'Information terrorism' is being conducted in Australia, according to new book that targets powerful Israeli lobby
By Chris Sweeney | October 29, 2021
'Dateline Jerusalem: Journalism's Toughest Assignment' by John Lyons © Monash University Publishing
We all like to think that reporting is free from political pressure. However, a new book claims that Australia's media landscape has been infiltrated by 'the pro-Israel lobby' and it may have infected their whole system.
Australia is not where you would expect an information battle to be waged between Israel and Palestine. But a new book by one of Australia's leading journalists, John Lyons, titled 'Dateline Jerusalem: Journalism's Toughest Assignment', alleges that a veritable content massacre has occurred.
"The Israel lobby in Australia is the most powerful lobby in the world in terms of the impact it has within its own country," are the words of a senior officer in the Israeli army, recounted in John Lyons' book.
The award-winning author has spent the last 40 years working in Australia's media for several of its biggest newspapers, including a spell as a Middle East correspondent.
In his book Lyons also writes of a reporter, Hamish McDonald, who was handed a warning before agreeing to join The Saturday Paper, part of mogul Morry Schwartz's stable. McDonald was set to become the world editor and was allegedly told, "There's one touchy subject – Morry is very sensitive about stories about Israel. He would not like to see Israel under attack."
Further tales recounted Israeli diplomats and community leaders all applying pressure to dictate the tone Australians are fed via their media.
The most prominent group is the Melbourne based Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC), which one person in the book even describes as "issuing fatwas" against opponents.
In response to the allegation, AIJAC released on Monday a backlash against Dateline Jerusalem and set the tone immediately by referring to the short book, as a 'booklet'. They describe it as "a polemic rooted in a conspiracy theory" and go on to say there is no mention that "Israel made three credible offers of statehood to the Palestinians that were rejected – in 2000, 2001 and 2008".
Another part of AIJAC's takedown of the book is, "In fact, there is no reference to any Palestinian terrorism anywhere in the booklet" apart from a small mention of an article in an Adelaide newspaper, along with its confirmation that it has never promoted the "expansion of Israeli settlements".
"The Israel lobby in Australia is the most powerful lobby in the world in terms of the impact it has within its own country," are the words of a senior officer in the Israeli army, recounted in John Lyons' book.
The award-winning author has spent the last 40 years working in Australia's media for several of its biggest newspapers, including a spell as a Middle East correspondent.
The shock of the revelations is how blatant they are; this is no subtle campaign to stifle pro-Palestinian coverage.
One young journalist tells of a sub editor shouting at her in the newsroom for using the P-word. He bellowed, as cited in the book: "Palestine does not exist. You have to remove it from the article. What kind of journalist are you, using the word Palestine?"
The Sydney Morning Herald even opened an investigation in 2019 into their crossword as on a particular day it contained the clue: "The Holy Land". The answer was Palestine. The newspaper's editor then issued an apology, for the answer not being Israel.
The same publication also refused to print the final column by their Jerusalem based correspondent, Ed O’Loughlin, as he concluded a five-year posting in May 2008. At the time, that journalist commented: "There has been an intensive lobbying effort to skew the Herald and The Age to a pro Israeli position and I’ve had nothing but support until now. That's why I am surprised they pulled my final piece."
One young journalist tells of a sub editor shouting at her in the newsroom for using the P-word. He bellowed, as cited in the book: "Palestine does not exist. You have to remove it from the article. What kind of journalist are you, using the word Palestine?"
The Sydney Morning Herald even opened an investigation in 2019 into their crossword as on a particular day it contained the clue: "The Holy Land". The answer was Palestine. The newspaper's editor then issued an apology, for the answer not being Israel.
The same publication also refused to print the final column by their Jerusalem based correspondent, Ed O’Loughlin, as he concluded a five-year posting in May 2008. At the time, that journalist commented: "There has been an intensive lobbying effort to skew the Herald and The Age to a pro Israeli position and I’ve had nothing but support until now. That's why I am surprised they pulled my final piece."
Further tales recounted Israeli diplomats and community leaders all applying pressure to dictate the tone Australians are fed via their media.
The most prominent group is the Melbourne based Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC), which one person in the book even describes as "issuing fatwas" against opponents.
In response to the allegation, AIJAC released on Monday a backlash against Dateline Jerusalem and set the tone immediately by referring to the short book, as a 'booklet'. They describe it as "a polemic rooted in a conspiracy theory" and go on to say there is no mention that "Israel made three credible offers of statehood to the Palestinians that were rejected – in 2000, 2001 and 2008".
Another part of AIJAC's takedown of the book is, "In fact, there is no reference to any Palestinian terrorism anywhere in the booklet" apart from a small mention of an article in an Adelaide newspaper, along with its confirmation that it has never promoted the "expansion of Israeli settlements".
Please go to RT News to read more.
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To fully comprehend the sheer power the Israeli/Jewish lobby (AIJAC) has in Australia, follow the work of this Australian who has been at this for ten years first going up against the Israeli/Jewish lobby in Australia. He ended up imprisoned and almost beaten to death while incarcerated for taking on the Jewish lobby in Australia.
Talpiot
To fully comprehend the sheer power the Israeli/Jewish lobby (AIJAC) has in Australia, follow the work of this Australian who has been at this for ten years first going up against the Israeli/Jewish lobby in Australia. He ended up imprisoned and almost beaten to death while incarcerated for taking on the Jewish lobby in Australia.
Talpiot
Now if certain officials in Australia can prove Israeli operators were behind the alleged (?) shooting at Port Arthur, Tasmania in 1996...
More on Port Arthur
More on Port Arthur
This was a political hit piece to defuse and vector people away from the events at Port Arthur in 1996.
Why Port Arthur massacre conspiracy theorists are wrong
Why Port Arthur massacre conspiracy theorists are wrong
Do not allow yourselves to get ambushed ever again:
Britain's forward fire base in the Middle East and Trumpstein:
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