Cooperation with anti-Semitic hate channels that glorify terror and call for murder against Israelis are increasingly becoming a problem for the tax-financed German international broadcaster “Deutsche Welle” (DW).
After research by “Vice” and IMAGE disclosed that DW is working with several anti-Semitic broadcasters in Lebanon, the problem content of another cooperation partner is now coming to light.
Specifically, it is about the Palestinian news channel “Ma’an News”. The station, which is based in Bethlehem (Palestinian autonomous areas in the West Bank), had called for terror against Israelis – nevertheless, the “Deutsche Welle” defended its cooperation with him.
“Don’t stop the knife revolution!”
In an online contribution from “Ma’an News” from 2015 with the title “Do not stop the knife revolution!”, The call is made to murder Israelis. Back in October 2015, rows of young Palestinians in Jerusalem attacked and killed Israelis with knives. This terror series was glorified by terrorist groups as the “knife intifada”. The “Ma’an News” article also stated that this terror series should not end and that the “flame of the Intifada” should burn. One will not rest until “the Zionist enemy” is stopped.
Explosive: just one month after this article was published, DW director Peter Limbourg met with Ma’an News editor-in-chief, Nasser Al-Lahham. Limbourg praised the station, designated him as an “influential and reliable source of information”.
The contribution was not an isolated case: the same editor-in-chief wrote in a comment in May 2021 that Zionism was “a stain on the forehead of mankind” that had to “disappear from existence”.
Photo: maannews.net
“data-zoom-src =” https://bilder.bild.de/fotos/intendant-der-deutschen-welle-peter-limbourg-und-maan-news-chef-al-lahham-im-ausch-2ae9b950f91349bfa495cf6395e514e5- 78499044 / Bild / 12.bild.jpg “/> Director of “Deutsche Welle” Peter Limbourg and “Ma’an News” boss Al-Lahham in exchangePhoto: maannews.net
DW defends “Ma’an” as a “serious news source”
When asked by BILD, DW distanced itself from the statements made by Al-Lahham. The statements are not known to the director, it is said. But: “He expressly does not share it”.
DW also points out that Limbourg spoke out in favor of reconciliation between Israel and the Palestinian territories during the visit. “I will repeat what I said during my visit to Israel, namely that it would be good if at this point everyone could remember the former Prime Minister of Israel Yitzhak Rabin and what he did for the peace process and what they did Palestinians then did for the peace process, “he said at the time, according to his statements.
Nevertheless, DW defended the station. He is recognized by the European media as a “serious news source from the Palestinian territories” and they regularly quote from “Ma’an” reports.
And: DW’s cooperation with the hate broadcaster promotes dialogue: “’Ma’an’ has been taking on DW magazine in its program since 2013, thus offering ‘Deutsche Welle’ the opportunity to target young Palestinians within the Palestinian territories and Israel and to promote dialogue with them. “
“No broadcaster would come up with the idea of cooperating with a right-wing radical broadcaster”
Uwe Becker, President of the German-Israeli Society (DIG), finds an absurd justification. “No broadcaster would come up with the idea of cooperating with a right-wing radical broadcaster in order to get in touch with right-wing radical youth,” he told BILD. “You have to clearly draw a red line here. It is not possible to cooperate with broadcasters that demand the destruction of Israel. “
Becker continues: “It doesn’t matter whether it is a young journalist from WDR or about the twisted reporting by ZDF goes, which turns Israeli victims into perpetrators in its headline: Unfortunately, the last few weeks have shown how socially acceptable Israel-related anti-Semitism is in the German media. The ‘Deutsche Welle’ is now shooting the bird. It has a structural anti-Semitism problem and does not seem to notice that it is a platform for hatred related to Israel. “
Director Peter Limbourg has to comment
Dr. Remko Leemhuis, Director of the American Jewish Committee Berlin (AJC) is appalled. “It is completely unacceptable that an institution like ‘Deutsche Welle’, which is financed by German taxpayers’ money, cooperates with broadcasters that incite against Jews and Israel and glorify terror. We therefore very much welcome the fact that these processes are now being processed externally, ”he said when asked by BILD.
And: “It is imperative that the director comment on these events. Not only because, as head of ‘Deutsche Welle’, he bears overall responsibility, but because he was partly personally involved in these collaborations. “
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