Every so often I send out an e-mail to friends and family detailing what's happening with the Israeli-Arab "peace process."  Due to the media being highly biased in favor of the Arab side -- both here in Israel as well as abroad -- it's clear that if my family and friends depend on their local media they're not getting an accurate picture of the facts, dynamics & mentalities that are driving relations between Jews & Arabs in this part of the world.  Rather than news they get 'politically correct' rhetoric from the media that is filtered through the assumptions and values of those living far away.

Many of the journalists and their editors have only a minimal understanding of the mentalities of the peoples of the Mid-East.  In addition, the journalists in the field often blatantly side with the Arabs because 1.) 3rd World peoples are fashionable nowadays and the media thinks that that the public approves of Arab causes so long as they don't seem to harm local interests.   2.) Journalists are promised  exciting and dramatic stories and action shots from Arabs. Arabs have been set up attacks on Jews and have tipped off photographers of the upcomming terrorist attacks so that they can get ideal camera positions and be fully prepared to film the "event." 3.) Direct Arab influence on media outlets, such as the BBC, CNN, etc. (such as buying sificiant stocks) in order to sway editorial policy into a pro-Arab stance.

For this reason I feel compelled to write in order to balance these issues with a more accurate picture of what is going on in the Mid-East.  Many of the facts and dynamics I write about are well known in these parts but the international media barons prefer not to include them in their chronicles as they may wreak havoc with their set editorial and/or advertising policies.

Being that we live between Bethlehem and Hebron in the Judean Heights (the "West Bank") we're close to the many of the events, and there's plenty to tell what is going on in the Mid-East as well as locally.  I also try to include incidents that I've witnessed as well as about experiences of my neighbors.  I feel driven to do this because the media as well as many governments (the U.S. State Department especially) regard us "Jewish Settlers" as illegitimate pariahs, so we don't get a fair shake in the news. On rare occasions, when journalists actually condescend to interview us, they typically distort the substance, meaning & intent of our words in their published articles.  This happens so frequently that we can't help but feel it's deliberate.

For this reason it's my hope that I, however unworthy, may be able to correct their distortions -- if only for family, fiends and acquainttances.

Thank you!

Dale Baranowski