Israel Matzav: The 'incitement index'

The 'incitement index'

It sounds like the Israeli government is actually going to get serious about monitoring 'Palestinian' incitement in the media, a task that was left until now to private organizations like Palestinian Media Watch and MEMRI.

Yossi Kuperwasser, the director-general of the Strategic Affairs Ministry, is to bring a report on Palestinian incitement to the security cabinet, along with a new governmental mechanism – a so-called “incitement index” – that will monitor and quantify incitement on a regular basis.

“We ultimately see this as a litmus test to how the Palestinians are committed to peace,” a senior official in the Prime Minister’s Office said on Tuesday. “If the Palestinian leadership is putting extremists and terrorists on a pedestal as national heroes, that does not show a commitment to peace. By preparing their people for peace, a commitment to reconciliation can be demonstrated.”

The official said it was no coincidence this report and mechanism were coming to the security cabinet for a discussion just as the proximity talks were being started, sending a signal about the importance Israel attributes to the matter, and as a sign that Jerusalem expects this issue to be on the agenda during the indirect talks.

This sounds like a great idea so long as the index isn't used to demonstrate 'improvement' while significant amounts of incitement still exist. I'm glad to see that the government is taking an interest.

Israel Matzav: The 'incitement index'