If this report from Cybercast News Service turns out to be accurate, this is big. It could just bust the Al-Dura hoax wide open.
Paris (CNSNews.com) - French state-owned television is using what some call intimidation and threatened libel lawsuits to quiet calls for an investigation of TV images that showed the alleged shooting of a Palestinian boy by Israeli soldiers in 2000.The video from the TV channel France 2 has become famous around the world as a symbol for the current Palestinian intifada (uprising) and shows a boy trying to take shelter behind a man during a gun battle in September 2000 between Palestinians and Israeli soldiers at the Netzarim junction in the Gaza Strip.
Independent media analysts in France and Israel have provided what they call conclusive evidence that the video of the incident was staged and at least one member of the French Assembly has called for an official investigation of the episode, but France 2 has so far refused to undertake a comprehensive inquiry.
So far, this is mostly a summary of stuff we already know, but the article goes on at length with a number of new on-the-record opinions and conclusions from a lot of people, and it appears the net is closing on France 2.
But Stephane Juffa, editor in chief of the Metula News Agency based in Israel, said he and two other colleagues carried out a thorough investigation, which included scores of interviews and scene-by-scene analysis of the video and other material filmed in 2000.
"The child we see during the shooting is not the same child that we see in the morgue in other footage, who has bullet wounds and is identified as Mohammed al-Durra by hospital staff," said Juffa.
[ . . . ]
Philippe Karsenty, who runs a French media watchdog agency called Media-Ratings, has also examined the video and come to the conclusion that the report was fabricated.
"The report is false. I've seen the elements of France 2's report and it is clear that it is a fake," said Karsenty. "It is clear that it was staged."
Among the elements Karsenty has found that he says reveal the forgery are a director ordering retakes of scenes, ambulances appearing within two seconds in an unedited shot after a Palestinian is said to be wounded, the child hoisting himself on his elbows after he is said to be dead and no blood or bullet wounds on any of the victims.
And this.
Serge Farnel, a French television viewer and activist, was also surprised at France 2's claims about Israeli soldiers in light of the lack of evidence in the video and has created a website that presents a large array of documents on the issue.Farnel said that he has filed requests with a mediator, the CSA, and the state council - the country's highest court - to ask France 2 to admit publicly that it had no proof that the gunshots came from Israeli soldiers.
"This video and its annual replay by France 2 on the anniversary date, repeating the same accusations, has given good cause to the intifada of French Muslims," said Farnel.
Farnel said the state TV channel needed to be forthcoming at a time when the government was claiming to fight increased anti-Semitism in France. If he does not receive a reply soon, Farnel said he is ready to take his case to the European Court of Human Rights.
"I will be really sorry to do that because it will be my country, France, that will be on trial," Farnel said. "But French television has behaved like a criminal in this matter and it has violated our national trust."
I'm planning to keep an eye on Farnel's website, which has a lot more links and information.
