You’d think that the Public Broadcasting Service, known as PBS, would vouch for a more balanced approach to modern journalism. However, their recent representation of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was nothing short of biased. Mainstream media decided to paint a picture of Netanyahu as a man out of sync with not only the world but even his homeland.
In 2023, PBS produced a documentary that seemed to pit Netanyahu against Hamas, and compared him to Yasser Arafat’s unpopular stance in 2000. The 2024 version concludes with an ominous warning, implying Netanyahu and President Biden are at a critical turning point due to the Gaza War’s aftermath.
The series of news reports that follow only deepen this anti-Netanyahu narrative with claims of growing demands for accountability. Most notably, the International Criminal Court is allegedly seeking arrest warrants for Israeli and Hamas leaders, including Netanyahu himself.
And if this wasn’t enough, PBS allows the left-wing commentators their stage. Amos Harel from Haaretz proclaims Netanyahu as a leader highly distrusted by the Israeli voters, painting a bleak picture of a country facing a significant geopolitical and security crisis.
PBS’ portrayal of Netanyahu is not only biased but misleading. They conveniently omitted that Israel had put more effort into investigating an unfortunate strike that resulted in the death of seven aid workers than Biden’s blunder at Kabul in 2021. Karim Khan, Chief Prosecutor, also seemed more than eager to hold Netanyahu accountable, even as he gave false reassurances about seeking the Israeli government’s consultation before any actions.
The media platform also glossed over Netanyahu’s mounting pressure from Benny Gantz, the opposition leader demanding a post-war strategy, threatening resignation if no plan was proposed. The American media might find Gantz more appealing, but isn’t it critical to note that his office has also criticized Netanyahu for delaying an attack on Rafah?
Accurate reporting must avoid the error of projecting American politics onto Israeli domestic concerns. While Netanyahu has his share of detractors accusing him of prolonging the war, he equally faces criticism from opponents for being too timid when it matters. However, this balanced perspective would undermine PBS’s established narrative of Netanyahu as the villain, parallel to Hamas in the tragedy that is the ongoing crisis.
So, PBS’ recent documentary does more harm than good, not only veiling the truth but misleading its viewers. Journalism requires a fair and more comprehensive account of what is happening. In this instance, PBS appears to fail that fundamental expectation.
