The AP almost had me on article about an Israeli acting troupe forced to cancel a performance in Turkey because of “protests.” It was the boilerplate, which is far more honest about Israel-Turkey relations than usual, that made me think the AP was being more honest than usual.
Once close allies, Turkey and Israel have seen their ties deteriorate as the Mideast peace process remains deadlocked and as Turkey has turned increasingly away from the West and toward the Islamic world.
Not bad. It’s a short piece, only four paragraphs. And I notice that it actually quotes an Israeli, rather than falling back on the usual “Israel says” motif.
Israel’s ambassador to Turkey says a leading Israeli theater company has been forced to cancel a play because Turkish protesters planned to disrupt the performance.
Gabby Levy says he recommended that the Tel Aviv-based Cameri company cancel the play in Antalya after Turkish authorities warned of protests inside and outside the theater.
The company’s director, Noam Semel, told Army Radio in Israel on Sunday that he decided he could not endanger the 21-person company. He said he had performed abroad at least 100 times, including in Turkey, and did not “remember an incident like this.”
Okay, that seems harmless enough. Straight to the point, gives the facts, no whitewashing of the Turkish side.
Well, yes, there is.
From Ha’aretz:
After arriving in Turkey, the Israeli staff learned over the weekend that anti-Israel groups intended on disrupting the show, apparently by protesting, waving flags, throwing objects onto the stage and even physically harming the actors.
“The embassy’s security officer told us the situation is very volatile,” said lead actor Rami Baruch. A few organizations found out the Cameri Theater was coming to perform and arranged an online campaign, via which they purchased tickets in order to sabotage the show, he said.
“One of the surprising purchases of 35 tickets was by people who never normally attend the theater,” said Baruch.
So apparently, Turkish Islamists were going to the theater with the intention of harming Israelis. This is a pretty big part of the story to be withheld. And note that the actor got his information from the Israeli embassy in Turkey—the same place the AP reporter got his information. But the one mild quote about not endangering the actors is the best the AP could do. Once again, we see the double standard about Israel: All harm to Israelis from others is downplayed, while of course, harm inflicted by Israelis is played up.
Color me unsurprised.