Palestinian protesters run for cover from teargas fired by Israeli troops near the border fence, east of Khan Younis, in the Gaza Strip, Tuesday, May 15, 2018. Israel faced a growing backlash Tuesday and new charges of using excessive force, a day after Israeli troops firing from across a border fence killed 59 Palestinians and wounded more than 2,700 at a mass protest in Gaza. Adel Hana/AP Photo
On Thursday, May 17, Wisconsin Public Radio’s “Central Time” program featured an interview with Playgrounds for Palestine’s Susan Abulhawa as a counterweight to earlier pro-Israel coverage of current events in Gaza.
This is significant: for years WPR and NPR have avoided this type of coverage. Lately NPR has been running a few mildly sympathetic stories about Palestine and Gaza, and this is the first time WPR has ventured into the fray.
Apparently WPR is now receiving significant criticism from pro-Zionist sources, and we are asking you to let them know that you appreciate this kind of coverage and hope it continues.
Besides her role with Playgrounds for Palestine, Susan Abulhawa is an acclaimed author of two novels and has been featured at the Wisconsin Book Festival. MRSCP has worked with Playgrounds for Palestine nationally and locally for many years, including the installation of a PfP playground in the Tel Al Sultan neighborhood of Rafah.
Please listen to the show and then write, individually or together, to:
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Sheryl.gasser@wpr.org (Ideas Network Director)
Listener@wpr.org (Audience Services Department for comments)
Judith.sierspoisson@wpr.org (Central Time Producer)
Recall that during the Intifada of the early 2000’s NPR also had some mildly sympathetic coverage, and a campaign was launched by Israel’s supporters to smear NPR as “National Palestinian Radio” and seriously threaten their funding. Ever since NPR and its affiliates have been reluctant to give air time to Palestinian voices or their supporters. We need to speak up.