By Daniel Tencer – Raw Story
Note: See video clips here and here….
Jon Stewart’s comedy news show The Daily Show is reportedly under fire from pro-Israeli groups for giving airtime to two pro-Palestinian figures on Wednesday night.
Stewart hosted Palestinian democracy activist Mustafa Barghouti and human rights activist Anna Baltzer, author of A Witness in Palestine, who explained the Israeli-Palestinian conflict from the perspective of the Palestinian side.
According to a letter reportedly written by Baltzer and circulated by blogger Eric Johnson, the show “was overwhelmed with angry emails and phone calls prior to the appearance, and up until the last minute it seemed like they might cancel.”
“During the taping the show had its only heckler in 11 years,” Baltzer wrote. “The entire staff were very nervous and may come to regret the monumental decision (and not make it again) as they will surely be inundated now that the show has aired.”
At one point during the interview, Barghouti asserted: “We [Palestinians] are struggling for liberty, we are struggling for justice. It’s Palestinians who have been subjected to the longest occupation in history and a system of segregation that is totally unjust.”
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At that point, a voice in the audience could be heard shouting: “Liar!”
“Apparently we have Joe Wilson with us tonight,” Stewart quipped, referring the US House representative who yelled “You lie!” during President Obama’s address to Congress last month.
The segment drew criticisms from a number of pro-Israeli activists and commenters.
“Jon Stewart [had] a couple of disgraceful guests on his show on Wednesday night for a night of Israel bashing,” wrote blogger Israel Matzav. “No, there’s no pro-Israel counterpoint (perhaps he will try to convince us that ISM activist Baltzer – who is Jewish – is meant to provide balance). And I thought Stewart’s was a comedy show. What if no one watched him?”
Not all pro-Israeli voices were as critical.
“It doesn’t actually seem that groundbreaking,” wrote Rafi G. “He has a Palestinian talking about Palestinian rights and he has an Jewish leftist talking about Palestinian rights. They are advocating a non-violent approach, both from a Palestinian point of view.”
But the blogger noted that “nobody said a word about Palestinian terror or their not accepting peace deals that were offered.”
Baltzer is now urging Daily Show viewers to send letters of support to the show, in an effort to keep the show from being dissuaded from covering the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in the future.
And some commentators are praising Stewart for taking on the issue. TalkingPointsMemo blogger M.J. Rosenberg credits Stewart with starting a “sea change” in American media’s coverage of the Middle Eastern conflict.
Rosenberg wrote:
Not long ago, no mainstream media personality would ever allow himself to be associated with anyone who suggests that diplomacy, not war, is the way to solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Being thought of as not 100% down with the government of Israel was a career killer. And, if it wasn’t, media and show business figures believed it was and that was the same thing.
That era ended with the rise of Jon Stewart, the most trusted television personality in America (and the only one the kids pay attention to). Stewart is the antithesis of the scared Jew.
Read more at Raw Story
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Thanks for posting these things. I'll spread the word.
Sometimes when a group of people becomes untouchable, it takes an insider to effect change. On the few occasions Stewart has gotten serious, he's shown himself to be the hardest hitting host on the air today. He will weather this. Hell hath no fury like a comedian scorned.
I seldom watch his show but when I do, I think he is very funny. Good for him for allowing this issue to come to light.
Yes, the Jewish (Zionist) influence is extremely strong and it has become almost sacriligious to utter a word that could in any way be interpreted as a jab at Israel. We need more serious discussions on this in the media. How can you solve problems without talking about them openly and honestly? As a comedian, I give him credit as "many a truth is said in jest."
This is the second time that Stewart has been courageous enough to speak out about the Palestinian side of things. I sent him a note of support then, and just sent him another one now:
http://www.comedycentral.com/help/questionsCC.jht...
And if you'd like to watch it: http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-october-28-...
Though I am no fan of the "Palestinians" (nor the Israeli government), if you dare say anything even mildly critical of Israel, the knives come out.
"No, there’s no pro-Israel counterpoint …" That's all you get, all day, every day, everywhere, is the pro-Israel position.
I'm glad you get it!
I'm sorry, but I don't agree that Jon Stewart was courageous for hosting these guests. I think he is a very decent human being and he deserves credit for hosting critics of Israel even though he is Jewish himself, while others have been preventing any criticism of Israel to be voiced in public. But the fact that only a Jew can host a program like this and keep his job while an American Christian or Muslim would be crucified in the press as an anti-semite (and possibly lose his or her job) shows that on some very important issues Jews have freedom of speech while non-jews do not. I consider that a problem.
EXACTLY!!!
Ha-Ha-Ha-Ha-Ha-Ha-Ha!!!!!…………………………About time somebody revealed the NAZI TREATMENT of the Palestinian people, in their "OPEN AIR CONCENTRATION CAMP"!
The total control of the media by the chosen ones. I tell you the Zionists want to convert the Gaza Strip into the 'Vegas strip' of the Middle East and make the truncated west bank a Bantu land for the natives. Disgrace Abounding!!
I don't believe that the palistians' consider what Israel has offered them as any kind of a peace, maybe a little piece, but that would be it.
Stewart actually pulled his punches or was poorly informed, repeatedly implying a false symmetry in responsibility, culpability and power in the Israel/Palestinian relationship. This is a relationship of occupier and occupied, of criminals and victims. It belongs in the International Criminal Court, not in "peace process" negotiations suitable for civil procedures, which never mention justice, equality, or the facts of history, and exclude the Palestinian refugees and diaspora with 4 million UN-registered land claims against Israel and the 20% Palestinian population within Israel who are subjected to systemic discrimination by law in nearly every area of life. Israel wants peace and quiet, but the solution will require peace and justice. It is also inaccurate to represent the positions of Barghouti and Baltzer as simply "Palestinian" since they also reflect the positions of international law (including the UN Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the 4th Geneva Convention) and 138 UN resolutions. A victim is not required to negotiate with the criminal about how much stolen property must be returned.
Excellent ORtrailblazer. All smoke screens by the controlled media under the guise of 'fair play' by one of their boys, Stewart.
The big LIE gets propogated by the masters of the media.
…beware the power of the cabal.
Yes ORtrailblazer it is a smoke screen by the controlled press with their chosen spokesman Stewart feigning 'fair and balanced' investigations.
ORtrailblazer……………….You make a very good point!
it is a good show, funny at times, but i find it hard to believe they had its first heckler in 11 years!! as for john, give him some credit for having palestinians on. as fran says, the zionist influence is indeed very, very strong. Kim