An especially nasty propagandist given a platform this morning (Dec. 14, 2014)

14 December 2014 at 11:32 am

Israel is “investing in new fences” to “insulate itself against the chaos”;
An especially nasty propagandist given a platform this morning
Radio NZ National, Sunday 14 December 2014

I’ve just heard one of the most cynical, outrageous liars to ever besmirch the airwaves in this country. Wallace Chapman interviewed—or more accurately, ceded the airwaves to—oneJonathon Spyer, who is billed on the Radio NZ website as a “journalist and analyst”…..

“Journalist and analyst Dr Jonathon Spyer is a former official of the Israel Government’s press office and advised Cabinet ministers on international affairs. His journalism is published in major outlets like the Jerusalem Post, The Guardian and the Middle East Review of International Affairs. He holds a PHD in International Relations from the London School of Economics and currently he is a senior research fellow at the Center for Global Research in International Affairs in Israel. He’s been in New Zealand this week, speaking at the Institute of International Affairs about Israel, and rising violence in the Middle East.”
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/sunday

Early in the interview, Spyer spoke about his trips to Syria with the “Free Syrian Army”—he says they’re the good guys, notwithstanding the fact that they cut out and eat human hearts on camera—-and expressed how distressed he was “to see one of the greatest cities in the Middle East reduced to rubble…. The Syrian war is the biggest catastrophe to hit the Levant in more than a decade.”

After hearing his praise for the brave terrorists in Syria, it came as no surprise to hear him speaking so disparagingly of Iran, which according to him “does nothing for the greater good.” In contrast, of course, to Israel, which “seeks to INSULATE itself against the chaos in the region. So it’s investing in new fences and drones…. It’s trying to insulate itself against that chaos. Israel does not want to get drawn into this quagmire.”

Wallace Chapman probably tells himself he tried to hold his guest to account by daring to mention the blockade of Gaza and the Occupation of the West Bank. But he was weak and cautious throughout, and kept calling it a “brutal conflict”, as if there was some kind of parity between the two sides.

Spyer was permitted to unload, uninterrupted, the most extreme, contentious statements…

JONATHON SPYER: Unfortunately as long as Hamas remains in control of Gaza, and as we know that organization is committed to Israel’s demise.…

WALLACE CHAPMAN: Haven’t they recanted from that?

JONATHON SPYER: Their statements still reflect not only an anti-Israel but anti-Jewish view of the world.

WALLACE CHAPMAN: There was that question of proportionality, what some say is collective punishment.

JONATHON SPYER: [concerned tone] Mmmmm, mmmm.

WALLACE CHAPMAN: Some Israeli politicians seemed to think it was OKAY.

JONATHON SPYER: Yeah, I don’t think anyone thinks it’s okay. ….

et cetera, et cetera, ad nauseam….

The host was obviously as repulsed by this fellow as I or anybody else was. It’s a real pity that he did not seem prepared to question him rigorously and challenge the lies he told. I sent the obviously appalled, but fatally diffident, Wallace Chapman the following e-mail….

Why did you bill Jonathon Spyer as a “journalist and analyst”?

Dear Wallace,

I am offended by the platform you gave to the notorious Israeli apologist Jonathon Spyer. He recycled the most callous, cynical lies during the interview. Your website bills him as a “journalist and analyst”; in fact he is the very opposite.

Perhaps the most blackly comic moment came when Spyer, an apologist for the destruction of Gaza, expressed how distressed he was “to see one of the greatest cities in the Middle East reduced to rubble.” He was, hypocritically, talking about Aleppo.

He then went on to describe the Syrian conflict as “the biggest catastrophe to hit the Levant in more than a decade”. Only a dedicated Israeli apologist could say that.

Yours sincerely,
Morrissey Breen
Northcote Point

• Skinny7.1

  14 December 2014 at 2:58 pm

  I found Wallace’s interview far too on the fence, typical of his PC crap. The Israel’s get away with war crimes, meanwhile the Arabs fight back against the latest weaponry with basically sticks & stones. Disgraceful goings on.
  • phillip ure7.1.1

    14 December 2014 at 3:48 pm

    my w.t.f! moment with chapman came when i found out..

    ..that when a teenager..he was a fan of kenny g.

    ..and other assorted soft-rock atrocities..

    ..i have been unable to take him seriously since then..

    ..and to me..with his ongoing ‘affability’..no matter what..

    .he seems to be a mora mini-me..
    • Skinny7.1.1.1

      14 December 2014 at 5:11 pm

      Oh dear Kenny G lol. Don’t rate him at all now Phil.
      • phillip ure7.1.1.1.1

        14 December 2014 at 5:24 pm

        yeah..i don’t see how you can come back from…kenny g…

        ..that’s just a taste-crime too far..

        ..beyond any chances of redemption..
    • greywarshark7.1.1.2

      14 December 2014 at 8:47 pm

      @ phillip ure
      Don’t mix Wallace with Jim Mora. Wallace has real integrity and he deserves better than your facile put-down. If you find fault tell him rather than giving him the tall poppy treatment here.
      • phillip ure7.1.1.2.1

        15 December 2014 at 6:06 am

        r u also a fan of kenny g..there..greyshark..?
        • greywarshark7.1.1.2.1.1

          15 December 2014 at 1:58 pm

          phillip u
          I bow to your greater knowledge of music. Know nothing of Kenny G. I live in The Moment I think. And this one passed me by. I still like Acker Bilk, and I know he’s old hat.
          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=447yaU_4DF8

          I don’t like hearing our little outgrowth of intelligent broadcasting run down.
          Some criticism to be passed on to benefit them but not rubbishing. Nurture what we have. Get a change and it is possible it would be a downward one.
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