08 January '13..
One of the defining qualities of good reportage is the ability of the reporter to stay on point, known otherwise as staying on topic. But when writing about Israel, and all the more so, PM Netanyahu, this can be a daunting task, an expectation doomed to failure from the start.
In last Sunday's NY Times a piece by Isabel Kershner, Israel Plans to Construct a Syrian Border Fence certainly started out on the right foot.
JERUSALEM — Israel announced Sunday that it was constructing a border fence along the length of its armistice line with Syria in the Golan Heights and that it was coordinating its intelligence with the United States in light of the deteriorating security situation in Syria.
In remarks at the start of the weekly cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the Syrian Army had moved away from the frontier and that jihadist forces had moved in.
“Therefore, we will defend this border against both infiltration and terrorism,” Mr. Netanyahu said, adding, “I also submit to the cabinet the fact that the Syrian regime is very unstable, that the question of chemical weapons here worries us.” He said that Israel was coordinating with the United States and others “so that we might be prepared for any scenario and possibility that could arise.”
Off to a good start as she addresses the what and why of the topic, but....
Mr. Netanyahu’s announcement came as he sought to reinforce his security credentials as a strong leader ahead of national elections on Jan. 22, and as he appealed to his traditional supporters to cast their ballots for the conservative Likud-Beiteinu ticket he is leading and not be lulled by polls showing that he is favored to win.
“Whoever wants me as a strong prime minister cannot have a strong prime minister while weakening me,” Mr. Netanyahu told Israel Radio in an interview broadcast Sunday. “I think there is only one way to guarantee that the right continues to govern Israel, and that is to vote for me.”
Actually PM Netanyahu's "announcement" came "In remarks at the start of the weekly cabinet meeting" addressing the specific issue at hand, without reference to national elections, polls, etc., Ms. Kershner's desire to portray it as such, not withstanding.
In any case, after the personal digression she does return to the main topic at hand, concluding:
Apprehension has been mounting, with Israeli experts warning that Syria is becoming a haven for Islamic extremists. Israel says that thousands of Islamic militants have entered Syria to fight against forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad, and Israeli leaders have expressed particular concern that chemical weapons and advanced weaponry like ground-to-air missiles amassed by the Assad government could fall into the hands of radical groups.
As a result, Israel has been changing its military infrastructure along the frontier with Syria, planning a continuous fence and the installation of electro-optical devices and radar, and deploying some of its most highly trained troops there for the first time in more than 30 years.
And what we have here is not as Ms. Kershner wished to interject, Mr. Netanyahu’s announcement came as he sought to reinforce his security credentials as a strong leader ahead of national elections on Jan. 22, but rather a Prime Minister taking care of the business he was put there for, a novel idea for those who wish to impute more.
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