Rupert Murdoch on Gaza
TL;DR
Rupert Murdoch voiced strong, but later retracted, criticism of alleged anti-Israel bias within Jewish-owned media outlets regarding the conflict.
Key Points
He posted a controversial 2012 tweet questioning why the "Jewish owned press" was consistently anti-Israel during a crisis involving Gaza.
Following backlash, the media proprietor issued an apology for the phrasing, admitting it was inopportune and potentially offensive.
His commentary at the time also highlighted alleged bias in outlets like CNN and the Associated Press against Israel.
Summary
Rupert Murdoch's public commentary regarding the Gaza conflict has primarily centered on the media's coverage rather than direct policy stances on the military action itself. In November 2012, during a period of conflict escalation, he tweeted a controversial question regarding why the "Jewish owned press" was "so consistently anti-Israel in every crisis." He later mentioned in a separate post his concern over CNN and AP bias against Israel, while questioning the stance of the sitting American president at the time regarding events involving Egypt and Israel. This positioning, which appeared to contrast with his long-standing support for Israel, led to public criticism and subsequent commentary from biographers about his complex views on Jewish entities and media ownership.
Following the initial tweet, the media mogul issued an apology, acknowledging that his phrasing was inopportune and caused offense, particularly to reporters who might have felt targeted. His initial claim suggested a unified, critical narrative among Jewish-owned outlets concerning Israeli actions, particularly regarding the Gaza situation. Biographers and commentators explored this incident as a revealing moment, linking it to his generational context and an ongoing, unresolved question about his personal feelings toward Jewish people, juxtaposed against his clear business and geopolitical support for Israel and neoconservative policies. This episode led to an admission of fault for the controversial framing of the issue.
Frequently Asked Questions
Rupert Murdoch's public focus concerning the Gaza conflict has been primarily on the media's coverage rather than specific military or diplomatic policy. His most noted intervention was a controversial 2012 tweet questioning the alleged anti-Israel slant of Jewish-owned press during a flare-up.
Yes, the media executive apologized after facing significant criticism for his social media post regarding the press's perceived bias against Israel. He acknowledged that his use of the term "Jewish owned press" was poorly phrased and caused offense.
He publicly accused certain media outlets, including specifically mentioning CNN and AP in one post, of exhibiting bias in favor of Israel's adversaries. This was framed within the context of an ongoing security crisis for the nation.
Sources6
Murdoch slams 'Jewish owned' press on Israel
Rupert Murdoch Apologizes For Saying Jewish Media Is Anti-Israel
Rupert Murdoch and the Jews | Michael Wolff
Rupert Murdoch apologises after tweet criticising Jewish press over anti-Israel Gaza coverage
Rupert Murdoch Slams 'Jewish Owned' Media Bias
Rupert Murdoch's Jewish problem. And his Egyptian one.
* This is not an exhaustive list of sources.