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AL JAZEERA AND THE TRIUMPH OF TELEVISED PROPAGANDA JAZEERA TRIUMPH AND THE TELEVISED PROPAGANDA The Qatari-based Al Jazeera television network has played a key role in propagating the “Arab spring” myth, by broadcasting lies and staged images, and in legitimising Arab regimes aligned with the United States and Israel. he Qatari news channel Al Jazeera, which in the space of 15 years established itself in the Arab world as an innovative news outlet, suddenly embarked on a vast intoxication campaign to overthrow the regimes of Libya and Syria through any means. This was not a conjunctural shift but one that was planned long in advance by individuals who shrewdly concealed their personal interests from the public. On 20 September 2011, Al Jazeera announced the resignation of its Director General, Wadah Khanfar, and his replacement by a member of the royal family, Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim Al Thani. Sheikh Hamad is a Qatargas executive and spent a year at the head office of Total in Paris. He is he former Chairman of Al Jazeera's Board of Directors. This development is portrayed by the Atlanticist media in three different ways: as a forced resignation and a takeover of the channel by the State; as revenge on the part of the Palestinian Authority following the release of the Palestine Papers (http://tinyurl.com/3scyvo4); and, finally, as the result of the WikiLeaks leak that exposed some of the connections between Khanfar and he United States. While these interpretations may contain some truth, they nevertheless obscure the overriding factor: the role of Qatar in the war against Libya. At his point, a flash backwards is needed. AlJazeera’s Origins: A Desire for Dialogue Al Jazeera was conceived by two French-Israeli personalities, the David and Jean Frydman brothers, after the assassination of their friend Yitzhak Rabin. According to David Frydman, the goal was to create a medium where sraelis and Arabs could discuss freely, exchange arguments and get to know each other, considering that this was prevented by the war situation and hereby frustrated any peace prospect.' For the creation of the channel, the Frydman brothers benefited from a combination of circumstances: the Saudi Orbit company had reached an agreement with the BBC to set up a news broadcast in Arabic. But the political demands posed by the absolutist Saudi monarchy quickly proved incompatible with the professional independence of British journalists. The agreement was terminated and the majority of Arabic BBC journalists found hemselves out on the street. They were then recruited to launch Al Jazeera. The Frydman brothers were eager to have their television station perceived as an Arabic channel. They managed to enlist the new Emir of Qatar, Sheik Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, who with the help of London and Washington ad just overthrown his father, who was accused of pro-lranian sentiments. Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa soon realised the potential advantages of being at he centre of the Arab-Israeli discussions, which had already lasted for more han half a century and were likely to drag on even longer. At the same time, e authorised the Israeli Ministry of Commerce to open an office in Doha, as by Thierry Meyssan © 27 September 20II Voltaire Network Website: http://www.voltairenet.org Article posted at: http://tinyurl.com/3evvssw by Thierry Meyssan © 27 September 20II Voltaire Network Website: http://www.voltairenet.org Article posted at: http://tinyurl.com/3evvssw NEXUS ° II DECEMBER 2011 - JANUARY 2012 www.nexusmagazine.com