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'''If Americans Knew''' is a non-profit |
'''If Americans Knew''' is a non-profit media watchdog organization that focuses on the [[Israeli-Palestinian conflict]], [[United States]] foreign policy regarding the [[Middle East]], and media coverage of these issues. The group is highly critical of U.S. support, especially U.S. financial support, for Israel. In particular, it works to provide information not being reported in the US media. |
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If Americans Knew was founded by Alison Weir, an American freelance journalist who traveled throughout the [[West Bank]] and [[Gaza Strip]] in February and March of 2001. |
If Americans Knew was founded by Alison Weir, an American freelance journalist who traveled throughout the [[West Bank]] and [[Gaza Strip]] in February and March of 2001. |
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The organization produces informational materials, assists in organizing public forums, and provided speakers and written materials to hundreds of venues across the United States, among them [[Harvard Law School]], [[Stanford University]], [[Columbia University]], the [[Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy]], the [[University of California, Berkeley]], [[Washington State University]], [[Northwestern University]], The Center for Policy Analysis on Palestine, the [[National Press Club]], the [[Naval Postgraduate School]], and other university campuses, churches, libraries, and civic organizations. Its website carries compilations of articles critical of Israel from a wide variety of sources. |
The organization produces informational materials, assists in organizing public forums, and provided speakers and written materials to hundreds of venues across the United States, among them [[Harvard Law School]], [[Stanford University]], [[Columbia University]], the [[Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy]], the [[University of California, Berkeley]], [[Washington State University]], [[Northwestern University]], The Center for Policy Analysis on Palestine, the [[National Press Club]], the [[Naval Postgraduate School]], and other university campuses, churches, libraries, and civic organizations. Its website carries compilations of articles critical of Israel from a wide variety of sources. |
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Among other activities, it has compiled |
Among other activities, it has compiled [http://www.ifamericansknew.org/media/index.html/ seven analyses of media coverage]: one of the ''[[New York Times]]'', one of TV news networks [[NBC]], [[CBS]], and [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]], one of the ''[[San Francisco Chronicle]]'', two of the ''[[San Jose Mercury News]]'', one of the ''[[New London Day]]'', and one of the [[Associated Press]]. One of the studies has been independently corroborated by a [http://www.gradethenews.org/pages/middleeast.htm / study] done at Stanford University. Also, [http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=1086/ studies] by other media monitoring organizations such as Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting have found similar results, in which Israeli deaths are reported at far higher rates than Palestinian deaths. |
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In addition, If Americans Knew has begun producing [http://www.ifamericansknew.org/videos/ short videos] on this issue. |
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== Casualties Reporting and Criticism == |
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{{NPOV}} {{disputed}} |
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For its media studies and website documents, If Americans Knew draws on casualty statistics compiled by [[B'Tselem]], the [[Palestinian Red Crescent]], and the [[Israel Defense Forces|IDF]]. While some pro-Israel individuals have criticized If Americans Knew for not citing the actual causes of deaths in the conflict, this criticism is actually incorrect. When one clicks on a statistic on their statistics page, this takes the reader to [http://www.ifamericansknew.org/stats/deaths.html/ additional information about deaths]. In addition, there are numerous articles on the website that discuss deaths in the conflict in great detail, for example articles about a [http://ifamericansknew.org/media/mother.html / mother killed in the West Bank] and another [http://ifamericansknew.org/media/anothermother.html / mother killed in Gaza]. |
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As If Americans Knew has become an increasingly popular website for those wishing to learn the facts on Israel-Palestine, numerous pro-Israel organizations and individuals have attempted to spread misinformation about it -- even on Wikipedia. For example, some pro-Israel individuals accuse the organization of claiming that roads in the West Bank are "Jewish-only," but once again this accusation is incorrect. While it is true that many roads in the West Bank are largely, but not entirely, Jewish-only, it is the settlements that If Americans Knew describes as Jewish-only, which is an accurate description. Israeli citizens who are not Jewish are prohibited from living in these settlements, while Jews from Israel and other nations are welcomed -- and, in fact, often receive subsidized homes. |
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Similarly, Israel-partisans allege that the list of Palestinian casualties on the If Americans Knew webpage includes Palestinians killed by Palestinians, as well as suicide bombers, but these claims are false and have been refuted frequently. Nevertheless, some people on Wikipedia continue to insert this fabrication, and some of the pro-Israel websites listed below also contain this falacious statement. The deaths tabulated for both populations include only those killed by the other side. |
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==Criticism == |
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For its media studies and website documents, If Americans Knew draws on casualty statistics compiled by [[B'Tselem]], the [[Palestinian Red Crescent]], and the [[Israel Defense Forces|IDF]]. They have been heavily criticized for not citing the actual causes of deaths in the conflict. Some of their documents have been accused of being misleading. For exaple, IAK has made statements regarding "Jewish-only" roads in the West Bank, when, in actuality, such roads are for Israeli citizens (many of whom are not Jewish) and permitted foreign citizens, and were created for safety reasons. In addition, the list of Palestinian casualties includes Palestinians killed by Palestinians, as well as suicide bombers, none of which is specified. |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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*[http://www.ifamericansknew.org/ If Americans Knew website] |
*[http://www.ifamericansknew.org/ If Americans Knew website] |
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*[http://www.g21.net/gb29.html/ Global Beat, The World's Magazine] |
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*[http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/Printable.asp?ID=16242 Scholars for Terror] - [[FrontPageMag.com]] article critical of the organization. |
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*[http://www.media-alliance.org/article.php?story=20040218175043849/ Media Alliance] |
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*[http://www.themiddleeastnow.com/ifamericansknew IfAmericansKnew.org: Site Analysis] (TheMiddleEastNow.com). Accessed August 12, 2006. |
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*[http://www.camera.org/index.asp?x_context=8&x_nameinnews=161&x_article=896 CAMERA: Study of ''New York Times'' coverage severely flawed] by Gilead Ini. May 13, 2005. Accessed August 12, 2006. |
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[[Category:Non-profit organizations]] |
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[[Category:Non-profit organizations based in the United States]] |
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[[Category:Non-governmental_organizations_involved_in_the_Israeli-Palestinian_conflict]] |
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[[Category:Criticism of journalism]] |
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[[Category:American media]] |
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[[Category:United States-Middle Eastern relations]] |
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[[Category:Non-profit organizations based in the United States]] |
[[Category:Non-profit organizations based in the United States]] |
Revision as of 05:52, 9 January 2007
If Americans Knew is a non-profit media watchdog organization that focuses on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, United States foreign policy regarding the Middle East, and media coverage of these issues. The group is highly critical of U.S. support, especially U.S. financial support, for Israel. In particular, it works to provide information not being reported in the US media.
If Americans Knew was founded by Alison Weir, an American freelance journalist who traveled throughout the West Bank and Gaza Strip in February and March of 2001.
The organization produces informational materials, assists in organizing public forums, and provided speakers and written materials to hundreds of venues across the United States, among them Harvard Law School, Stanford University, Columbia University, the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, the University of California, Berkeley, Washington State University, Northwestern University, The Center for Policy Analysis on Palestine, the National Press Club, the Naval Postgraduate School, and other university campuses, churches, libraries, and civic organizations. Its website carries compilations of articles critical of Israel from a wide variety of sources.
Among other activities, it has compiled seven analyses of media coverage: one of the New York Times, one of TV news networks NBC, CBS, and ABC, one of the San Francisco Chronicle, two of the San Jose Mercury News, one of the New London Day, and one of the Associated Press. One of the studies has been independently corroborated by a / study done at Stanford University. Also, studies by other media monitoring organizations such as Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting have found similar results, in which Israeli deaths are reported at far higher rates than Palestinian deaths.
In addition, If Americans Knew has begun producing short videos on this issue.
Casualties Reporting and Criticism
For its media studies and website documents, If Americans Knew draws on casualty statistics compiled by B'Tselem, the Palestinian Red Crescent, and the IDF. While some pro-Israel individuals have criticized If Americans Knew for not citing the actual causes of deaths in the conflict, this criticism is actually incorrect. When one clicks on a statistic on their statistics page, this takes the reader to additional information about deaths. In addition, there are numerous articles on the website that discuss deaths in the conflict in great detail, for example articles about a / mother killed in the West Bank and another / mother killed in Gaza.
As If Americans Knew has become an increasingly popular website for those wishing to learn the facts on Israel-Palestine, numerous pro-Israel organizations and individuals have attempted to spread misinformation about it -- even on Wikipedia. For example, some pro-Israel individuals accuse the organization of claiming that roads in the West Bank are "Jewish-only," but once again this accusation is incorrect. While it is true that many roads in the West Bank are largely, but not entirely, Jewish-only, it is the settlements that If Americans Knew describes as Jewish-only, which is an accurate description. Israeli citizens who are not Jewish are prohibited from living in these settlements, while Jews from Israel and other nations are welcomed -- and, in fact, often receive subsidized homes.
Similarly, Israel-partisans allege that the list of Palestinian casualties on the If Americans Knew webpage includes Palestinians killed by Palestinians, as well as suicide bombers, but these claims are false and have been refuted frequently. Nevertheless, some people on Wikipedia continue to insert this fabrication, and some of the pro-Israel websites listed below also contain this falacious statement. The deaths tabulated for both populations include only those killed by the other side.