In an August 1st interview with Al Jazeera, Israeli Prime Minister’s Office Arabic spokesman Ofir Gendelman was grilled by Lebanese journalist Ghada Owais. In addition to her inference that Israel will stand trial at the International Criminal Court like the Nazis at Nurmemberg, Owais told Gendelman that Israel should be ashamed to call itself a moral country.
The interview took place in the height of Israel’s current Operation Protective Edge against Hamas aimed at halting Gaza rocket fire.
Owais further added that Hamas chief Khaled Mashaal’s theoretical defense at the ICC will include the fact that Israel tried to assassinate him and drive him out of Israel to make room for Jews of European descent.
Gendelman begins the interview by telling Owais that Israel agreed to seven humanitarian ceasefire initiatives, including the most recent one on Monday that was initiated by the UN and US.
“Hamas gave assurances to US Secretary of State John Kerry and to UN Secretary Ban Ki Moon through the mediation of Qatar that it would honor this ceasefire,” said Gendelman. “But Hamas immediately violated the ceasefire just as it violated and rejected all the previous ones.”
In a facetious tone, the anchor responded, “So Hamas is the terrorist here, and it is Hamas that violated the ceasefires, but who killed over 1,600 civilians, including hundreds of children, in Gaza? Was it Hamas that killed them? It was you.”
Gendelman disputed the number of civilian casualties cited by Owais, which later in the interview she cites as 1,700, adding another 100 civilian deaths to the toll. “I cannot – indeed, nobody can – confirm the figures of civilian casualties because Hamas distributes these figures as propaganda,” said Gendelman.
Owais asked, “Aren’t you and Netanyahu ashamed to call Israel a moral country?”
Gendelman responded, “It was Hamas that killed them. It was Hamas that violated all of the ceasefires which could have made the lives of the civilians easier.
“And because we never, ever target civilians, Hamas bears full responsibility for the loss of civilian lives in the Gaza Strip.”
Owais quoted Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon who said that Israel acted responsibly and with consideration. “I wonder when he [Ya’alon] stands trial at the ICC, like the Nazis in Nuremberg, he will tell the judge that the operation was conducted with ‘responsibility and consideration’ when he is asked about the killing of 1700 civilians in Gaza.”
Gendelman called her question “laughable,” telling her it is Khaled Mashaal and the rest of the terrorists who should stand trial at the ICC for killing hundreds and thousands of Palestinians.
Owais then retorted by asking Gendelman if he is referring to the same Mashaal that Israel tried to assassinate the Mashaal “whose family [Israel] has driven out.” She goes on to claim that these two facts would be part of Mashaal’s defense if he ever stood trial at the ICC.
“He will say that he was exiled because of the Jews you received from Russia, the Ukraine, and Poland,” said Owais.
When Gendelman asked Owais if she was speaking as a journalist or as a Hamas spokesperson, she responded, “Some journalists say worse things, I am being very fair towards you.”
She went on to claim that she is a very “fair and balanced journalist.”
Gendelman disputes her claim saying, “No journalist would speak like this.”
{Matzav.com Israel}
Sounds like a weak response.
I wouldn’t exactly say Gendleman has won this argument. He should have done much better with all the facts. I was hoping to see him really embarrass her to silence.
> “Sounds like a weak response.”
>> I agree wholeheartedly. Israel is still pitifully inept when it comes to hasbara (public relations). Naftali Bennett and Danny Dannon did okay, but there should be a cadre of Israelis taking PR classes taught by such experts as Ben Brafman and Alan Dershowitz. These two, both experienced trial lawyers, are the BEST at this sort of thing!
We have the smartest people per capita…my son has a masters in communication and for some reason Israel – Jews have the absolute worst PR in the history of media…
We should at least allow the disgusting (toeles, lol) mel brooks and woody allen put a humorous spin on our suffering versus allowing these guys to speak for us, as Reb Yid says…weak response and that’s the understatement of the past 2000 years
This is the Al Jazeera network that wants to establish itself as a reputable cable news network! Which Hillary says she enjoys watching???