3. Interviews

The following are the 10 worst practices that most talk show hosts are guilty of when interviewing Palestinian or pro-Palestinian spokespersons:

• Being rude to pro-Palestinian interviewees, but always remaining respectful when speaking to the pro-Israelis: often, Palestinians are cutt off in mid-sentence, lectured, often voices are raised against them in anger or irritation – even if the speaker is a respected Palestinian official (e.g., Paula Zahn of CNN cutting off Hanan Ashrawi or raising her voice in anger against Edward Said).[1]
• Always asking pro-Palestinians challenging questions, but rarely doing the same for the pro-Israelis: a pro-Palestinian may be asked: why did the Palestinians spurn the Barak offer?; but a pro-Israeli is never asked: why should the Palestinians accept a state that is made up of four disconnected areas?
• Never asking the Israelis some very basic questions: why did Israel double the size of settlements in the Occupied territories between 1993 and 200 if it really wanted peace?, why won't Israel accept an international observation force?, how can Sharon call on Arafat to stop terrorism and yet at the same time destroy the very instruments that he needs to fight it?
• Often bringing in many more pro-Israeli voices than pro-Palestinian voices: and often starting interviews with pro-Palestinians and giving the pro-Israelis the last word.
• Rarely interviewing a non-Palestinian/non-Arab supporter of the Palestinian cause: even though very qualified scholars and activists do exist.
• Rarely bringing pro-Palestinian Israelis: while giving ample time to Arab/Muslim pro-Israel establishment apologists such as Joseph Farah and Fouad Ajami.
• Non-disclosure: bringing in notorious pro-Israelis and presenting them as objective analysts – e.g., Daniel Pipes, Steve Emerson, Dennis Ross.[2]
• Blatantly loading questions: as in, why is Arafat letting Hamas engage in terror? or, will Sharon abandon his policy of restraint?
• Interviewing Americans: rarely seeking a Palestinian-American living in the Occupied Territories for interviews and reactions, while often seeking out Israeli-Americans living in Israel.
• Focus on suffering: rarely, if ever, having the interview be focused on Palestinian suffering and what the Israelis need to do to stop it, but often having the interview be about the terror Israelis are suffering and what the Palestinians need to do about it.