The Incredibly Sloppy and Dishonest Ed
Ed O’Loughlin, The Sydney Morning Herald’s correspondent in Jerusalem, shows what sloppy reporting is all about, in his report on the scandal surrounding Esterina Tartman, a candidate for the position of Israel’s Tourism Minister.
In her first week as Israel’s new Tourism Minister the far-right politician Esterina Tartman has announced she wants to strip citizenship from all Arab-Israelis who refuse to swear loyalty to their country as a Jewish state.In a television interview on Tuesday Ms Tartman said that “any citizen
who is not loyal to the idea of a Jewish state, his citizenship should
be rescinded”.
About one-fifth of Israel’s 7 million people are
Arabs, most of whom claim that instead of being a legally Jewish state,
Israel should treat all its citizens equally, regardless or race or
religion.
Tartman was not Israel’s new Tourism Minister. She was a candidate for the position, and her candidacy has since been withdrawn. Oops.
But while this is an error borne from sloppiness, what is even more unforgivable is O’Loughlin’s dishonesty.
For a start, this report – entitled Scandals mount for Israeli cabinet’s newest member – focuses on Tartman’s proposal to rescind the citizenship of any citizen who refuses to pledge loyalty to Israel as a Jewish state, as if this is the scandal, and not her false academic degree claims.
O’Loughlin is clearly connecting the issue of disloyal citizens being stripped of citizenship with the wider issue of Arab-Israeli rights in Israel. But notice how Tartman spoke of rescinding the citizenship of citizens not loyal to the idea of a Jewish state, and not specifically Arab-Israelis. This could theoretically include other groups – such as Jews – and not just Arab-Israelis (although this phenomenon is obviously more prevalent in the Arab-Israeli sector).
In fact, The Age’s version of this story – also written by O’Loughlin – actually spells this out.
In the interview, Ms Tartman said Arabs and ultra-Orthodox Jews who refused to sign a declaration of loyalty to Israel as a Jewish state and then to perform national service should be allowed to remain only as residents without citizens’ rights.
This does not, however, deter O’Loughlin (or the Age editors, as the case may be) from using the misleading (and inflammatory) headline Take citizenship off Arab Israelis: MP.
For the record, I fully support rescinding the citizenship of those who do not pledge loyalty to Israel. Israel is a Jewish state – deal with it – and to expect loyalty from her citizens is reasonable, especially since the stakes are so high.
Update: And still on the topic of how Israel treats its Arab citizens.
Israel got its first Arab president yesterday – even if it’s only for a week.Acting President Dalia Itzik left yesterday on a trip to the United States, leaving Majalli Wahaba, a Druse, as Israel’s ceremonial president.
Wahaba’s unexpected journey to the president’s office began last month, when President Moshe Katsav was suspended as he faced several criminal charges, including rape. Itzik, who is the speaker of parliament, stepped in to take his place.
With Itzik gone, Wahaba, who is her deputy, takes over both her roles – running the parliament and assuming the presidency – making him the first member of Israel’s minority Arab community to serve in the country’s top ceremonial post.
About the Author
An Australian immigrant to Israel, Aussie Dave has been blogging since early 2003.Filed Under: General
What does O’Loughlin think about Australia’s past treatment of the Aboriginal population? Perhaps his ancestors were active in murdering the natives.
I always find it particularly galling when people with blood on their hands feel they can lecture others.
What a world.
Dave,
Ed really hasn’t made too big an error as Israeli newspapers were referring to her as “the Tourism Minister-designate“. And earlier that she “did not intend to relinquish the position of tourism minister“. Why? because she had been appointed, but was simply waiting for Knesset ratification,
“Yisrael Beiteinu’s Knesset faction has called a special meeting today to appoint a tourism minister………MK Esterina Tartman is the faction leader and Strategic Affairs Minister Avigdor Lieberman’s favorite for the post. If she is named tourism minister, the party will then choose her replacement as faction chair……..The Knesset is due to ratify the new appointments in about 10 days. ”
Let’s just say that there is some lack of clarity over the use/understanding of the term “Minister-designate”, rather than “sloppiness”.
But speaking of sloppiness, you’ve got your Age/SMH attributions mixed up, and the links! It’s the SMH story that “spells it out” not the Age. That is just a little bit sloppy. How ironic!
But you’ve hit the nail on the head. There is no real issue over Tartman’s bigotry -that’s just fine – it’s her dodgy degree claim that’s the disgrace.
Hey AussieDave , I have a great idea for Australia. Let’s reinforce it’s Christian character, by asking all Australians to sign a pledge of loyalty to Australia as a Christian state – those that refuse will be striped of their citizenship. Brilliant eh?
I’m sure you’ll be the first to sign-up………or will you ex-Aussie Dave??
Anonymous Michael the dishonest reporter,
Ed was sloppy. Even using your “logic”, he should have referred to her as the Tourism Minister-designate. But as I mentioned, it is his dishonesty I really take issue with. Just like I take issue with yours.
Regarding your point about mixing up the attributions, you are oh so wrong. Go over the links again, bugalugs. And before you come back with a “you got the headline wrong”, just realize that the SMH changed some of the text in their report since I posted.
Regarding your Australian pledge, it is a flawed analogy. Israel was established as a Jewish state. Its citizens know this, and there are no surprises there. And unless I am mistaken, Australia’s constitution does not provide that it is a Christian state. But for the record, I really wouldn’t care, as long as I had the right to practice my religion and live freely. Which is the case with Arab-Israelis.
Just ask the acting President.
Dave,
The text of both articles spelt out, accurately, the details of Tartmans’ mad ideas.
“Its citizens know this, and there are no surprises there. And unless I am mistaken, Australia’s constitution does not provide that it is a Christian state.” – Dave
And so if it was, that would then be fine with you??
Sure it would…..hiding behind legalisms (not that Israel has a constitution) doesn’t make such practices any better.
And on the matter of religious freedom, Israels acting President would tell you that he can’t worship at the Israel GB airport as they haven’t quite got around to providing the facilities yet (heh, it’s only ben fifty years – afterall it is a Jewish state)
Michael,
I clearly attributed the paragraph:
to the correct article.
Despite the fact that the SMH article was changed since I posted (including a different headline), this paragraph is still not included. So I have no idea what you are on about.
I suggest next time you read more carefully. Otherwise you end up looking like a bit of a goose.
Michael,
You are not fooling anyone. The fact that you single out Israel, trying to find fault in the way she treats her non-Jewish citizens, and never once talk about the Muslim states, is suspect to say the least.
Given that the article’s are accurate, where is the “dishonesty” that you accuse Ed O’Loughlin of??
That old red-herring??
I’ve commented on the issues you’ve raised.
Why do you single out Israel Dave?? Very suspect.
Answer the question, Michael.
I just love how you continue trying to argue about my post, yet ignore the fact that you just made a fool of yourself in accusing me of making a sloppy mistake. How about a retraction or apology?
My entire post is devoted to what I consider to be his dishonesty. You clearly are unable to read and comprehend.
I have to admit that I have considered banning you, due to your transparent attempts to criticize everything about Israel. Yes, criticizing Israel is ok, but when one singles out Israel for criticism about everything like you do, we all know what your motives are.
Yet..
Every time you open your mouth on here, you make a fool of yourself. So keep it up…you are doing more for Israel advocacy than I am.
Well, let me see Dave…..I commented on the issue of Ms Tartman because you brought it up, and I commented on the Israeli President becuase you brought that up too!
I apologise.
Of course there is no chance whatsoever of you apologizing to Ed O’Loughin for accusing him, falsely, of dishonesty.
Yes, and now I asked you why you never comment on the Muslim states – not on here, and not on any of your blogs. If human rights were your prime concern, I would expect you to be spending most of your time on the situation in these countries.
I have not seen you refute my claims that he seems to have acted dishonestly in the way he has reported this story.
Tartman does indeed want to strip the citizenship of Israeli-Palestinians who don’t pledge support to a “Jewish state”.
This is absolutely true. Are you really denying it? Because O’Loughlin can only have been dishonest if it isn’t true.
And the headline is also accurate. You can argue that you don’tl ike it, or that it could have said something else – but it is accurately reflecting a significant part of the article.
Where is the dishonesty??
I spelled it out in my post.
Please read the posts more carefully.
Sory I thought this was Israellycool, not Islamocool, and the topic was the article about Israel that you posted.
What do you want me to say about which “Muslim State”?
I rest my case.
Can you point to one post on your blog(s) which you devote to criticizing the Muslim states’ treatment of its citizens?
of course not…you need help from me in even identifying a Muslim state to criticize.
So in other words, you admit that Ms Tartman has said that Arabs could be stripped of their citizenship. That is what Tartman has espoused and what O’Loughlin reported – there is no dishonesty.
The headline “Take citizenship off Arab Israelis: MP.” is totally accurate.
“The fact that you single out Israel, trying to find fault in the way she treats her non-Jewish citizens,” -Dave
You seem confused. It was you who drew attention to the articles that contained criticism of Israel.
And why would any posts on my blog be devoted to criticism of “Muslim states” when it’s devoted to HonestReporting?
I might just as well ask you why you aren’t discussing the ecomomy of Iceland in your blog.