Not "anti-Zionist" or "leftist" - i24 Israel is "real"

i24 is honest reporting that attempts an even-handed approach to news, without the thoughtless rhetoric so comfortable to American Jews without direct connections to our much-conflicted people. Its coverage during the recent conflict was very even-handed, showing both the distress of the people of Gaza and those in Israel living under constant rocket attack. Those who dont like its coverage dont appreciate the perspective of younger Israelis whove traveled and worked in news operations abroad, and are struggling to bring a more modern view of Israel to the world.

It covers in depth - even during periods of conflict - the "good news" of Israel, ranging from orchestras and artists, medical advances, and business successes like the recent MobilEye IPO. It shows how Israel treats immigrants and non-Jewish citizens, gay movements, news of Christian events, new restaurants, fashion trends in Israel - and gives voice to a range of opinions. It even has a vocal apologist for Russia who can recite the Kremlin line on Ukraine, sanctions following the shootdown of MH017 etc. As such, it is vastly better than Wolf Blitzer and the CNN crew, or Fox News - both as much pariahs to truth in Israel as in the USA.

I believe i24 has been especially respectful to the IDF and the tough challenges faced by its soldiers, including its own version of "foreign fighters" whove been motivated to risk their lives for the defense of Israel. Its sensitive to the fact that many of its viewers are multilingual and would detect immediately any difference between news in English, French or Arabic. I congratulate Tal Shalev and others who often struggle to tell the truth not the fiction of any faction. For example, the flap over settlement plans for East Jerusalem - bandied in Western media as "news" in Western and Arab media, just as Netanyahu was entering talks with Obama - reporter Shalev correctly pointed out the construction was not news but in fact was on the books for more than a year - and that, absent a credible, unified partner from the Palestinians, has no reason NOT to proceed.

Those who want "real" news on Israel should tune in i24 - brought to my attention first by my Israeli family. Those who want bluster can always tune in Fox News for a fictionalized view of our wonderful homeland.

Stoneham Mel about i24NEWS