framing the Middle East conflict

BBC editor Jon Williams, he who believes in the Fairy Tale of Two Competing Narratives ™, said last week that the Beeb is careful in choosing its words when reporting on the Middle East:

Our credibility is undermined by the careless use of words which carry value judgements. Our job is to remain objective. By doing so, I hope we allow our audiences on radio and television to make their own assessment of the story. So we try to stick to the facts - civilians are “kidnapped”, Cpl Shalit was “captured”; since troops don’t usually make “arrests”, the politicians were “detained”. Doubtless some will disagree. But that’s, in essence, the heart of the story - two competing narratives. [emphasis added]

An Israeli Arab Member of Knesset (the Israeli Parliament) certainly agrees with Williams. Reportedly, he went online last Thursday night and offered tactical and strategic advice to the Palestinian Authority. Interesting talking points:

the kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit should not be called “kidnapped” but rather “imprisoned” or “captive.” Taha said, “Kidnapping is an act carried out by gangs, terrorists, and the like. But ‘captive’ means that [it is carried out by] an organized, legitimate group that makes decisions. Israel is trying to present our resistance as something less - as terrorism, murder, and kidnapping - in order that the diplomatic circle will be closed to it.” [emphasis added]

A quick and casual Google News scan indicates that the following outlets didn’t get the memo. All of them have used or continue to use the word “kidnapped” to describe the seizure of the Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit from sovereign Israeli territory:

CNN, Al Jazeera, the Christian Science Monitor, Reuters, the New York Times, the Washington Post, Associated Press, People’s Daily Online, NBC, the Guardian (UK), CBS, ABC, Fox, Jerusalem Post, ABC Online (Australia), Zaman Online (Turkey), The Independent (UK), among others.

The notable exception is the BBC, although a Google News search indicates that the Beeb itself has used the word “kidnapped” to describe Shalit, most recently on July 1. Since then… only “captured.”