What it’s about
Al Jazeera Arabic is under scrutiny for allegedly sharing a fabricated poll suggesting that nearly half of Israelis support sexual assaults on Palestinian prisoners. The contentious claim has seen significant backlash, particularly from social media users and Israeli supporters who have called out the inaccuracy and harmful nature of the poll. This incident follows US Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib sharing the same false poll on her social media account.
Why it matters
The spread of such misinformation can have severe implications, including inflaming tensions and furthering harmful stereotypes. Al Jazeera, a major media outlet, is accused of irresponsible journalism, causing significant concern among Israeli advocates and supporters. Correcting the record is vital to maintain factual accuracy and promote clear-headed discourse on sensitive issues between Israelis and Palestinians.
Details
A social media uproar ensued when a screenshot of the alleged fake poll was shared by communications expert and analyst Eitan Fischberger, a former IDF staff sergeant. His post accused Al Jazeera and its Qatari ownership of being hostile toward Israel.
Breaking: Al Jazeera just posted the fabricated poll that Rashida Tlaib promoted yesterday. Al Jazeera — and its Qatari overlords — are the enemies. — Eitan Fischberger (@EFischberger) August 8, 2024
Fischberger’s comments pointed directly to US Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, who shared this false poll on her X (formerly Twitter) account, amplifying the misinformation further.
Reactions
Pro-Taiwan activist Drew Pavlou condemned Al Jazeera’s post, calling it a “blood libel” intended to smear Israelis. The term underscores the malicious and false accusations aimed at Israelis.
Al Jazeera Arabic posting a completely fake poll to smear all Israelis as rapists. Blood libel. — Drew Pavlou (@DrewPavlou) August 9, 2024
Former Jerusalem Post editor-in-chief Avi Mayer also criticized Al Jazeera for spreading what he described as an “absolute lie” to its 22.7 million followers. Though Al Jazeera removed the post, the false information continued to circulate on anti-Israel accounts.
I regret sharing the false poll without verification. It was a mistake and not in line with the video’s disturbing content that [suggested] gang rape of a Palestinian detainee.” — Noura Erakat, Rutgers University Professor
Bottom Line
The controversy underscores a dire need for media accountability and factual dissemination, particularly on platforms with broad international influence. Missteps, intentional or otherwise, that spread harmful misinformation can exacerbate tensions and lead to mistrust and conflict on both sides of the Israel-Palestine divide.
This story was first published on jpost.com.