Just as Israel has bombed a hospital and a UN compound in Gaza, Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni came to Washington, in the dying days of the Bush administration, to sign a new US-Israel agreement barring Hamas from rearming. Meeting with journalists, she had the right to say whatever she wanted about Israel's "war on terror", while paying lip service to civilian Palestinian victims. Journalists for their part were systematically prevented from asking legitimate questions. Pepe Escobar argues that when it comes to media supremacy, at least inside the US, Israel will accept nothing but the upper hand.
Journalists' microphones turned off when Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni challenged in Washington.
Shortly after signing “anti-smuggling agreement” with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Israel’s foreign minister Tsibi Livni came under journalists fire some accusing her of terrorism.
One of the journalists called Livni a "terrorist" and complained that Israel was preventing reporters from covering the war in Gaza. The event's host asked the man to settle for one question, but the latter cried out, "You let her speak here and don't let us ask questions. Since when are terrorists accommodated here?"
"What, are you like Zimbabwe?" another woman told the foreign minister.
The journalists took advantage of the opportunity and the stage to read out sections from human rights organizations' reports on Israel's conduct during Operation Cast Lead.
Another journalist accused Israel of murdering innocent civilians.
Livni hardly managed to keep cool but lost her peace of mind, when she was asked by an al-Jazeera reporter if her visit to Washington was part of her election campaign.
"Nonsense," Livni replied, adding "we work together. Defense Minister Barak and I are doing the job. I work according to my commitments as the foreign minister. We work together with the prime minister to defend Israel's citizens."
While she was speaking inside, a protest was being held outside the building by an anti-war group calling themselves "Code Pink", who repeatedly chanted "there is a war criminal in this building.
One of the journalists called Livni a "terrorist" and complained that Israel was preventing reporters from covering the war in Gaza. The event's host asked the man to settle for one question, but the latter cried out, "You let her speak here and don't let us ask questions. Since when are terrorists accommodated here?"
"What, are you like Zimbabwe?" another woman told the foreign minister.
The journalists took advantage of the opportunity and the stage to read out sections from human rights organizations' reports on Israel's conduct during Operation Cast Lead.
Another journalist accused Israel of murdering innocent civilians.
Livni hardly managed to keep cool but lost her peace of mind, when she was asked by an al-Jazeera reporter if her visit to Washington was part of her election campaign.
"Nonsense," Livni replied, adding "we work together. Defense Minister Barak and I are doing the job. I work according to my commitments as the foreign minister. We work together with the prime minister to defend Israel's citizens."
While she was speaking inside, a protest was being held outside the building by an anti-war group calling themselves "Code Pink", who repeatedly chanted "there is a war criminal in this building.
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