France's Blood Libel Against Israel
By Guy Milliere
On September 30,
2000, at the beginning of the Palestinian terrorist offensive against Israel
called since then the "second intifada," a particularly violent clash
took place at the Netzarim junction in the Gaza Strip. As shots were exchanged
between Arab militiamen and Israeli soldiers, cameramen from various television
channels were nearby, filming news reports. One of these reports quickly spread
around the world and became a ubiquitous tool for anti-Israeli Arab propaganda.
It showed a young boy huddling against his father, the two unsuccessfully
trying to protect themselves from gunfire: the son appeared to have been
killed. The commentary accompanying the images was overwhelming. The last words
of the voice-over, uttered in a stricken tone, were: "The child is
dead".
The child,
Mohammed al-Dura, immediately became a "martyr" -- and a symbol. The
Israeli army clearly dared to kill defenseless people, even children!
The report was
considered indisputable: it had been broadcast on the main French public channel,
France 2, and validated by a noted journalist, Charles Enderlin.
Very soon, Israeli
columnists and military experts thought that the report had all the appearances
of a crude forgery. In the images, the "dead" child was still lifting
his arm after his "death". Neither father nor son showed any trace of
blood, nor was there any blood on the wall behind them. The bullet holes on the
wall behind the father and son had round forms, showing that they could not
come from the angled Israeli position.
A few weeks later,
an Israeli website, the Metula News Agency, made a short film demonstrating in
detail that the report was indeed a fake. An Israeli scientist, Nahum Shahaf,
conducted a reconstruction and a scientific demonstration in support of the
short film. In 2002, a German filmmaker, Esther Schapira, directed a
documentary reaching the same conclusions: Drei Kugeln und ein totes Kind
("Three Bullets and a Dead Child").
It was soon
revealed that the footage had been shot by a Palestinian Arab cameraman, Talal
Abu Rahma, and sent to Charles Enderlin, who had not been present at the scene.
And it became apparent that Enderlin had added a commentary without first
conducting any verification.
At this point,
Enderlin could have replied with further explanation. France 2 could have
admitted a mistake. But they stuck to their positions: Enderlin swore that he
had "proof" that the images showed the reality and that his
commentary was correct; and France 2 fully supported Enderlin. Neither the
short film made by Metula News Agency, nor the documentary directed by Esther
Schapira was broadcast in France. The Israeli government, for its part,
remained silent.
The case has
grown. A courageous and tireless French entrepreneur, Philippe Karsenty, head
of a news media watchdog group, Media Ratings, understood the lasting harm of
the fraud and saw in this deception an opportunity to expose the workings of
the Palestinian propaganda machine and the complicity in it of many in the
Western media.
In 2004, Karsenty
posted all the information available to him, including irrefutable evidence of
missing footage, and wrote that the truth had to be unearthed. He was accused
by Enderlin and France 2 of defamation, and dragged to court.
Undaunted, he
decided to give lectures and talks on the subject around the world.
In 2012, seeing at
last the sheer scope of the case, the Israeli Ministry of Strategic Affairs
created a special government inquiry committee. The committee's report was
officially handed to Israeli Prime Minister a few days ago. Its findings
corroborate what all those who followed the case from the beginning already
know: the Enderlin and France 2 report is "baseless." The child shown
in the video was not "killed" in the incident -- the incident was
staged. Upon receiving the committee's report, Binyamin Netanyahu declared that
the Enderlin and France 2 report is "an integral part of the ongoing
campaign to delegitimize Israel."
Logic and basic
human decency would dictate that Enderlin and France 2 draw the consequences,
withdraw the charges, and apologize to everyone victimized by the fraud. This
is not, however, what happened. On the contrary, Enderlin and France 2 now
accuse the Israeli government of wanting to harm their reputation and are
threatening to "sue Israel."The French public has not, of course,
been informed of the content of the committee's report. It is further very
likely that no newspaper, no magazine, no radio and no TV channel in France
will speak of it.
When, in fact, complaints
were filed by Enderlin and France 2 against Philippe Karsenty, a petition of
support for Enderlin was published in several French newspapers: all mainstream
journalists had signed the petition.
In July 2009, to
show his support for Enderlin, former President Nicolas Sarkozy awarded him the
title of Knight of the Legion of Honor, one of France's highest honors. The
current President, François Hollande, has not commented on the committee's
report. He will also probably remain silent on the subject.
On May 26, the
French judiciary was supposed to make a final decision on the complaints
against Philippe Karsenty. The decision was postponed to June 26, undoubtedly
due to the committee's report. It does not mean that the decision will be in
favor of Karsenty. The French judiciary depends on the French Department of
Justice, and therefore the French government. Its position will be the one
adopted by the French government.
The Enderlin and
France 2 report is baseless. It is a fake. But in France, it exists as an
"official truth;" and in France, no one can question an
"official truth" without incurring huge risks -- from blacklisting by
the media to arbitrary audits by the tax bureau, to even death threats.
The child shown in
the video was not killed in the incident. But according to French
"official truth," he was "killed": he will therefore be
considered "killed" by French political leaders, the French media,
and probably the French judiciary.
The Enderlin and
France 2 report is assuredly "an integral part of the ongoing campaign to
delegitimize Israel" conducted worldwide.
It is an integral
part of the campaign to delegitimize Israel conducted in France -- a campaign
that has not stopped.
The workings of
the Palestinian propaganda machine and the complicity of many in the Western
media have been exposed all too often. This just makes one more time.
Charles Enderlin
and France 2 should to be ashamed, but they have no shame; most French
political leaders, the French media and the French justice should be ashamed,
but probably feel no shame.
Most French people
will never even know anything at all about the affair.
Israel's Minister
of International Relations, Yuval Steinitz, gave an accurate definition of the
Enderlin and France 2 report : "a modern-day blood libel against the State
of Israel".
This makes
France's cover-up of the truth a French blood libel.
The fact that
almost all the members of the French elite continue to stand up for this or any
blood libel is a hideous stain on the honor of France.
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