Indy Media Watch

LA Indymedia reports Help Needed to release Bil'in photographer

Your help is needed to help release Emad Mohammad Bornat of the village of Bil'in, video photographer for Reuters and documentary film maker, who was arrested on Friday October 6th,2006 by a Israeli Border Police unit that entered the village, firing rubber bullets and sound grenades

After the whole piece, a subsequent comment refers to another (non-Indymedia or ISM) news report and points out a problem:

ISM WRITES: "He is a man of peace and a dedicated and responsible video-photo-journalist. "
NISSAN RATZLAV WRITES: "A videotape that the prosecution presented to the judge shows Boghnat encouraging and directing rioters in Bil'in to throw large chunks of rock at Israeli vehicles in such a way as to cause maximum damage. The accused is heard shouting, "Throw, throw!" and later, "Throw towards the little window!"

BECKY: Here the ISM is presenting this as a crackdown on freedom of speech and freedom of the press, implying that he was arrested for video-taping. But even with the videotape presented in court, we STILL can't get a straight story out of the ISM They claim they are "strictly non-violent."

Then why do they sport rifles?

An excellent question. Indymedia's attitudes towards Israel are well recorded, as are my thoughts on the lies and fraud of the International Solidarity Movement. However, right here, is what appears to be a classic example of media manipulation, bias and fake journalism. Despite regarding itself as the antidote to media bias, Indymedia instead appears to be a huge part of the problem.

What a disgrace.