Home PodcastJulie Alli Journalist Paula Slier attracts criticism for “utter propaganda” piece about Palestine-Israel conflict

Journalist Paula Slier attracts criticism for “utter propaganda” piece about Palestine-Israel conflict

by Zahid Jadwat

Flames and smoke rise during Israeli air strikes

Violence in the southern part of Gaza on May 11, 2021. [Image: Reuters]

 

South African television, radio and print journalist Paula Slier has attracted sharp criticism from pro-Palestine activists following her recent piece on media coverage relating to the Palestine-Israel conflict. In the article, which was published by Mail & Guardian, she wrote that “the real battle is the one for public opinion” and suggested that facts are spun in order to suit a particular narrative.

Executive Director of Africa4Palestine Muhammed Desai described the piece as propaganda for the Israeli regime.

Desai said: “One of the most glaring and hurtful examples of this is where she suggests that Palestinians kill their own children for PR purposes.”

Whilst agreeing that such an argument was not explicitly stated in the article, Desai said: “There’s a clear indication [within the article] that Palestinians fire from civilian areas because they benefit from the PR of people dying.”

In her article, Slier wrote: “Hamas has intentionally placed all its military installations in civilian areas and fires rockets from among its population.” Desai stated that this idea “has been debunked since 2009”.

Slier went on to suggest that some journalists, and social media users, have failed to provide full context to the story. She wrote: “A 10-second clip of a home being bombed in Gaza is horrific, but it’s only part of the story.”

Julie Allie spoke to Muhammed Desai, the Executive Director of Africa4Palestine, on News & Views. Listen to the full interview here:

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