By RUVIN LEVAVI
According to CNN reporter Christine Amanpour, Brooklyn’s own Assemblyman Dov Hikind is disloyal to the United States and a greater threat to peace than a homicide bomber, even though Hikind has broken no law and taken no violent action of any kind.
Last week, CNN aired "God's Warriors," a heavy-handed, Michael-Moore-style documentary by uber-reporter Christiane Amanpour. It was a three part series which began by focusing on Judaism, Islam, and then Christianity. The documentary equated Jews living in Judea and Samaria, who create communities and raise families in the heart of our homeland, with Palestinian homicide bombers. Unfortunately, this was no surprise coming from CNN. What did come as a shock, however, was Amanpour's insidious attack on Hikind.
In a ten minute section entitled "The Power Couple," Amanpour implies the Borough Park Assemblyman is a traitor to the United States. Amanpour begins her ambush with clips of presidential sound bites, from President Reagan through George W. Bush, opposing the growth of Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria. The film then abruptly cuts to Dov Hikind and his wife Shani holding plastic Israeli flags while dancing. Amanpour narrates: "with a smile and a song they ignore their government's policy." Amanpour then reveals the federal tax records of 35 American charities which support the settlements, making sure the audience understands the irony that, "since the money goes to support charitable projects . . . the contributions are even tax deductible." To make it clear that American Jewish support is a direct obstacle to peace in the Middle East she draws on the expert opinion of President Carter, who says "there is no doubt in any rational analyst's mind that settlements are the major obstacle to peace." Keep in mind that Carter - one of the worst U.S. presidents, who failed to stand up to Islamic fundamentalism during the Iranian hostage crisis - has become the anti-Israel authority since publishing his book "Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid."
Amanpour then throws out the obvious truth, but only as a token: "On the other hand many people say actually that it is Palestinian suicide bombers that are the major obstacle to peace." Carter then replies, "Well there is no doubt that any sort of attack by Palestinians or others is horrible and must be condemned, but the basic problem is the settlements and a lack of accommodation between Israel, the Palestinians and Israel withdrawing from Palestinian land." Of course, Amanpour, a seasoned journalist, could not counter such powerful logic.
Amanpour closes the segment by revealing the threat posed by the "Power Couple" to American policy. She reports that the Hikinds are "house hunting themselves in the occupied territories," and further accuses the Hikinds of disloyalty stating that "even though the US government officially opposes expansion of the settlement, the Hikinds are recruiting others to join them."
God's Warriors is a fine example of moral equivocation, sensationalism, and propaganda. Furthermore, Amanpour treats the presidential statements as if they are law and it is un-American to disagree with a president. Somehow, we don't think she will be making the same implication regarding those who call Bush Hitler or support murdering Islamic terrorists.
