What is PRIMER?

PRIMER-Israel is a group of volunteers inspired by the well-established PRIMER-Connecticut and PRIMER-Massachusetts, which have long been monitoring newspapers for bias and inaccuracies for many years.

The purpose of PRIMER-Israel is to empower English speaking residents of Israel to use their knowledge to help provide accurate information for readers of newspapers outside Israel.

If you would like to get involved, click on the Join PRIMER link on the left or send an email to info@primerisrael.org.

Scottish Friends of Israel puts out a lot of interesting and useful information. We are starting to collect it and will post it in its own area on the PRIMER-Israel web site.

The first piece, entitled "How Ironic!," explains how the surrounding Arab states invaded tiny Israel, with the stated object of occupying Israel and driving the Jews into the sea, the day after Jewish sovereignty was reestablished in 1948.

Instead, Israel survived and nineteen years later recaptured territory the Arab invaders had taken and occupied until then, and now it is Israel which is being accused of being the occupier!

Click Here to get to the Scottish Friends of Israel area, including "How Ironic!"

Resources

Many organizations have put together excellent resources that may be used to respond to the unfair attacks and biased reporting. PRIMER sees no need to duplicate these efforts. The following is a list of some of these excellent resources. This list will be slightly different each time it's viewed.

• The Daily Alert: The Daily Alert contains synopses of articles and links to the full versions. It's worth looking through their archives.
• PRIMER's own resource list: The PRIMER web site contains a general list of resources for activists. Most of the sites cited have additional very useful information.
• EMET, Endowment for Middle East Truth
• FLAME
• HonestReporting
• Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• JINSA
• MEMRI
• Palestinian Media Watch
• ZOA

Food For Thought

"Israel is the only country whose very right to stay on the map is constantly questioned.

"The true reason is simple: Israel is a Jewish state. This is the reason it is loved by many, and this is the reason it is hated by so many as well. Democracy and human rights are just the popular ways to justify the hatred, since Western society seems to be sensitive to these two issues nowadays."

Posted to the Jewish Faculty Roundtable discussion list by George Kaminski (kamin1ga@cmich.edu).

Bias and Misinformation

Media bias and misinformation frequently characterize what is reported about the state of Israel in the American press and around the world.

This practice, when left unchallenged, negatively molds public opinion, which steers public policy, and can adversely affect Israel's well being and continued existence.

PRIMER — Promoting Responsibility in Middle East Reporting — is dedicated to countering media bias and misinformation on a regional basis. PRIMER focuses on generating letters to editors.

Collectively, Regional Groups Can Make a Difference!

Regional groups with as few as a half dozen active members can help promote the shared interests of America and Israel and can make a big difference. PRIMER anticipates the creation of a network of regional monotoring and response groups across the country and is eager to assist in establishing other regional groups for effectively Promoting Responsibility in Middle East Reporting.

The reality about civilian casualties generally ignored by the press.