|
|
August 11, 2000/10 Av 5760, Vol. 52, No.48
CNN move flaky as Valley snowstorm
VICKI CABOT
Contributing Editor
As if there were not already enough clouds hovering over the holy city after last week's failed peace initiative - where the status of Jerusalem proved to be the inevitable sticking point - CNN's removing Jerusalem from its classification as a city in Israel and giving it stand-alone status on its weather page was an obvious political, and politically incorrect, ploy.
The decision reflected the city's "disputed status," responded station executives when online users flooded the CNN Web site with irate e-mails objecting to the change. With a flick of a mouse, CNN was denying Jews Jerusalem and relegating the city of David to international no-man's-land status.
True, the United Nations, no real friend to Israel, has not recognized Israeli sovereignty over Jerusalem's easternmost neighborhoods. And true, the Palestinians, itching to declare statehood Sept. 13, are demanding at least a piece of Jerusalem to call their own. Israelis are hoping they will settle for Abu Dis, one of three neighboring villages transferred in May to full Palestinian control. Windows of Palestinian Authority offices in Abu Dis frame picture-perfect views of the Temple Mount but, despite proximity to the coveted holy sites, Palestinians say Abu Dis is no Jerusalem. They're holding out for the real thing - if not the whole enchilada - and that is probably where the midnight tte--ttes around Bill Clinton's peace table came to a standstill.
But Jerusalem is the capital of the Jewish state, the seat of Israeli government, and Israel has sovereign jurisdiction over the city. So it is even more outrageous that CNN officials have attempted to assuage angry users, while still making their point, by resorting to an asterisked footnote "explaining" Jerusalem's contested status. A note at the bottom of its Web page now lets users know that Jerusalem is the "seat of Israeli government" and that parts of the city are considered by Palestinian and Arab leaders as "the capital of the prospective Jewish state."
Is CNN in the business of predicting the weather - or whether? When does determining the status of a political entity become the province of a communications agency?
"Arabist in their views and agenda," accused one online respondent. From this vantage point, it seems unfortunately so.
A weather Web page is the place for news about hot winds and cool breezes; it's not the place for stirring up a political thunderstorm.
Response from the organization affirming its non-partisan, objective perspective and stating that "we do not have an editorial position on this or any other political issue" is as flaky as a snowstorm in Arizona in August. And as enduring. Stay tuned.
Our editorial pages provide a forum for provocative opinion and the healthy exchange of ideas. Seeking to enrich the discussion, and enliven discourse, we're expanding our local commentary to include Jewish News Editor and Publisher Flo Eckstein, Contributing Editor Vicki Cabot and Community Editor Barry Cohen. Along with contributor Marty Latz, they'll share their perspectives and unique viewpoints, making you think about, talk about, and maybe even act on, what is happening in our Jewish world. We look forward to hearing from you at editor@jewishaz.com and sharing your responses with our readers.
|
