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The following is from the IFEX Communique #5-3, 22 Jan. 1996
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WHAT ROLE DO THE MEDIA PLAY IN THE MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS?

RSF REGIONAL MONITORING UNIT PRESENTS REPORT

The "Newsletter of the Regional Media Monitoring Unit", published
by Reporters sans frontieres (RSF) in December 1995, examines the
role of the media in the Middle East peace process, focusing on
coverage following the April 1995 announcement by Israel of its
intention to confiscate Arab-owned land in East Jerusalem.
According to the report, in Lebanon and Syria, where there is
already conflict with Israel over land, the confiscation did not
receive much press coverage. RSF reports that in Egypt,
conversely, the seizure was front-page news for nearly three
weeks. Both the official and opposition press used the incident
to express their own points of view, manipulating "headlines,
leads and editorials to fit the confiscations and the
international response into their pre-existing paradigms of the
Arab-Israeli peace process."

In Jordan, RSF says, "the mainstream press, which gave extensive
coverage to the angry Arab and Moslem reaction to the
confiscation, focused on the negative consequences of the
decision on the peace process" and opponents of the peace process
used the media to attack Israel. In Palestine, however, RSF
reports that the press was unable to give complete coverage to
the crisis. Israeli military censorship applies to all media
working on Israeli territory, but the Palestinian press in
particular is closely monitored. RSF adds that the Palestinian
National Authority, which strictly controls the Palestinian
media, was toning down its criticism of the Israeli government
while it continued peace negotiations. In Israel, RSF says the
events were given the fullest coverage, and the media, most of
whom opposed this confiscation, played an important role.

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The IFEX "Communique" is published weekly in English, French and
Spanish by the IFEX Clearing House, Toronto. The facility is
operated by the Canadian Committee to Protect Journalists in
partnership with the member organizations of the International
Freedom of Expression eXchange (IFEX). Material for the
"Communique" may be submitted to the CCPJ, 490 Adelaide Street
West, Suite 205, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 1T2, CANADA; E-mail:
ifex@web.apc.org; Tel: (1-416) 703-1638; or Fax: (1-416)
703-7034. Editor: Kristina Stockwood, with Andrew Stockwood this
week. Subscriptions are available by e-mail and surface mail. The
views expressed in the "Communique" are the responsibility of the
sources to which they are attributed.

Forwarded by:
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   Association mondiale des radiodiffuseurs communautaires
      World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters
          Asociacion mundial de radios comunitarias
3575 Blvd. St. Laurent, Suite 704     Email: amarc@web.apc.org
Montreal, Quebec                         Tel: (1-514) 982-0351
CANADA  H2X 2T7                          Fax: (1-514) 849-7129
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