Signed journalistic articles clearly reflect the stance and political context of their authors. In his article published on "The Times of Israel" website, Ahmed Charai, owner of Global Media Holding, defends "Israel" and its policies towards Palestinians, focusing on criticizing the International Criminal Court's (ICC) decision to prosecute Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This critical analysis sheds light on the argumentative structure of the article, its implicit messages, strengths, and weaknesses.
First: Context and General Stance
The article is presented within a clear political framework defending "Israel" as a "democratic state" facing "terrorism" from Hamas. Charai openly opposes the ICC's decision, deeming it a threat to the legal sovereignty of democratic states. This perspective overlooks the complexities of the Palestinian-"Israeli" conflict and displays a clear bias toward exonerating "Israel" while blaming other parties.
Second: Methodology of Argument Construction
1. Reliance on General Concepts
The author focused on concepts like "legal sovereignty" and "the right to self-defense" without providing in-depth analysis or specific examples to support his claims. For instance, discussing "Israel's" democracy ignores international criticism of its policies, which some human rights organizations describe as apartheid against Palestinians.
Additionally, when praising the integrity of the "Israeli" judiciary, the author failed to provide any examples of it upholding Palestinian rights against the oppression and violence of the "Israeli" army and government.
2. Manipulation of International Context
The author attempts to link the ICC's decision to the potential targeting of other democratic states like the United States, creating the impression that the court arbitrarily targets democracies. This approach diverts attention from the core issue: crimes committed in the occupied Palestinian territories.
The most concerning aspect of this perspective is that it provides a free pass to major powers—or, as the author describes them, democratic states—to excuse any aggression or violations of the rights and freedoms of other peoples, particularly the right to life.
3. Ignoring the Palestinian Context
The article completely disregards the suffering of Palestinians due to the occupation, including "Israeli" military attacks on civilians. These omissions result in a one-sided narrative serving a specific agenda rather than offering an objective analysis.
Third: Weaknesses in the Article
1. Clear Bias
The article displays excessive bias toward "Israel," portraying it as a victim of the international system while ignoring "Israel's" occupation policies and ongoing human rights violations. For instance, the occupation has assassinated several resistance leaders following Operation "Al-Aqsa Flood" and continues to kill, bomb, and expand its operations. This bias undermines the article's credibility.
2. Marginalization of the ICC's Role
The author attacks the ICC as "politicized" without providing strong evidence, which weakens the validity of his critique. Despite challenges, the ICC remains a recognized international body for addressing major crimes.
Even if we accept the author's claim that the ICC lacks jurisdiction, prosecuting Netanyahu in "Israel" is unrealistic. Netanyahu represents "Israel" and cannot be tried in "Israeli" courts, which view actions in Gaza as normal and not genocidal. Moreover, as he remains the Israeli Prime Minister, it is difficult to imagine him facing trial in a country he governs.
3. Imbalanced Emotional Rhetoric
The article heavily relies on emotional appeals, describing Palestinian "terrorism" and defending "Israeli" civilians while ignoring the humanitarian impact of "Israeli" policies.
4. Neglect of Real Legal Context
The article fails to discuss the legal reasons behind the ICC's investigation into crimes committed, instead focusing on general political attacks.
Fourth: Implicit Messages
1. Justification of "Israeli" Policies
The article aims to justify "Israel's" policies under the pretext of self-defense, ignoring the context of occupation and its implications. It also overlooks how "Israel's" response to Operation "Al-Aqsa Flood" has gone beyond deterrence, turning into retaliation against anyone who supports Palestine, not just its citizens.
2. Undermining the ICC's Image
The article seeks to erode trust in the ICC by portraying it as a tool for political manipulation, likely due to fears that the court may issue further arrest warrants against "Israeli" or even American officials.
Fifth: A Critical Reading of the Media Messaging
Charai's article exemplifies what is termed "biased media discourse," guiding readers toward predetermined conclusions using unbalanced arguments. This is particularly noteworthy as it comes from an Arab Muslim figure, attempting to lend logic and neutrality to such a narrative.
The article aligns with the strategy of recycling "Israeli" political rhetoric, raising questions about the author's independence and the credibility of the narrative.
In conclusion, Charai's article provides a political defense of "Israel" rather than an objective legal or political analysis. It lacks balance and objectivity, relying on evident bias and an incomplete presentation of the Palestinian-"Israeli" conflict. Articles like these highlight the importance of analyzing media discourse to uncover its agendas, especially when authored by influential figures in the Moroccan media landscape.
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-A Moroccan journalist and writer.
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