News

’60 Minutes’ profiles Palestinian Christians, Michael Oren falls on his face

The above story ran on 60 Minutes tonight. It’s a powerful piece showing life under occupation, and a damning portrait of Michael Oren as the chief spokesperson for Israel’s unjust control over the West Bank. On the onerous permit regime that limits freedom of movement and defines Palestinian existence in the occupied territories Oren says, “It’s their inconvenience, it’s our survival.” Oren tries to blame the dwindling Christian community in the West Bank on Islamic extremism, and Palestinian Christians interviewed nearly break out laughing. Not surprisingly, Oren calls Israel’s Christian critics anti-Semites.

But perhaps the most revealing part of the show was Bob Simon sharing that Oren had complained to CBS News head Jeff Fager before the segment had even been aired, calling it “a hatchet job.”

From 6o Minutes:

For Israel, there could be serious economic consequences. According to Israeli government figures, tourism is a multi billion dollar business there. Most tourists are Christian. Many of them are American. That’s one reason why Israelis are very sensitive about their image in the United States. And that could be why Ambassador Oren phoned Jeff Fager, the head of CBS News and executive producer of 60 Minutes, while we were still reporting the story, long before tonight’s broadcast. He said he had information our story was quote: “a hatchet job.”

Michael Oren: It seemed to me outrageous. Completely incomprehensible that at a time when these communities, Christian communities throughout the Middle East are being oppressed and massacred, when churches are being burnt, when one of the great stories in history is unfolding? I think it’s– I think it’s– I think you got me a little bit mystified.

Bob Simon: And it was a reason to call the president of– chairman of CBS News?

Michael Oren: Bob, I’m the ambassador of the State of Israel. I do that very, very infrequently as ambassador. It’s just– that’s an extraordinary move for me to complain about something. When I heard that you were going to do a story about Christians in the Holy Land and my assum– and– and had, I believe, information about the nature of it, and it’s been confirmed by this interview today.

Bob Simon: Nothing’s been confirmed by the interview, Mr. Ambassador, because you don’t know what’s going to be put on air.

Michael Oren: Okay. I don’t. True.

Bob Simon: Mr. Ambassador, I’ve been doing this a long time. And I’ve received lots of reactions from just about everyone I’ve done stories about. But I’ve never gotten a reaction before from a story that hasn’t been broadcast yet.

Michael Oren: Well, there’s a first time for everything, Bob.

This was the 60 Minutes gotcha moment. Be sure to watch it, the reaction shots of Oren are priceless.

There are also supplemental videos available on the 60 Minutes website including this on Palestinian Christian support for BDS:

318 Comments
Most Voted
Newest Oldest
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Bob Simon: Good. Michael Oren: Evil.

I am not very familiar with Bob Simon, but I know there has been times over the years where I have seen him do great pieces. And he seems like a smart, old-school reporter calling them as he sees them.

This was one of the greatest moments I’ve seen on TV. Simon really exposed Oren and even stumped that robot-like dissembler. These are like mafia tactics. They are coming after you. You’ll lose your job. They’ll break your legs. Look at Media Matter, CAP, the Block memo. We decree some things off limits for discussion and we will get you if you try.

this is a must watch video. the fantasy christians are leaving because of muslims!!!

Bob Simon: And it was a reason to call the president of– chairman of CBS News?

Michael Oren: Bob, I’m the ambassador of the State of Israel. I do that very, very infrequently as ambassador.It’s just– that’s an extraordinary move for me to complain about something.

GAME ON! irvine 11 mr ambassador? screwing with our first amendment rights?

The fun starts at 10:55. At 12:00: “you named the president [Obama] a ‘ German'”.

Bob Simon’s expose is a sign that Israel’s power to shame and insinuate is waning. Oren lobbed: “Anti-semitism!” and Bob didn’t run for cover. Great.

However, I didn’t care for Simon’s homage to Ari Shavit. I know Haaretz gives him lots of space to elaborate at great length on his theories but what does he actually say? Here, in just a few sentences here he manages to offend Palestinian Christians and play the Zionist line while sounding eminently reasonable (at least to Mr. Simon).

The Palestinian Christians are not collateral damage. They are the target. They are not caught in the middle of a religious war between Jews and Muslims. They are every bit as Palestinian as the Muslim and that’s why they are being targeted.

And the reason Israel can get away with it is because Western Christians don’t give a damn about the natives, whatever their religion is.
Yes, it would be so convenient if we could label I/P as a religious war, between Jews and Moslems, but it isn’t.

In February 2003, I made my first of 3 trips to Claire Anastas’s ‘TOMB’

On 19 April I was on the 9th Floor @-CBS trying to get some info through the doors 0f 60 MINUTES RE: 21 April 2012 and the Global Call to Free Mordechai Vanunu

I spoke on the phone and emailed Ms. Maria Lutzenm that same day, but no reply ever came.

Monday, I will phone her again and ask her if I may PLEASE speak to a producer?

More from Claire’s Tomb and Vanunu Mordechai @-
http://www.wearewideawake.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2330&Itemid=257