In "10 Things To Know", 10 Things CNN Needs to Fix

Tamar Sternthal..
CAMERA Media Analyses..
15 September '13..

"10 things to know before visiting Israel, the West Bank and Gaza" is CNN's Sept. 12 article by Matthew Teller meant to promote a broadcast this weekend called "Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown," featuring the acclaimed author and chef on location in Israel and the West Bank. It is unfortunate that the piece, intended to educate about basic information on the region, is chock full of factual errors and distortions. CAMERA, in turn, presents the 10 things that CNN needs to fix in Teller's piece and the accompanying graphics and captions.

1) Palestine On the Map

Teller rightly observes:

To some, the chunk of territory between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea is all Israel.

To others, it's all Palestine.

It's too bad, then, that CNN further muddies the terms. Instead of clarifying, CNN gets bogged down in incorrect nomenclature with this map:

As the article itself acknowledges the state of "Palestine" does not yet exist, and labeling the West Bank "Palestine" is inaccurate and misleading. It should be deleted.

2) Manipulated Historical Narratives, 'biblical Palestine'

Reflecting further on the Israel versus Palestine terminology, Teller writes: "For most -- as is true so often in this region of shifting truths and manipulated historical narratives -- it's a bit of both."

Instead of offering readers solid factual ground, Teller takes manipulated historical narratives to a whole new level with the heading for his ninth item: "When you visit Israel, you're also visiting biblical Palestine."

We don't have a clue as to what he means by "biblical Palestine" given that the Romans renamed the Holy Land Palestine in 135 CE, after the events described in the later Christian Bible had already concluded.

(Continue)

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