There was an important shift in recent days in the content and tone of broadcasts, best signified by what was left out as by what was left in.

The lead-up to the Sharm al-Sheikh summit was marked by a sharp decline in the use of direct calls for violence on the part of Palestinian Arabs. This trend seemed to shift once again on the morning of October 17.

The pre-summit period also witnessed less use of inflammatory poetry and the use of martial music and fiery rhetoric by reporters and studio announcers-elements which characterized the period between Oct 1-Oct. 11 (e.g. comments by Palestinian minister Hassan Asfour: “We regard settlers as terrorists and as targets for our bullets).

However, even during this more recent period there was also no clear message-whether in the name of Yasser Arafat himself or in the name of “al qiyadah-al-filastiniyya” (the Palestinian leadership) to avoid violence or even to “remain calm.” Indeed, there were still many secondary-level uses of incitement such as rapid-fire, on-the-scene reports from battle zones of Intifadat al-Aqsa (the al Al-Aqsa Intifada). This is especially true of Hebron, Nablus and Bethlehem where breathless reports of injuries sustained by citizens were juxtaposed to calls to listeners come out and help and defend Palestinian rights.

The change in tone and content does not appear to have any connection to the Israeli helicopter gunship attack on Palestinian transmitters after which VOP broadcasts moved from 657medium wave (AM) to 103.4 FM. Rather, the change seems to be connected with a political decision by the Palestinian Authority based on the perception that the fiery rhetoric and some of the fiery actions (such as the burning of the Tomb of Joseph in Nablus) were “irresponsible” (to use VOP’s own term) or counter-productive.

Moreover, there has been no official condemnation or even public pronouncement of disapproval of any single act or sets of actions carried out by Palestinian forces or civilians. These include the attacks on Israeli soldiers by Palestinian police who were members of the same joint Palestinian-Israeli patrol units in Gaza, the mob killings in Ramallah or the shootings into Israeli settlements and neighborhoods.

BACKGROUND

The Voice of Palestine has for more than five years been the official voice of the Palestinian Authority, particularly its leader, Yasser Arafat. It has broadcast almost exclusively in Arabic from its headquarters in Ramallah, but in the last two weeks, VOP has added several daily news bulletins in Hebrew, English and French to its daily menu.

VOP’s message has almost always been more modulated, sophisticated and moderate than PA television or newspaper outlets.

For purposes of this survey, news broadcasts have been monitored at peak listening hours and news round-up shows (7AM,8AM, 12-Noon, 2PM, 4PM and 7 or 9 PM).

ELEMENTS OF REPORTING

Israeli Arabs

VOP has continued its stepped up attention to “Arabs within the Green Line,” highlighting Israeli Arab members of Knesset (MK’s) far beyond the level employed before the current crisis. Similarly, Israeli Arab casualties have been given equal billing with Palestinian casualties. The term “Israel” is almost never used in connection to Arab citizens of Israel, and it is apparent that the PA is consciously using its radio to woo and influence this community.

Here are some concrete examples:

Oct 5-Several news reports referred to Israeli police operating against riots in Nazareth and Um al-Fahem as “junuud al-ihtilal” (occupation soldiers. This was the first referral to Israeli security forces operating inside Israel (the Green Line) as “junuud al-ihtilal”

Oct 6-In clashes between Jews and Arabs,VOP used, for the first time, the term “mustawtaneen” (settlers or colonists) to refer toJewish citizens of Israel.

The United States

In recent days, VOP has been pushing the PA position that the US is tilting strongly in Israel’s favor, particularly on security positions as well as Israel refusal to accept an international inquiry into the recent violence..

Ceasefire

VOP reported (7AM, Oct. 17) that PA General Abdel-Raziq al-Mujaida said the Israeli taking over of international border checkpoints in Rafah was the end of the ceasefire agreement reached several days earlier because of “criminal Israeli terrorism.”

Interviewee Dr. Manuel Hassasian (7:13 AM): “The summit is one thing and the blessed intifada is another thing. The blessed intifada has is part of a historical process and it has pushed forward the Palestinian cause”

Rhetorical Elements

The tough and even direct incitement showed signs of beginning to return on October 17 as the results (or lack thereof, according toVOP’smorning reports) of the Sharm al-Sheikh summit became clearer.

A. Muhammad Dahalan, head of PA security in Gaza, during 7AM interview show: “The intifada will continue. We will not arrest members of Hamas and we will not take away their arms.”

B. 9:55 AM October 17, Senior commentator Youssef al-Kazaz (during lead-up to a telephone call-in show with listeners):

“We will defend ourselves. We will defend our land. We will defend our history. We will defend our holy places.”
(Note: the call to “defend holy sites” and “come out and defend al-Aqsa” was used on VOP broadcasts on September 27 and September 28 in the prelude to the visit of Ariel Sharon to the Temple Mount/Haram al-Sharif areas.)

Muhammad Jabber (caller, speaking to al-Kazaz): “The blood of the Palestinians will continue to flow. Onward to Jihad.”

Kazaz: “Thank you Muhammad, and blessings on you and on all Palestinian homes.”

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