Media union ‘ignores truth’ on Israel-Hamas war

Having ‘Press’ on one’s vest, or an additional role with a Hamas propaganda department doesn’t turn a terrorist into a journalist, says the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council’s boss.

Presenter Antoinette Lattouf took legal action against the ABC over her dismissal. Picture: Instagram

Jewish leaders have expressed disbelief that Australia’s largest media union expressed solidarity with “Palestinian media workers” and honoured their sacrifice with a minute’s silence at a recent meeting, but made no mention of any Israeli civilians or journalists who have been killed since October 7.

Last week, the Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance posted a “resolution” on social media platform X that read: “We remember and honour all media workers killed by Israel in Gaza and express solidarity with journalists in Gaza who are risking their lives every day. These journalists are the eyes of the world, bearing witness.”

The preamble to the resolution specifically honoured “Palestinian media workers”, and omitted any mention of Israeli civilians or journalists who had died in the conflict.

The resolution’s introduction, posted online, said: “Members of the MEAA Federal Council stood for a minute’s silence out of respect for 127 Palestinian media workers who have been killed in Gaza since October 7.”

Colin Rubenstein, executive director of the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council, said the MEAA’s stance on the war was “concerning”.

“This one-sided resolution reflects the lack of objectivity that has sadly characterised too much reporting in the Hamas initiated war in Gaza,” he said.

“Honouring authentic victims and the role of genuine journalists in this war is appropriate, but there is absolutely no evidence the IDF has ever deliberately targeted non-combatants, while Israel has provided convincing evidence demonstrating that many of the so-called ‘journalists’ killed have in fact been fighters for Hamas, or individuals who colluded with Hamas’ military activities.

“Simply putting ‘Press’ on one’s vest, or having an additional role with a Hamas propaganda department, doesn’t turn a terrorist into a journalist.

“Furthermore, the MEAA resolution also ignores the plight of journalists attacked and threatened by Hamas for attempting to tell the truth, or who have become victims, like so many Gazan civilians, of Hamas’s callous human shield tactics and ideology of human sacrifice. It is both concerning and sad that the MEAA could not honour and remember the innocent victims of this conflict – which should include both Israelis and Palestinians – in a way that is more nuanced and appropriate.”

A post on X by the MEAA expressing solidarity with media workers killed by Israel in Gaza.

Dr Rubenstein’s remarks were echoed by the president of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies, David Ossip.

“While the death of any innocent civilian is an unmitigated tragedy worthy of mourning, the MEAA’s motion is incredibly disappointing,” he said.

“It fails to honour any Israeli civilian – including journalists – murdered by Hamas and fails to mention the many independent Palestinian journalists who have likewise been eliminated by Hamas.

“It also tendentiously fails to note that many journalists in Gaza have abused their press status to collaborate with, or participate in, Hamas’s unspeakable crimes.”

MEAA communications director Mark Phillips told The Australian that the resolution “speaks for itself”.

“It was carried following due consideration and debate by the 95 delegates of the Federal Council who are rank-and-file members elected by their peers in MEAA’s Media, Equity (performers), Entertainment, Crew and Sport, and Musicians sections.”

Mr Phillips did not explain why the original introduction to the resolution acknowledged “all media workers” but was subsequently changed to “Palestinian media workers”. He also declined to comment on whether the union had plans to observe a minute’s silence, or pass a resolution, recognising Israeli journalists who have died in the conflict.

The MEAA’s issuing of the contentious resolution comes just a week after the union demanded the ABC drop its legal defence in the unfair dismissal case brought against the public broadcaster by Antoinette Lattouf.

MEAA Media acting director Michelle Rae used the occasion of ABC managing director David Anderson’s resignation to lobby for the broadcaster to “end the pointless and costly defence of an unfair dismissal claim by Antoinette Lattouf”.

“Dropping the case would send a signal to ABC news staff that the (incoming) managing director is committed to editorial independence and to making the ABC a workplace that is safe and inclusive for ­people from a wide spectrum of ­diversity,” she said.