Questionable Guardian portrayal of east Jerusalem eviction

Key fact buried in paragraph nine in reporting of controversial eviction of Palestinians from east Jerusalem house.

Just Journalism
The Wire
24 November '10

Yesterday, Haaretz reported the eviction of a Palestinian family from a house in the east Jerusalem neighbourhood, Jabel Mukaber. Regardless of the highly charged context within which the eviction has taken place, the Israeli news outlet – known for its critical stance of Jewish activity in the area – nonetheless set out the facts clearly.

Both the headline and the standfirst made clear that ownership was disputed and that the family allegedly sold the property:

‘Palestinians evicted from East Jerusalem home claimed by Israelis’

‘Right-wing Elad association claims family sold the home and left voluntarily’

The lead also made reference to the alleged purchase:

“Israel Police forces on Tuesday evacuated a Palestinian family from their home in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Jabel Mukaber, after right-wing activists claimed to have purchased the building.”

The framing of the same story in today’s Guardian was somewhat different. The headline and standfirst read, respectively:

(Read full post)

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