Where is CNN??? "German TV report: Palestinians likely killed Gaza boy"

[besieged]

German TV report: Palestinians likely killed Gaza boy By Allison Kaplan Sommer and Herb Keinon

JERUSALEM (March 20) - A German documentary producer who thoroughly investigated the killing of a Palestinian boy a year-and-a-half ago said yesterday it is "much more likely" 12-year-old Muhammad ad-Dura was killed by Palestinian gunmen, and not by Israeli soldiers.

Dura was shot to death in a Gaza Strip crossfire on September 30, 2000, while crouching for safety with his father. The incident was filmed by the France2 television network, and the pictures had a dramatic impact on the public perception of Israel's use of force, with the IDF widely accused of killing the boy.

The video footage of Dura and his father crouching in an alley as bullets whizzed passed them, and then the bleeding dying boy cradled in his father's arms provoked international outrage when it was broadcast.

The documentary aired Sunday night on the German television station ARD.

In an interview with IBA English News, producer Esther Shapira said the purpose of the series was to "understand the truth behind the pictures we see on television." She said that going into the project initially, "I thought it was clear it was an Israeli who fired the shot since we were talking about a Palestinian boy."

She said that the questions she meant to ask was why Israeli soldiers were killing children and how deliberate the shooting had been.

But as she began to delve into the incident, serious doubts were raised as to whether it had been Israeli and not Palestinian gunfire that killed the boy.

She said forensic evidence showed Dura had been shot either from in front or from above, the direction from which the Palestinian gunmen had been firing. For it to have been IDF fire that killed him, the shot would have had to enter from the side.

"According to our findings, it is much more likely it was a Palestinian bullet, not an Israeli bullet, that killed him," Shapira said.

Israel expressed its regrets for the tragic incident, though an IDF investigation did not prove conclusively who shot Dura.

The documentary also did not unequivocally conclude one way or the other, but did ask enough questions to leave the viewer with doubts about the conventional wisdom.

Among the questions raised were who had an interest in killing the boy; whether France2, which filmed the incident, released all the footage in its possession; whether it was possible to hit Dura from where the soldiers were positioned; where are the bullets taken from the boy's body; why did the Palestinians not investigate the incident; and who ordered the footage broadcast continuously on Palestinian television.

Daniel Shek, director of the Foreign Ministry's European Division, said the documentary is "very significant" because it leaves doubt.

"I have all along had a problem with the unbearable certainty of some who had no doubt who was responsible. I think doubt is healthy, and that even if you have a camera on the spot, you can not be sure you are seeing everything," he said.

Shek said he is "modest in his expectations" of whether this documentary will change the way people view Dura's death.

"Muhammad ad-Dura will remain part of the intifada's mythology, and it will not matter what kind of proof you bring to the contrary," he said.

"I hope this will impact a little on the self righteousness of some media organizations, and give journalists room for some self-questioning."

[besieged]

I never thought I would see the day when the GERMAN TV would be reporting such things, while the might of American Media with their billions of dollars spew out the same anti-Israeli slop.

[rebdov]

The question- did the French release ALL the footage-is very telling. Obviously the media, particularly the french and italians have a working agreement with the Muslims only to show Israeli 'atocities'.

[Taiwan Bocks]

It's truly a shame that CNN isn't identified in the axis of evil.

Here in Taiwan it's all we get in English news and it's shamelessly 24 hours a day pro-Islam, pro-Arafat, pro-Clinton, pro-abortion, anti-Israel, anti-GOP, anti-christian, AND MOSTLY NEWSLESS SPIN!

I urge everyone everywhere to disparage CNN's reputation to one or two people new every day.

CNN's horribleness should be taken personally! I'm as mad as heck and I'm not going to take it anymore!

[Fish out of Water]

index bump

[Honorary Serb]

They did it in Bosnia, they did it in Kosovo, they do it in the Holy Land. The same old muslim murders (of their own people), the same old muslim lies (pinning the murders on the "enemy"), the same old muslim cries of "victim" (before CNN's cameras, of course)!!!

[besieged]

So... here we are in the land of the free... free to consume or reject what we like...

And yet, CNN, ABC News, etc... prosper??? HOW CAN IT BE, in a country where competition is supposed to reward and breed excellence, we get this sad excuse for reporting?

And these overpaid, glib, lazy narrow minded porcines have the audacity to pretend to be fair, unbiased and "independent"???? Disgusting.

[exit82]

As I recall this incident, the son was behind the father, who had the best cover, instead of the father shielding the boy with his own body.

[IcommGen]

Are you a moron in real life or do you just pretend on FR?

The Palestinian terrorists constantly and INTENTIONALLY shoot from within civilian areas because:

a) it gives them cover

b) they know the Israelis will think twice before firing back

c) if a palestinian civilian were to die in the justified israeli return fire, then it would just be all the better coverage.

Additionaly, why do you find it suprising that Palestinian terrorists firing in total disregard for the safety of anyone, couldn't accidently hit a boy that was in between them and the israeli troops they OPENED FIRE ON.

I wouldn't say the Palestinians intentionally shot their own, just that they tried to kill Israelis with total disregard to anyones safety, including their own civilians.

Go back to the hole you crawled out from, the same one people like Saddam and Hitler hang out in.

[crazyj]

I used to watch cnn as a small child and think this was news. the more and more i grow up the more i realize i need to start watching something else. any recommendations? I am watching fox now. Very exciting personalities

[besieged]

Well... the only advice I can offer is... STOP WATCHING! One cannot expect quality news if he/she is not willing to dig it up him or herself!

I believe ALL the TV news shows are infected with the rabid need for ratings... and the survival mode they are all in demands "shortcuts" at best and "pandering" to the audience at worst. Noone is going to stay up at night to hear disturbing things (yes, as usual, the fault lies close to home), and the producers of the shows know this quite well. And so, the cycle prmulgates itself.

My suggestion is "READ!". But don't just read ONE paper and think you are informed. The newspapers too are under pressure for profit. And advertisers do not like unpopular or disturbing stories, so the editors "edit" them.

Read multiple newspapers, the internet makes it so easy these days. And then, use your brain, and coordinate the information to filter the stuff that makes no sense, even if it is written in a paper.

Have I ranted enough against the TV airheads??? Sorry.

[aruanan]

She said forensic evidence showed Dura had been shot either from in front or from above, the direction from which the Palestinian gunmen had been firing. For it to have been IDF fire that killed him, the shot would have had to enter from the side.

Like through the cistern and the kid's dad. Duh. Like FR wasn't saying exactly the same thing back then.

[besieged]

Well, I second and third your views. CNN is ridiculous, and ABC/NBC/CBS/FOX/etc are not far behind!

If only we could get all the couch potatoes to vote with their thumbs and kill the ratings of these pseudo-news promotion shows.

[besieged]

The same old muslim murders (of their own people), the same old muslim lies (pinning the murders on the "enemy"), the same old muslim cries of "victim" (before CNN's cameras, of course)!!! And the SAME OLD CNN, eating out of their hands like the dog that it is... how can they ever learn if they don't WANT to learn??? How can they change if they don't WANT to change??? Revolting.

[besieged]

As I recall, they use their children and wives as shields, not only in this incident, but ALL THE TIME!!! Those brave martyrs, those courageous fighters, wailing over their fallen relatives that they themselves had pushed into the line of fire!!!

Where is CNN in exposing that??? Of course, that would be digging TOO DEEP!!! (and it would be against the CNNazi ethic, and we would never hear from that kind of reporter again! News by attricion!)

[besieged]

Wow, you are aptly named!!! But perhaps you have been engaging in the self abusing activity a bit to excess??? Weren't you ever told if you do that too much, you'll go blind?

Well, I guess your mom was right, you are blind now. I am sorry for you. I hope the affliction is not permanent.

If you are ever able to tear yourself way from... well, from yourself, perhaps you can open your eyes and read a bit, and not just sit in front of the TV, lapping up their every lie. Good luck, Son.

[besieged]

The mob will only hear what it wants to hear... and unfortunately, the mob today, as it has through the centuries wanted to hear that the Jews are bad... they needed to justify their inner hatred... and so, facts??? what facts??? What do you mean that to be shot by the Israelis, the bullet would have had to make a 180 degree turn in mid-air?

Sadly, it reminds me the scene in Monty Python's "Holy Grail" film where they are trying the witch, and the mob wants a killing, and no matter that every evidence points shows the woman to be just a woman, the mob continually brays "Burn her!!!".