Brenner's popularisation of 'Global Turbulence'

BY ROHAN PEARCE

John Pilger has come under attack in Britain for his documentary
Palestine is Still the Issue, to be screened in Australia on SBS
TV at 8.30pm on October 8.

A September 20 article in the British Jewish Chronicle reported
that Michael Green, the chairperson of Carlton Television (which had funded
and screened Pilger's documentary in Britain), had denounced the film as
factually inaccurate.

“There's no doubt in my mind that this program is a tragedy for Israel
so far as accuracy is concerned”, Green told the Chronicle. “It
was factually incorrect, historically incorrect. Unfortunately, you can't
always agree with him. He has a huge reputation but consistently my views
are very much opposed to his views.”

Israeli historian Professor Ilan Pappe, Pilger's historical advisor
for the documentary, maintains that “the film is faultless in its historical
description and poignant in its message”, and believes that the attack
is “an attempt to delegitimise any criticism of Israel”.

Pilger defended the documentary in a September 23 British Guardian
article: “An unforeseen threat to freedom of speech in British broadcasting
emerged last week. It was triggered by the showing of my documentary, Palestine
is Still the Issue, on ITV. The film told a basic truth that is routinely
relegated, even suppressed — that a historic injustice has been done to
the Palestinian people, and until Israel's illegal and brutal occupation
ends, there will be no peace for anyone, Israelis included.

“Most of the film allowed people to tell their eyewitness stories, both
Palestinians and Israelis. What was unusual was that it disclosed in detail
the daily humiliation and cultural denigration of the Palestinians, including
a sequence showing excrement smeared by Israeli soldiers in a room of children's
paintings. The film was accurate, restrained and fair; the longest interview
was with an Israeli government spokesman. Every word and frame was subjected
to a legal examination for accuracy and to ensure it complied with the
fairness regulations in the Broadcasting Act.”

From Green Left Weekly, October 2, 2002.

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From GLW issue 511