TERRORISM AND THE MEDIA IN THE MIDDLE EAST (FROM TERRORISM - INTERDISCIPLINARY PERSPECTIVES, 1977, BY YONAH ALEXANDER AND SEYMOUR MAXWELL FINGER - SEE NCJ-44307)

• NCJ Number: 62736
• Author(s): Y ALEXANDER
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 41 pages
• Corporate Author: John Jay Press
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

MEDIA COVERAGE OF TERRORISM IN THE MIDDLE EAST IS EXAMINED, PARTICULARLY IN LIGHT OF PSYCHOLOGICAL WARFARE AND PROPAGANDA AIMS OF ARAB COUNTRIES, ISRAEL, AND THE PALESTINE LIBERATION ORGANIZATION (PLO).

Abstract

THE ISSUE OF TERRORISM IN THE CONTEXT OF THE MIDDLE EAST CONFLICT IS COMPLICATED PRIMARILY BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF A STANDARD DEFINITION OF TERRORISM. ONE MAY JUSTIFY POLITICAL AND IDEOLOGICAL VIOLENCE IN THE REGION OR REJECT IT, ACCORDING TO THE MEASURE OF ONE'S IDENTIFICATION WITH THE CAUSES INVOLVED. THE ROOT OF THE MIDDLE EAST CONFLICT IS A TERRITORIAL DISPUTE OVER PALESTINE ISRAEL. ARAB STATES AND VARIOUS PALESTINIAN MOVEMENTS HAVE RESORTED TO PSYCHOLOGICAL WARFARE AND PROGAGANDA AS ADJUNCTS AND SUPPLEMENTS TO ARMED ACTION AND TERRORISM THROUGH THE MEDIA IN ORDER TO FORM, CONTROL, OR ALTER THE DISPOSITION OF INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS BOTH WITHIN AND OUTSIDE THE REGION. TRENDS ON THE PART OF INVOLVED COUNTRIES TOWARD SOLIDARITY AND PAROCHIALISM ARE REFLECTED IN THE GENERALLY CONTROLLED AND CONFORMIST MASS MEDIA OF THE ARAB COUNTRIES AND IN THE COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK OF RESISTANCE MOVEMENTS. ALTHOUGH IT IS DIFFICULT TO ASCERTAIN THE EXACT IMPACT OF ARAB EFFORTS IN THE MEDIA ON THE OUTCOME OF THE MIDDLE EAST CONFLICT, IT IS POSSIBLE TO REACH TENTATIVE CONCLUSIONS. THE MOST STRIKING PHENOMENON IS THE FACT THAT THE PALESTINIAN CAUSE IS MORE WIDELY KNOWN IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND ELSEWHERE DUE TO PUBLICITY RECEIVED BY THE CAUSE IN THE MEDIA. ON THE DIPLOMATIC LEVEL, RECOGNITION OF THE PLO AS DESERVING INTERNATIONAL LEGAL STATUS IS GAINING MOMENTUM. MOREOVER, NUMEROUS DIPLOMATIC MOVES HAVE BEEN UNDERTAKEN BY ARAB COUNTRIES, THE PLO, AND SUPPORTERS, ESPECIALLY IN THIRD WORLD NATIONS, TO ISOLATE ISRAEL FROM INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS. NEW EFFORTS TO EQUATE ZIONISM WITH RACISM CONTINUE TO BE MADE, AND THE UNITED STATES IS EVENTUALLY EXPECTED TO NEGOTIATE WITH PALESTINIANS. THE FOLLOWING CONCRETE STEPS ARE RECOMMENDED: REVERSE THE ENDORSEMENT OF TERRORISM AS AN APPROVED VALUE, REGISTER A SENSE OF REVULSION AT ALL ACTS OF VIOLENCE, CEASE FINANCIAL SUPPORT AND DENY WEAPONS AND SANCTUARIES TO ANY TERRORIST GROUP, ELIMINATE GOVERNMENT-SPONSORED PROPAGANDA AND PSYCHOLOGICAL-WARFARE ACTIVITIES OF TERROR GROUPS, AND COOPERATE WITH INTERNATIONAL AND NATIONAL GROUPS TO SUPPRESS TRANSNATIONAL TERRORISM. NOTES ARE INCLUDED. (DEP)