Thread: One thing that disappoints me in some media is seeing online or print platforms give prominent oped space to offensive, racist, inflammatory articles that are incitement under the guise of the "the author is important"
There are a lot of important voices. When a publication chooses a voice and gives it huge prominence for days on the home page, they're not just publishing something random, they're endorsing it. Because it is being given special treatment of prominence.
The publication can't then hide behind any critique of it by pretending critics are trying to "censor" the content or "deplatform" it...because one has played a role in giving it more attention.
If, for instance, a publication puts out some inflammatory offensive article for days in a prominent or "featured" area and doesn't have an opposing piece, there is an agenda here. Is it for clicks? Is there some influence behind it?
Media organizations have thousands of articles to chose from and give a place of importance to. It's not a free speech corner at a park, it's not a free-for-all where the audience chooses. The platform (i.e people) choose. So that implies that criticism can't be hidden from.
Why was it published? Because the author is an important voice? Is the author important? Who says that? The author? Or by virtue of publishing it, did one enter a catch-22 of "this is important because it is published, see".
I believe that major or medium media should not give special treatment to the more extreme voices. They shouldn't get 2,500 words instead of the usual 900. They shouldn't get special place on the website. Even if they are "important" there are many important decent voices to run.
It's disappointing also to see extremism for extremism's sake run, when it could and should be edited. There are no voices that are so important that a platform can't ask them for edits or take out a particularly offensive sentence. After all, they want the platform.
I don't accept the theory that it's censorship or deplatforming or something like that to say "no." Media has a role to play in the conversation. It's not just a free for all. And it shouldn't be just for clicks. Saying "no" isn't censoring, it's moving it to another venue

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More from @sfrantzman

6 Jun
This leads to some questions, there are only two Israelis believed to be held in Gaza; Avera Mengistu and Hisham al-Sayed. Mengistu is an Israeli from the Ethiopian Jewish community. And the bodies of IDF soldier Oron Shaul and IDF officer Hadar Goldin.

jpost.com/israel-news/av…
This says it is believed to be the voice of Mengistu;
Read 8 tweets
6 Jun
Question about the drone attack on Asad base, what air defense system was used to shoot them down?
This does not clarify it...it just shows C-RAM...but tasnimnews.com/fa/news/1400/0…
This also doesn't add any new details; except that Iran's media is very interested in this, usually indicating Iran's connection farsnews.ir/news/140003160…
Read 5 tweets
30 May
Thread: With Netanyahu facing a real challenge, we need to discuss what was done to Israel in the last few years.
He has concentrated power at an unprecedented level in his hands in Israel. In 2018 Netanyahu held FIVE portfolios: prime minister, defense minister, foreign minister, health minister, and immigration and absorption minister...jpost.com/opinion/netany…
Netanyahu was Israel's Foreign Minister from 2015-2019; Israel Katz was appointed Acting Foreign Minister following a petition to the High Court of Justice by the Movement for Quality in Government. mfa.gov.il/MFA/AboutTheMi…
Read 12 tweets
29 May
Thread: In Israel there is talk that the opposition to Netanyahu is on the verge of a coalition. After four failed elections some think this could be the moment. But there are many things still in the way. Here's my sense:
There are still hurdles, such as getting all the MKs on board from the complex coalition that is forming which includes a massive swath of parties from the religion right to left and potentially Arab MKs. It's very complex.
Second, Netanyahu will not go easy. A "crisis" may emerge as he lashes out claiming the "right" has been betrayed by a "left" government coming to power...all the stops will be pulled out to prevent things happening in preference for Netanyahu's endless elections scheme
Read 10 tweets
24 May
🧵 Lots of people like math and read that Israel’s Iron Dome had a 90% success rate at interceptions. Then they compare the nunber to the overall rockets fired in the recent war, some 4,300, and do math. But that’s not the number they should use.
Example May 16, 2021 “IDF: As of 19:00, approximately 3,100 rockets have been fired from the Gaza Strip at Israeli territory, of which approximately 450 failed launches fell in the Gaza Strip.
The Iron Dome Air Defense System has intercepted approximately 1210 rockets.”
If you do the math you’ll think that there is something missing. Indeed, the 1,210 nunber is 90% of the rockets that the system attempted to intercept” DO NOT use the overall number of rockets. Most fall in open space or even fail to launch.
Read 7 tweets
24 May
How come when the US developed armed drones it was considered controversial... literally had all these articles about how bad they were...Turkey and China develop armed drones and suddenly it’s totally fine when they sell them. Zero controversy 🤔
People still ask about whether Israel has armed drones like this would be controversial. It doesn’t make sense. It’s only controversial “drone strikes” if some countries do it 🤔
Ankara openly brags about exporting ARMED drones. And those virtue signalers who used to care about this issue and want rules against armed drones in places like Europe are like “oh that’s fine”...
Read 4 tweets

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