who shamelessly surrendered to Nasralla's dictates and pressure from Arab states. It continuously aired dictated or censored reports, so as God forbid, not to offend anyone.

The images aired on TV almost always focused on the destruction, giving an impression that the whole of Beirut was bombed and destroyed. Not a single journalist thought it appropriate to explain things as they were. They all complied. They didn't bother to report on the situation in northern Israel, or they provided minimum coverage to secure an alibi.

The impressions gleaned from a month of daily newscasts, was Hizbulla's victory, with operatives who were never harmed and who always succeeded in hindering the IDF.

Where was Tzipi?
Where was Tzipi when all this was going on? You had the world's broadcasting studios at your disposal. Everyone was eager to hear what Israel had to say about the war, and you? You hid away in your office or in some other place.

You should have been giving interviews day and night to every possible TV channel in an effort to explain our side of the war....no one reproached the international media when it betrayed its profession and distorted the reality in Lebanon and in Israel. No one assured efficient coordination with the IDF so that the written and filmed footage would quickly arrive at the international news desks. Nothing was learned from media defeat during the Intifada.

Foreign Ministry still doesn't recognize media role
How unfortunate it is to discover that the foreign ministry still doesn't recognize the extent of the media's importance; that it has yet to become acquainted with the arena of public diplomacy.

Tzipi, even international policies and UN resolutions are formulated and phrased on the basis of the atmosphere created by the media, along with the political preference of the various countries. You neglected the media and the bi-lateral diplomacy prevalent among the nations who had an influence on the phrasing of the UN Security Council resolution.

Instead of granting interviews again and again, you opted to remain in your office. And yes, you, our biggest hope, have disappointed us by causing severe damage to Israel. Please go back the Justice Ministry.

Zvi Mazel, was the former Israeli ambassador to Egypt and Sweden