Chris McGreal sets the record straight
JVL Introduction
In February 2006 the Guardian published two explosive articles by its then award-winning Middle East correspondent Chris McGreal.
Over 14,000 words were devoted to an in-depth analysis of social realties in Israel and of Israel’s close, mutually-supportive, relationship with apartheid South Africa, assessing accusations “that the web of controls affecting every aspect of Palestinian life bears a disturbing resemblance to apartheid”.
You can read these path-breaking articles here and here.
In this new article Chris McGreal draws on his years of experience in both countries as he makes clear Archbishop Tutu’s unfailing support for justice in Palestine and for the means necessary to obtain it, including BDS.
Let us hope that the Guardian returning to its fearless reporter Chris McGreal represents a genuine change of heart and not just a temporary blip in its generalised retreat from honest and comprehensive reporting on the Israel-Palestine conflict.
This article was originally published by the Guardian on Thu 30 Dec 2021. Read the original here.
When Desmond Tutu stood up for the rights of Palestinians, he could not be ignored
After visits to Israel and Palestine, Tutu used his moral authority to speak out and, despite abuse, refused to back down. He wanted liberation for everyone.
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As often before, the G is prepared to print above the line what readers are not permitted to say below it. Hacks like J Freedland are given space to place Israel in a pedestal and demonize those who criticize without ever having to deal with the storm of indignation their remarks generate among readers on the left. In this way the G contrives to maintain the illusion of balance without offering its readers the opportunity to challenge smears and misrepresentations. Be grateful for small mercies, certainly, but let’s not pretend that the organ that appointed Margaret Hodge a privileged ‘friend of the house’ has changed its spots.
How odd that Alan Dershowitz should pop up twice on the same day – first given a platform by the BBC to comment on the outcome of the Ghislaine Maxwell trial (regrettably, we will probably never know which idiot at the Beeb thought that a constitutional lawyer was the appropriate person to pronounce on a sex-trafficking case) and then declaring that the Nobel Peace Prize winner, Desmond Tutu was “evil”.
How lovely, too, that we now have both the BBC and the Guardian grovelling in the face of public outrage at their attempts to whitewash appalling behaviour on both a personal and a nation level.
“You cannot hope to bribe or twist, thank God
the British journalist.
But, seeing what the man will do unbribed
there’s no occasion to.
There was a rumour circulating during the time of the boycott that Israel took SA’s orange juice and repackaged it as Israeli orange juice. Small beer, maybe.
I have saved a fortune by not buying a Guardian of Hypocrisy for many years. I have similarly saved myself from being tormented by its usual evil goblins.
I agree with Kuhnberg’s comments. This is a mere start, so let us keep the up the pressure on Viner. Here is a strongly worded BRICUP petition that I would urge people to sign and circulate further.
Desmond Tutu – Sign the Protest to The Guardian!The misrepresentation of Archbishop Tutu’s support for Palestine needs to be corrected, and an apology offered
Is the Alan Dershowitz cited above the same Alan Dershowitz whose interview on the BBC last night on the Maxwell verdict has drawn such flak towards Auntie Beeb?
Small world, eh?
In the new year can we make a resolution to respond to people like Dershowitz, my grandson was taught you cannot go around hitting people, unless they hit you first, then the gloves are off
As a tribute to Desmond Tutu make the point that you cannot be a person of God and support the evil that is apartheid Israel
Repeat ad nauseum with a dash of BDS
All the best to you and yours
Lets face it the US is funding the Apartheid against the Palestinians so they are guilty but who will carry the can, I put it to you it is likely to be the ordinary Jewish people who have no power.
It’s good that the BBC acknowledges its mistake in broadcasting an interview with Alan Dershowitz, someone embroiled in the case, and then simply introducing him as a “constitutional lawyer” (BBC says interview with Epstein lawyer did not meet its standards, Helen Pidd, 30 Dec.). The BBC statement promised “we will look into how this happened.” Perhaps the inquiry could couple this instance with an earlier one on 29 Nov. in which a lengthy defence of those accused, again unchallenged, was used to help fill in the time that the Today Programme went off air due to what turned out to be a false alarm? Or perhaps the promised inquiry will join the Forde inquiry on the ‘let sleeping dogs lie’ shelf?
Wholeheartedly endorse Chris McGrael’s article . Shame on the Guardian for bring partisan
It’s good that the BBC acknowledges its mistake in broadcasting an interview with Alan Dershowitz, someone deeply embroiled in the case, and then simply introducing him as a “constitutional lawyer” The BBC statement promised “we will look into how this happened.” Perhaps the ‘look’ could expand to include an earlier event on 29 Nov. in which a 5 mins defence of Ghislaine Maxwell by her brother Ian, insisting she was innocent went inadequately challenged, was broadcast (why?) to help fill in the time that the Today Programme went off air due to what turned out to be a false alarm? Surely the Beeb and Guardian don’t treat the rich and famous any differently to lesser mortals?