Israel’s Foreign Ministry blasted international media for “synchronized bias,” after a study showed outlets overwhelmingly scrutinized Israel while downplaying Iran’s war crimes during Operation Rising Lion.
The Foreign Ministry launched a scathing attack on international media Monday, accusing major outlets of abandoning journalism and turning into political actors against Israel.
The condemnation followed a Jewish People Policy Institute study that analyzed coverage of Operation Rising Lion across 17 top news platforms—together reaching more than two billion readers last June.
“When 150 media outlets choose in a synchronized manner to stop reporting news, to throw journalistic values and plurality into the trash, and instead publish a uniform, pre-scripted manifesto against Israel—that tells you how great the bias is,” the Ministry charged. “This is not journalism. This is politics.”
📊 Key Findings from the Study:
- 77% of legal coverage targeted Israel, while only 23% addressed Iran—despite Iran’s systematic civilian strikes.
- CNN and The New York Times dedicated about three-quarters of their legal analysis to Israel; Al Jazeera English reached 92%.
- Coverage focused on Israel even during days when Iranian missiles hit civilian centers, universities, and Soroka Hospital.
- Iran’s use of cluster munitions, banned under international law, received far less scrutiny.
- Iranian officials deploying “legal rhetoric” were quoted more often than Israeli officials defending IDF operations.
The report warned that repeated use of terms like “war crimes” and “violations of international law” in reference to Israel fuels delegitimization campaigns.
Dr. Robert Neufeld, one of the authors, concluded: “Israel is examined under a legal magnifying glass, while Iran—responsible for systematic shootings on civilians—is treated leniently. To win the battle for global consciousness, Israel must sharpen its legal messaging and digital presence.”
The Institute recommended Israel publish official legal reports at the start of each conflict, increase legal language in state communications, and expose enemy violations to counterbalance media narratives.
The Foreign Ministry’s rebuke underscores Israel’s growing frustration with what it sees as a media war as fierce as the battlefield itself.
