New Iron Curtains


 

 

As The Guardian points out the Netanyahu government is running two wars in Gaza, the first over military control, and the second over what information the world is to obtain wabout Gaza.  The assassination of five journalists including Al Jazeera’s Anas al-Sharif is the Israeli army’s attempt to control what the world know.

 

Journalists are supposed to be protected under international law, but over the past three years, at least 176 journalists have been targeted, some under the specious claim that they were part of Hamas, other that the murder was accidental as in the case of the Palestinian-American Shireen Abu Akleh, murdered at the Jenin refugee camp.

 

The Committee to Protect Journalists has called for real investigations of these targeted killings, but Netanyahu, determined to hold onto power, because if he doesn’t, he can face prison over the corruption charges lodged against him. Iron curtains just don’t happen in Putin’s Russia but in all places where corrupt leaders are afraid of exposure.

 

Prayer for the Day

 

Creating a new darkness, the forces of evil surround us,

   Plying us with their lies to protect their power;

Holding the truth of events in locked closets, O God,

   The forces of a new world of disinformation rule.

Deliver us, O Lord, so we are able to know the truth,

   And rise up to defeat the powers of hatred and evil.

In the name of the One who spoke against evil,

    Even Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen.

 

Thoughts for the Day

 

Despite all the threats he received and the Israeli media’s incitement against him, al-Sharif continued reporting. Now one question haunts me: Who will be next on the list? Will it be me?

            Islam al-Za’anoun, news correspondent for Palestinian TV

 

Israel’s pattern of labelling journalists as militants without providing credible evidence raises serious questions about its intent and respect for press freedom.

            Sara Qudah, Committee to Protect Journalists

 

Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.

            Proverbs 14: 14