Ira Sharkansky, students, anarchists, sports fans

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Letter from Jerusalem
_________________By Ira Sharkansky____________

Israeli football fans, students and anarchists
raise questions about the biases of the media

JERUSALEM—Three current events raise questions about media bias, public opinion, and who makes the ultimate decisions. Oops, no one makes "ultimate decisions." They are always subject to change. But some are ultimate for the time being.

One: football fans broke through restraining fences in order to reach the playing field and celebrate their team's victory. They trampled several of their own, including two boys who remained unconscious for the better part of 24 hours. Television pictures showed hundreds of males ranging from sub-teens to the middle-aged with body language showing great effort and some pain. Some of those who made it over the bodies of their comrades jumped, did cartwheels, and swung from the goal posts in ecstasy, while 30 ambulances maneuvered around them to collect the injured.

There were commentators who urged calm among the fans, but the weight of coverage was understanding of their emotions, and critical of the police for not assuring their safety.

Other views prevailed among league managers. They decided to punish the team and its fans by requiring that its next four games be played away from home, with its fans not to be allowed into the stadiums. There has already been a minor riot protesting the injustice of the decision.

How to screen those buying tickets in order to exclude the team's fans? Perhaps by the looks of those looking for combat. It will not be easy. All teams' fans look about the same.

Two: the strike of university students entered its third week. These young men and women, most likely from families with above average incomes, want to reduce tuition, ideally to zero. There is a government commission at work, considering by how much to increase tuition. Currently the bill is the equivalent of US $3,000 per year. A typical three-year BA at a university ranked among the best in the world costs $12,000. There are scholarships, loans, and work-study programs for students who cannot meet the costs out of savings, family resources, or current income. As elsewhere, graduates are likely to earn substantially more over their careers than those with less education.

The media and public opinion are mostly with the students. Resolution of the dispute is complicated by considerable faculty support of the students, faculty opposition to the same government commission on account of other issues it is considering, and a government too preoccupied with other things (mostly its own survival) to make protracted efforts to solve this. Among the difficulties, the prime minister is also serving as temporary finance minister, due to the finance minister's suspension while under investigation for suspected criminal activity. Without a full-time finance minister, it is more difficult than usual to deal with an economic controversy.

Three: a group of about 200 Jewish "anarchists" and Palestinians attacked part of the barrier working its way through the West Bank. These attacks are standard events, occurring one or more times each week. The barrier inconveniences Palestinians and enrages some Israeli Jews, even while it makes it difficult for our neighbors to annoy us by drive-by shootings, suicide bombings, stabbings, and car thefts.

Five reservists who had the job of protecting the barrier were outnumbered by media personnel called by protesters to their event. We saw replay after replay of the pushing and shoving employed by the soldiers. Most dramatic was the picture of an officer who jabbed his weapon into the stomach of a young Jewish man who was trying his best to be violent. It hurt. The young man fell on the ground and held his tummy. Later we saw him leaving the hospital, upright and in no apparent pain.

Within hours politicians were concerned about the soldiers' overreaction, and a senior officer ordered the suspension of the man photographed jabbing his weapon.

Other judgment may prevail. The event is bringing forth an investigation. Substantial military and political voices are expressing support for the five soldiers who had to deal with 200 protesters. Public sympathy for Palestinians and Jewish anarchists is not assured.