Washington Post Reporter William Booth Detained by Israel

I’ve run across this  media manipulaiton previously with regard to Syria. Where reporters stage news events- then report on them as if it's something real. Apparently a passerby foiled what might have been a breaking news story playing all across tell-a-vision today.

A police spokeswoman, Luba Samri, said in a statement:“A passer-by complained that he witnessed a number of people intending to stage a provocative situation and disturbances by young Arabs toward policemen responsible for security in the area, apparently for propaganda purposes. In view of the complaint, the policemen detained a number of suspects in order to clarify the facts in a sensitive and discreet manner at the nearby police facility.”

She added: “When the details of the incident were clarified and no suspicion at all of criminal activity was raised, the detainees were released immediately by the investigating officer without any other steps taken in the matter.”

It should be criminal to stage provocations for the purpose of propaganda or perception management!

The Foreign Ministry said in a statement: “This is a regrettable incident, casting an unnecessary shadow over the work of an excellent journalist. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will ask the police for the necessary clarifications.”

Mr. Booth is a veteran correspondent for The Post, having served as a bureau chief in Mexico City, Miami and Los Angeles; as a pop culture correspondent; and as a reporter covering conflicts on several continents.

Covering and creating conflicts on several continents, no doubt.

Police briefly detain Washington Post reporter for ‘incitement’

An Arab woman told Booth that if he paid some of the bystanders, they would provoke the nearby police officers and start a violent demonstration, Jerusalem Police spokesperson Asi Aharoni told The Times of Israel.

“Police officers noticed that she said if you pay these youngsters, they will start the provocation and you’ll be able to take pictures,” Aharoni said.

 A passerby complained to Border Police officers, who were standing a few feet away, the Jerusalem Police spokesperson said.

William Booth- Journalists as spooks/spooks as journalists I do NOT believe the claim regarding the  presence of the Arab woman-  What makes more sense is the passerby saw Mr Booth give money to children to throw rocks so he could take pictures, and that passerby notified the police. I doubt there was any Arab woman present at all or she too would have been arrested. Israeli Times reporting is not consistent with NYTs reporting in that regard. So the Arab woman claim can be discounted as simple Israeli propaganda used to incite hatred against the Arab population. In other words, typical stuff.