It's a war, not a reality show

Media outlets compete openly, broadcasting non-stop, airing commercials between reports of slain and interviews with injured soldiers. Enemy sees, hears, and responds. Gil, reserve officer, asks TV industry to tone it down, remember this is war, not 'Survivor'

Gil Chen|Published: 07.28.06 , 01:26

Hello to all,

Israel has been in a complicated, three-front war for more than two weeks. The homefront absorbs hundreds of rockets on a daily basis. People are killed and injured, property is damaged, but there's no panic.

On the southern front and even more so, on the northern front, our brave, motivated soldiers are fighting hard, on-going battles, almost face-to-face with the enemy, in tough urban terrain that requires 120 percent awareness every hour of the day.

Soldiers are wounded. Soldiers are dying. It's a war.

Soldiers resting (Photo: Reuters)

As of now, there appears to be support for the soldiers, and for the political echelon that decided to wage a war that crosses border, nationalities, ethnicities and religions in order to fight its enemy – the Hizbullah terror organization. For the time being, there is a general consensus that this is a just war.

However, the enemy, skilled in soldiering and field operations, is no less proficient at gleaning information from the media, sadly, primarily our media – the one that films and broadcasts non-stop, manifesting the stiff competition between three stations, airing commercials between reports of the slain and interviews with injured soldiers.

The enemy is listening

The enemies, on their part, listen and learn (see Israelis in Lebanon) and respond at once. They pick up immediately on the Israeli sensitivity that we try so hard to broadcast (pilots interviewed with a plane/helicopter in the background, apologizing for dropping bombs on populated areas). They understand our lack of confidence from interviews with soldiers and with junior and senior commanders.

I do not see the distinction between a platoon or company commander, who briefs his soldiers before a mission, and a division commander, who boasts or physiologically analyzes Hassan Nasrallah before the eyes of the nation (Head of Aerial Intelligence in a press briefing early this week).

Not a reality series

My complaint is not against the soldiers, but rather, against the media's openness. I support censorship (even though it sounds bad), support borders and restraint. You there, at Channel 2, 10, or 1 – please, it's not another program of 'Survivor 1-2-3-whatever'; it's not another chapter of 'Next Top Model'. Despite the fact that most of your interviewees are almost always the same age, they are reserve or compulsory soldiers and, like you and me, they're in the middle of a war.

And you – Ms. IDF Spokesperson, Mr. Chief of Staff, and Mr. Defense Minister: all it takes from you is a small decision, not that complicated, not life-threatening – the opposite, in fact. Provide a number of clear, unequivocal regulations to stop this new reality series. I promise you that almost no one will protest. We'll even feel better knowing that there is someone responsible, direct, and sure of himself, if only you'd agree to make a few decisions on the matter.

Everyone would be glad of this, except perhaps some producers – who aren’t really lifting their heads enough to notice that we're in a war, but rather are busy racing their rivals to get another item, another exposing photograph – more interesting than their competition's, another quote from a "senior" soldier who return from Lebanon in 2000 in response to the question 'So, what should we do?' Seriously, come on.

Solidarity, not rifts

A special appeal to journalists, commentators and the various generals called upon to present 'another angle' to the situation. Please, despite the fact that you're so critical and despite the fact that you 'were there', despite the fact that you're really angry – stop telling us that the military echelon is mad at the political echelon or vice versa. Stop telling us that they're tying the chief of the command's hands. Stop gossiping. I know it's itching to get out, but try to control yourselves.

There's a time for everything and this is the time for solidarity, not rifts. Now is the time to instill confidence and decisiveness in Israel's public, not to sow fear. We're at war, so please be a little quiet and stop this babble. Put on some good Israeli music, better than all of this chatter.

And if you really, really love this country as I do (and I'm sure you do), even try to lift morale and sow strength. Radiate stamina and patience, and believe in the justness of the cause. Do that, because you know as well as I do that, in the end, we'll win this thing, but the way there is no less important than the final destination.