"Terrorism" vs. "Gunplay"

Passive Palestinians, Aggressive Israelis
By Reuven Koret   October 5, 2001

Subtle linguistic choices reveal journalistic bias. CNN provides a classic example.

Ten die in fresh Mideast violence

"JERUSALEM (CNN) -- Ten people have been killed in the latest round of clashes in the Middle East, according to Israeli and Palestinian sources, dealing another blow to the peace process."
No mention that the "blow" was caused by an unprovoked terrorist attack by Hamas on civilians, including the killing of a boyfriend and girlfriend out for an evening stroll, plus the indiscriminant shooting at passersby and the tossing of grenades into homes, wounding 16.

"Israeli forces struck back -- rolling tanks and bulldozers into northern Gaza Wednesday -- after an attack on the Elei Sinai Jewish settlement left two Israelis dead."
Description of Israeli action precedes precipitating cause. Source of attack on settlement unnamed. Attack left Israelis dead-passive voice obfuscates that Palestinians terrorists killed them.

"Israeli sources said two Palestinians who entered the settlement and opened fire Tuesday afternoon were killed." The Palestinians are described only as entering and firing. The only consequences of their actions was their being killed.

"The Palestine Red Crescent Society said four Palestinian security officers and a farmer were killed in the Israeli retaliatory strike."
Here the cause of killing is explicit.

"Later, the Red Crescent said a Palestinian civilian had been shot in the head and killed near Elei Sinai and two others had been wounded and were in critical condition."
Vivid description with explanation of why they were killed.

"The Israeli army rolled into northern Gaza Wednesday morning with tanks and bulldozers on a mission to destroy and clear the buildings it said Palestinian gunmen had used hours earlier to stage the attack on the Elei Sinai settlement, Israeli military sources said."
Repetition of aggressive "rolling" image," stress on "mission to destroy."

The article concludes with a verbatim quote of the full Arafat condemnation. There is no quotation from Israeli government sources, either with respect to the seriousness of the Alei Sinai attack, the repeated violations of the ceasefire, and the refusal of the Palestinian Authority to make any arrest as provided in the most recent cease-fire agreement.

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