Chris McGreal
Encyclopedia
Chris McGreal is a reporter for The Guardian
who frequently covers Middle East
issues.
, covering Mexico
and Central America
. In 1985 he moved to The Independent
, and then to The Guardian
in 1992. He reported from Johannesburg, South Africa for ten years, and then became The Guardians Jerusalem correspondent in 2002. He won the National Print Journalist of the Year (British Press) award from Amnesty International
in 1995, and in 2003 the Martha Gellhorn Prize for Journalism
, given for work that " penetrated the established version of events and told an unpalatable truth." In 2006 he moved back to South Africa as correspondent for the Guardian.
special report published in 2006, McGreal, who has covered both apartheid South Africa and Israel in his career, compared the two and alleged numerous similarities, citing the United States Department of State's annual human rights report for 1999. Among other claims, McGreal alleged that Israel's Population Registration Act is similar to an apartheid era South African Act of the same name. The latter categorized South Africans according to racial definitions in order to determine who could live in what land. McGreal alleges that the Israeli act "serves a similar purpose by distinguishing between nationality and citizenship. Arabs and Jews alike can be citizens, but each is assigned a separate 'nationality' marked on identity cards
(either spelled out or, more recently, in a numeric code), in effect determining where they are permitted to live, access to some government welfare programmes, and how they are likely to be treated by civil servants and policemen."
Extensive responses to McGreal's allegations were offered by several media watchdog organizations, including the Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in America
, the Britain Israel Communications and Research Centre
,
Engage
, and Honest Reporting
, which viewed his claims as false and defamatory. The Guardians letters editor reported that "more than 100 letters on the subject had been directed at the page, with roughly three endorsing the decision to deal with the subject, to every two against, most of the latter rejecting any apartheid analogy."
, a media watch organization, has organized campaigns complaining to The Guardian
about two Chris McGreal articles about European anti-Semitism
. The organization claimed that McGreal's 2003 article "The 'new' anti-semitism: is Europe in grip of worst bout of hatred since the Holocaust?", consisted of "paragraph after paragraph of baseless allegations by Jewish and Israeli leaders against Europe's Muslims, stating that their existence, growth and influence on the continent is a threat to Jews". It also described McGreal's 2005 article, "Rising UK anti-semitism blamed on media" as "one-sided".
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
who frequently covers Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
issues.
Career
McGreal started in journalism with the BBCBBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
, covering Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
and Central America
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
. In 1985 he moved to The Independent
The Independent
The Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
, and then to The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
in 1992. He reported from Johannesburg, South Africa for ten years, and then became The Guardians Jerusalem correspondent in 2002. He won the National Print Journalist of the Year (British Press) award from Amnesty International
Amnesty International
Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
in 1995, and in 2003 the Martha Gellhorn Prize for Journalism
Martha Gellhorn Prize for Journalism
The Martha Gellhorn Prize for Journalism, named for the renowned war correspondent, Martha Gellhorn, was established in 1999 by the Martha Gellhorn Trust. It is founded on the following principles:...
, given for work that " penetrated the established version of events and told an unpalatable truth." In 2006 he moved back to South Africa as correspondent for the Guardian.
Worlds Apart article
In a controversial GuardianThe Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
special report published in 2006, McGreal, who has covered both apartheid South Africa and Israel in his career, compared the two and alleged numerous similarities, citing the United States Department of State's annual human rights report for 1999. Among other claims, McGreal alleged that Israel's Population Registration Act is similar to an apartheid era South African Act of the same name. The latter categorized South Africans according to racial definitions in order to determine who could live in what land. McGreal alleges that the Israeli act "serves a similar purpose by distinguishing between nationality and citizenship. Arabs and Jews alike can be citizens, but each is assigned a separate 'nationality' marked on identity cards
Teudat Zehut
Teudat Zehut is the Israeli compulsory identity document, as prescribed in the Identity Card Carrying and Displaying Act of 1982:Any resident sixteen years of age or older must at all times carry an Identity card, and present it upon demand to a senior police officer, head of Municipal or Regional...
(either spelled out or, more recently, in a numeric code), in effect determining where they are permitted to live, access to some government welfare programmes, and how they are likely to be treated by civil servants and policemen."
Extensive responses to McGreal's allegations were offered by several media watchdog organizations, including the Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in America
Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in America
The Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in America is an American non-profit pro-Israel media watchdog group. The group says it was founded in 1982 "to respond to the Washington Post's coverage of Israel's Lebanon incursion", and to respond to what it considers the media's "general...
, the Britain Israel Communications and Research Centre
Britain Israel Communications and Research Centre
The Britain Israel Communications and Research Centre is a United Kingdom based organisation which claims to act to create a more supportive environment for Israel in the UK...
,
Engage
Engage (organization)
Engage is an organisation which publishes materials in opposition to what they see as left and liberal antisemitism, primarily in UK academic institutions. The group is made up of left-wing academic who oppose boycotts of Israel...
, and Honest Reporting
Honest Reporting
HonestReporting is a non-governmental organization that monitors the media for what it perceives as bias against Israel. The organization has affiliates in the United States, UK, Canada, Italy, and Brazil...
, which viewed his claims as false and defamatory. The Guardians letters editor reported that "more than 100 letters on the subject had been directed at the page, with roughly three endorsing the decision to deal with the subject, to every two against, most of the latter rejecting any apartheid analogy."
The new anti-Semitism and Rising UK anti-semitism blamed on media articles
Although describing McGreal as "The Guardian's usually excellent reporter" and as an "otherwise excellent Jerusalem correspondent" Arab Media WatchArab Media Watch
Arab Media Watch is a London-based media watchdog organization with the stated aim of working toward objective British media coverage of the Arab world. Founded in 2000, by Sharif Hikmat Nashashibi, Arab Media Watch is the "only organization of its kind in the UK". The organization monitors...
, a media watch organization, has organized campaigns complaining to The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
about two Chris McGreal articles about European anti-Semitism
Anti-Semitism
Antisemitism is suspicion of, hatred toward, or discrimination against Jews for reasons connected to their Jewish heritage. According to a 2005 U.S...
. The organization claimed that McGreal's 2003 article "The 'new' anti-semitism: is Europe in grip of worst bout of hatred since the Holocaust?", consisted of "paragraph after paragraph of baseless allegations by Jewish and Israeli leaders against Europe's Muslims, stating that their existence, growth and influence on the continent is a threat to Jews". It also described McGreal's 2005 article, "Rising UK anti-semitism blamed on media" as "one-sided".
External links
Articles by McGreal
- Worlds Apart Feb. 6, 2006.
- Rising UK anti-semitism blamed on media Jan. 25, 2005.