THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS Friday, July 8, 1983 15 Film Hits NBC Coverage of Lebanon War By HELEN SILVER WASHINGTON (JTA) — A 60-minute documentary which was previewed here and in New York last week was sharply critical of NBC News' coverage of the war in Lebanon last summer and accused the network "of vio- lating all principles of re- sponsible journalism," ac- cording to the film's director and writer, Peter Goldman. Goldman, who is director of the Americans for a Safe Israel, a New York-based organization that believes Israel is essential to West- ern security and interests and supports retention of the territories occupied since the 1967 war, accused NBC of indulging in the "practice of advocacy jour- nalism." "NBC held a point of view, shaped the news to fit this viewpoint while omit- ting or minimizing news which did not fit its bias," the documentary charged. "The network ceased being an observer or an effective source of information, but became a protagonist for. one side — the PLO." The documentary, ti- tled, "NBC in Lebanon: A Study in Media Misrep- resentation," examined the NBC Nightly News programs between June 4 and Aug. 31, 1982. Ac- cording to the documen- tary, nearly 600 minutes of news coverage was dedicated to the war in Lebanon during this period with less than 30 minutes of this time given to the Israeli view or the factual background of the war. "Pro-PLO Lebanese lead- ers were interviewed 14 times while anti-PLO Lebanese leaders were interviewed only twice, while Lebanese opinion was strongly against the PLO. Ten non-official Americans were interviewed on the NBC Nightly News, all of them anti-Israel, while the views of the many impartial Americans (including mili- tary officials, Congressmen and clergymen) who visited Lebanon during the fight- ing and discovered that Is- rael's interpretation of events was essentially cor- rect, were censored by the network," the documentary charged. A spokesperson for NBC said the network would have no comment at this time since it has not had an opportunity to view the documentary. The documentary used film clips of reports from Lebanon as well as com- ments by the anchormen and commentators for NBC News to demonstrate "that Yasir Arafat and the PLO were consistently presented in a favorable light and glorified by NBC while Is- rael and its leaders were denegrated. Israel was ac- cused of being the aggressor in the Middle East conflict and the Arab version of events was presented as fact. Grossly exaggerated civilian casualty figures based on PLO sources were broadcast and not corrected when they were shown to be patently false. Pertinent in- formation was withheld by the network and falsehoods were commonplace," the documentary charged. Furthermore, the documentary said, "NBC did not inform its viewers that its reporters were not free to tell the truth because of the PLO's reign of terror against journalists." The documentary said NBC provided "only cursory" mention of the back- ground of the war "pre- ferring instead to portray the conflict as a relentless and deliberate Israeli at- tack on the civilian popu- lation of Lebanon." documentary The charged NBC with having "misled and deceived" the viewers "by denying to the public the objective news it has the right and need to be shown." The documentary showed clips of the humane medical care of the Lebanese wounded by the Israelis and jubilant Lebanese returning to their homes under Israeli occupa- tion in southern Lebanon as examples of pro-Israeli news clips which Goldman maintained could have been contained in the NBC News broadcasts to add to a more balanced presentation. While NBC was selected for the documentary, Goldman said, "NBC's coverage of the war was only marginally worse than ABC or CBS. The three networks and PBS have all been guilty of misrepresent- ing the news about the Mid- dle East and other issues." Goldman told a press conference after the Washington preview, which 100 persons attended, that "If NBC and the other networks continue to misrepresent issues and practice advo- cacy journalism, public reaction and legal action to prevent further abuse of the First Amendment will become necessary. We hope that this film will make the public opinion makers, journalists and government officials aware of this very serious problem." The film was financed by the Americans for a Safe Is- rael which lacks- the funds to buy air time for it to be shown on television, Goldman said. He added that the tape will be dis- FIRESTONE JEWELRY tributed to journalism schools and may be pur- chased from his group for private screenings. Wholesale Diamonds & Jewelry Remounting Jewelry & Waich Repair We Make Our Own Glasses SUITE 318 ADVANCE BLDG 23077 Greenfield at 9 Mile (313) 557-1860 All Shapes & Sizes in the Faceted Frames HEADQUARTERS FOR LATEST DOMESTIC AND MPORTED FRAME FASHIONS 1 ...I • PRESCRIPTIONS FOR GLASSES ACCURATELY FILLED • DESIGNER FRAMES N....0 in Eli MI NI UN IN i*$ 20 L .7mmerote Off next pur ciftaself-Imrwit airmrimrli complete pair of glasses' NIP Repair °Mr an 111. UM * Reasonably Priced ROSEN OPTICAL SERVICE 13720 W. 9 MILE nr. COOLIDGE LI 7-5068 OAK PARK, MICH. .1 coupon per family Mon: Fri. 9:30-6 Sat. 12-5 U 7-USEE NOW OPENWEDNESDAY FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE Widow of Dutch Nazi Wants to Promote Klan in Holland AMSTERDAM (JTA) — Mrs. Florry Rost Van Ton- ningen, widow of one of Hol- land's most notorious Nazi leaders before and during World War II and herself an unregenerated Nazi fana- tic, has proposed the estab- lishment of a Dutch equiv- alent of the Ku. Klux Klan as the best way to promote race hatred in The Nether- lands. She claims to have estab- lished contacts with the American Klan through U.S. soldiers stationed in West Germany. On June 26, she celebrated Germany's Midsummer Fest by entertaining a coterie of neo-Nazis and older Nazis of the Hitler era from Holland and West Germany at her villa in Kelp, a village near the town of Arnheim. The gatherings have be- come an annual event at the Van Tonningen summer home where one of the main themes is "the Jewish con- spiracy" which is supposed to be the "real power" be- hind Communism and capitalism, and ways to re- vive Nazism. Mrs. Van Tonningen is in her 60s. Her husband, Herman Rost Van Ton- ningen was deputy leader of the Dutch Nazi Party (NSB) in the 1930s and during the German occupation of Holland from 1940 to 1945. She was, at the time, leader of the NSB's "Girls Guide." Their wedding was attended by top Nazis from all over Europe. Herman Van Tonningen was arrested as a war crim- inal immediately after the liberation of Holland in 1945. A month later, he committed suicide in his jail cell. Reward Set in Vandalism The Deerfield Commu- nity Association has estab- lished a $500 reward for the arrest and conviction of the persons responsible for de- facing several homes on Edinborough June 26. John Crimmings of the association board said the fund included $200 from the association and $300 in pri- vate contributions. Crimmings said the re- ward plan is being pub- lished in area newspapers and in the Deerfield Village subdivision's newspaper which will be sent to every home in the subdivision. Two homes owned by Jewish residents were defaced with spray paint during the incident, an- other home had a win- dow broken and two lawns were torn up by automobiles. Crimmings said anyone with information should call the West Bloomfield police. If anonymity is re- quired, the witness can put a six-digit number on a plain piece of paper with the information and send it to the subdivision's Secret Witness Plan, 6747 Post Oak Dr., West Bloomfield 48033. Israel Tour for U.S. Scouts IRVING, Tex. — Ameri- can Boy and Girl Scouts of various religious and ethnic backgrounds will spend five weeks visiting Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Bethlehem, haifa and other spots of interest beginning July 17. Rabbi William H. Kraus, director, Jewish Relation- ships, Boy Scouts of America, said the group will participate in camping as well as sightseeing and learning about Israel's people and their customs. The trip is a joint venture of the Boy Scouts and the National Jewish Girl Scout Committee of the Synagogue Council of America. Shopping for a "good buy" has be- come one of America's favorite pas- times. It's always fun to find new things; see the new fashions and perhaps pick up something new for the house or family. Another favorite pastime is to come home from shopping, kick off the shoes and relax with a good cup of coffee. Maxwell House Coffee. The full-pleasant aroma and great- tasting, satisfying flavor is the perfect ending to a busy shop- ping day. Espe- cially when relaxing with K Ce -titled Kosher a close friend. The good talk. The good feelings. The warmth are some of the things that go along with Maxwell House Perhaps that's why many Jewish housewives don't 'shop' for Maxwell House' They simply buy it. It's the "smart buy" as any balabusta knows! So, no matter what your prefer- ence—instant or ground—when you pour Maxwell House,'' you pour relaxation. At its best...consis- tently cup after cup after cup. Gr mow/ F..Z ,rp,rat ion A living tradition in Jewish homes or over half a century.