When it comes to the recent explosion of so-called “unrest” in Israel between Israelis and Palestinians, the timeline is reasonably clear.
On Monday morning, Palestinians rioted, hurling rocks and firebombs at police at the Temple Mount. Israeli police forces then moved to suppress the riots, using stun grenades, tear gas, and rubber bullets.
“A short time ago, hundreds of rioters began throwing stones at the Mughrabi Bridge. Following this, police commission Yaakov Shabti ordered police forces stationed at the scene to enter the Temple Mount and to push the rioters back, using crowd dispersal methods. Israel Police forces are continuing to operate at the scene,” an Israeli police spokesperson said.
Later that evening, “A fire broke out on the Temple Mount near the Al Aqsa Mosque,” reportedly “started by fireworks.”
Dramatic images of the Western Wall Plaza being evacuated as a tree catches fire outside Al Aqsa Mosque, apparently as Palestinians shoot fireworks there. pic.twitter.com/AI7ait6IJb
— Eylon Levy (@EylonALevy) May 10, 2021
It was then reported that Hamas proceeded to fire rockets into civilian areas in Israel from the Gaza Strip.
“Palestinian terror groups in the Gaza Strip fired a massive barrage of rockets at the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon at dawn on Tuesday,” The Times Of Israel reported. “According to the Israel Defense Forces, over 200 rockets and mortar shells were fired from the Gaza Strip toward Israel from 6 p.m. Monday to 6 a.m. Tuesday, dozens of which were intercepted by Iron Dome missile defense batteries. The military said the Iron Dome had a successful interception rate of over 90 percent of projectiles heading toward populated areas.”
According to additional reports, the Iron Dome was not able to intercept all rockets, with some hitting civilian targets, “injuring dozens, with some early estimates putting the number as high as 31.”
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) then responded. “Overnight, in response to continuous rocket fire from the Gaza Strip at Israeli territory, the IDF struck over 130 terror targets belonging to terror organizations in the Gaza Strip,” the IDF announced.
Now, it’s reasonable to agree or disagree with Israel’s response. However, it is fundamentally unreasonable to disagree with the fact that Israel’s actions were a response to prior actions.
In simple terms, Palestinians rioted, Palestinians fired rockets targeting Israeli civilians, and the Israeli military targeted those firing the rockets.
If this was any other conflict on earth, the reporting would likely have followed this timeline. As is common, however, this chronological culpability was erased by media outlets to further imply a moral equivalence between the actions of the Israeli military and the terrorist organization that runs the Gaza Strip, Hamas.
“Death toll mounts as Israel-Gaza violence escalates,” and “Jerusalem violence: Deadly air strikes hit Gaza after rocket attacks,” reported the BBC.
The Associated Press went with, “Gaza militants, Israel trade new rocket fire and airstrikes.”
CBS News reported, “Israel strikes Gaza, Hamas fires rockets after hundreds of Palestinians wounded in clashes.”
The Washington Post chose, “After Jerusalem erupts, deadly strikes and clashes spread across Israel and the Palestinian territories.”
The New York Times had “Israel Hits Gaza With Airstrikes as Hamas Increases Rocket Fire.”
Of course, these are the supposedly “objective” outlets, while Leftist publications were less subtle. “Nine Children Killed as Israel Hammers Gaza With New Airstrikes, Says Report” from the Daily Beast, for example.
Chronology is fundamentally important to any news story. By accurately understanding any given timeline, you are able to better understand the issue at hand.
By intentionally blurring the timeline, the media are — again — trying to imply that Israel are the aggressors, or that there exists some moral equivalency between the actions of the Israelis and Palestinians.
A moral equivalency the media would never dream of implying if Jews were not the victims of such terrorism.
Ian Haworth is an Editor and Writer for The Daily Wire. Follow him on Twitter at @ighaworth.
The views expressed in this piece are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.