AG Report 10.24.2024
Media Trust Continues Decline
The lack of self-reflection makes it clear that these trends won’t change any time soon.
The Attempt to Spin the Cowardice of Yahya Sinwar
The death of Yahya Sinwar last week has highlighted the disconnect between the anti-Israel narrative and reality. It’s also shown how many people only view Palestinian victims as useful tools who justify their support for terrorism and hatred of Jews.
Sinwar, who initiated the current conflict knowing it would lead to immense suffering in Gaza, was notorious for his oppressive rule and murdering Palestinians who opposed Hamas. Beyond his role in the deaths of innocent Israelis, he significantly harmed his own people. Despite this, many in the anti-Israel movement depicted this terrorist leader as a heroic figure over the last week, showcasing a stark inversion of reality in the conflict’s discourse.
Sinwar hid in tunnels for over a year after the Oct. 7 attacks, using hostages as human shields while contributing to the deaths of women and children. There’s credible evidence that he ordered the execution of six hostages in August when IDF forces approached. His death near Rafah’s border, with cash and forged documents in hand, indicates his plans to escape Gaza. Yet, online commentary from anti-Israel activists and the media outlets who parrot them portrayed his final act — throwing a stick at an IDF drone — as a brave last stand.
This narrative becomes even more absurd when you consider that many also attempted to contrast Sinwar with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. They tried to portray Netanyahu as cowardly, despite his well-documented military background and unequivocal credentials as a military hero.
Netanyahu served in an elite IDF unit, engaging in numerous high-stakes operations. His most notable act of valor occurred during the rescue of Sabena Flight 571, where he was wounded in the shoulder. In this operation, he was part of a 16-man commando team disguised as aircraft technicians. They successfully neutralized the Black September terrorists, securing the safety of 90 passengers.
Interestingly, Netanyahu’s brother, Yonatan, led the same unit four years later in the renowned Entebbe raid. Leading 100 Israeli commandos, Yonatan orchestrated the rescue of 102 hostages from a hijacked plane in Uganda, eliminating all seven hijackers and 45 Ugandan soldiers. His death during the operation cemented his status as a national hero, as the mission is celebrated as one of the most daring rescues in history. This event inspired elements of the Chuck Norris film “The Delta Force.” The operation so infuriated Ugandan dictator Idi Amin, that he retaliated by ordering the murder of the remaining hostage, 74-year-old Dora Bloch, and hundreds of Kenyans in Uganda.
These instances underscore a recurring theme: The provocations by terrorists and adversaries against Israel, which almost always result in their defeat, often lead to them being lionized for merely initiating conflict. Meanwhile, Israel’s defensive actions are consistently vilified.
60 Minutes Controversy