NGOs Seek 'Justice' for Journalists, Media Forgets History
The tragic killing of a journalist and wounding of six others in southern Lebanon (Al Jazeera, 2025) is presented as a singular event, but it's a grim echo. We recall the 2006 Israeli attack on a UN observer post in Khiam, Lebanon, killing four peacekeepers, or the 2000 killing of Palestinian-American journalist Mazen Dana by Israeli forces. The pattern is clear: accountability for attacks on
non-combatants, especially journalists, often becomes a diplomatic footnote when the perpetrator is an ally. While NGOs applaud Lebanon's overdue pursuit of justice, mainstream media historically frames such incidents as unfortunate 'crossfire' rather than a consequence of disproportionate force. This recurring amnesia serves a convenient narrative, allowing policymakers to champion 'freedom of
the press' globally, while conveniently sidestepping the inconvenient history of those they protect. (How many 'investigations' into Israeli actions end with 'regrettable incident' and no genuine accountability? Far too many.)