Hallucinatory Uncle From America': Israeli TV Promotes Left Group's Plans for Anti-Beck Protests

Israel-based reporter Sharona Schwartz is monitoring media coverage of the Beck events from Jerusalem:

“Hallucinatory” and possessing an “imaginary world.” Those are just some of the choice words being used to describe Glenn Beck among left wing activists and in the local mainstream media as preparations are at a climax for the Restoring Courage event Wednesday.

The left-wing group Peace Now posted a call to members to join a demonstration against Glenn outside the site in the Old City of Jerusalem. In a video posted on their Facebook page called “Don’t Butt in, Glenn Beck,” they say, “The extreme broadcaster from America is the darling of the Israeli right” whose leaders will “will show up to hug the hallucinatory uncle from America.”

The video also strings together some of Glenn’s past statements, most taken wildly out of context or without Beck's further elaborations, embellished with sinister music to create a faux dramatic effect.

When one grants an interview one can only hope the reporter will make the most minimal effort to listen. That, unfortunately, did not pan out on for Glenn on Israel’s Channel 2 newscast Monday night.

After interviewing Glenn in the Old City, reporter Ilan Lukatch filed a report concluding “the ultra-right wing American broadcaster Glenn Beck is trying to guard his big mouth from making provocations.” Lukatch repeatedly emphasized Glenn’s relationship with Israeli settlers and the right wing of the political spectrum here, saying “peace is not a word launched a lot from his mouth.”

“Problem is that the imaginary world of our “best friend” is pretty problematic,” said Lukatch. “After the massacre in Norway last month, where an extreme right winger murdered 70 boys and girls at a summer camp, he chose to note that the camp reminded him of the Hitler Youth.” He did at least add Glenn’s explanation of the quote: “If you listen to the broadcast, it is a principle: let’s not send our kids to indoctrinate them on a political philosophy of a political party.”

So as not to commit the same sin of omission as some reporters, here is the overall picture of the coverage. When Glenn visited the Knesset last month, the Israeli MSM coverage was overall positive. On this visit, reports have been mixed: acknowledging his popularity and the success of his events but also expressing skepticism of the sincerity of his support for Israel. The more critical reviews appear to be written by those unable to see past their own political views and separate them from this non-political event.

If you look closely and compare the Peace Now and Channel 2 News videos, you’ll notice something interesting: the clips the reporter pulled are from precisely the same video posted on the Peace Now Facebook page. Notice it has the same faux drama music in the background. Think the reporter might have an agenda? Listen to his report, an act he didn’t even have the courtesy to grant Glenn.

But it’s probably just me being "hallucinatory."