Tehran’s media hypocrisy
Thursday 15 January 2009 at 16:32 GMT
This evening there will be a demonstration outside the Iranian Embassy in London. Organised by the British wing of the Zionist youth movement Betar – Tagar, the rally is being held to highlight that the conflict in Gaza is promoted by the Islamic Republic of Iran, Hamas’ principal military and political sponsor. Further details can be found here.
While Iran’s involvement in Gaza is little discussed in the media, on the positive side there are journalistic initiatives to expose the people of Iran to news and views that are not filtered by the regime in Tehran. As reported in the Times, the BBC World Service will next week launch a satellite TV channel run by Iranians based in London.
I understand that the Iranian government is objecting to the new channel, with a London embassy spokesman declaring “We believe this service to be illegal.”. This is a hypocritical stance, given that Britain has been very hospitable toward Iran’s propaganda broadcaster Press TV, employer of Stockholm Syndrome sufferer Sister Yvonne Ridley, and regular haunt of feline impersonating parliamentarian George Galloway.
Feed the writer! 
Thursday 15 January 2009 at 17:21 GMT
Betar are a very right wing nationalist organisation opposed to a two state settlement. Their origins lie with Jabotinsky’s revisionist movement.
From their own web-site:
Betar supports the concept of a Jewish state with a Jewish Majority in its biblical-homeland. The entire land of Israel as given to the Jewish people by G-d with it’s eternal capital Jerusalem. We therefore wholeheartedly support the settlement of all of Israel including Judea, Samaria, Gaza and the Golan Heights, and support the rights of all Jews to live anywhere in Israel.
They are part of the problem.
Thursday 15 January 2009 at 17:28 GMT
I had heard a thing or two about Betar. It’s a pity that the Board of Deputies isn’t organising the protest, in order to make it more inclusive.
Saturday 17 January 2009 at 17:10 GMT
i clicked to say what Peter has beaten me to. To expand on it a bit, Betar are not content with just the “land between the river and the sea”…they dream the land the other side of the Jordan should be theirs too. Jabotinsky’s 14 Points will give you an insight into what they are about. You’d no more want to advertise Betar than you would Hamas.
Saturday 17 January 2009 at 19:07 GMT
By referring to the demo I’m not endorsing Betar – Tagar. As it happens, that rally was supported by other Zionist groups, so it wasn’t as narrow as I’d initially thought. I didn’t attend myself.