Home UPDATE to “Why does Facebook enable Palestinians to incite & glorify anti-Semitic terrorism, but bans users who don’t?”

UPDATE to “Why does Facebook enable Palestinians to incite & glorify anti-Semitic terrorism, but bans users who don’t?”

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Continued from:

Why does Facebook enable Palestinians to incite & glorify anti-Semitic terrorism, but bans users who don’t?


SaveTheWest conducted follow-up research regarding our recent Facebook report to determine:

  • If Facebook banned the two egregious violators of its ethical policies that we identified in our original report, the Al Quds News Network, and Fatah.
  • If Facebook removed any of the posts that these users had published, highlighted in our report, that clearly violate its policies (which had not already been removed by the time our report went live).
  • If Facebook allowed either or both of these users to continue publishing materials that violated its policies.

This update documents the fact that as of September 18/19:

(1) Facebook has left the accounts of both the Al Quds News Network and Fatah active.

(2) Facebook has not removed any of these users’ posts that clearly violate its policies.

(3) Facebook has allowed both users to continue publishing materials that violate its policies — and one of these posts may have helped to incite at least five terrorist attacks on Jews.

 


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(1) Facebook has left the accounts of both the Al Quds News Network and Fatah active

The Facebook page of the Al Quds News Network is located at: https://www.facebook.com/QudsN/

Here is a screencap that was taken on September 18, showing that it was still active:

18sept16-aqnn-page-still-active

The Facebook page of Fatah is located at: https://www.facebook.com/Official.Fateh.1965/

Here is a screencap that was taken on September 19, showing that it was still active:

19sept16-fatah-page-active


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(2) Facebook has not removed any of these users’ posts that clearly violate its policies

In our original report, we provided screencaps of, and links to numerous items that these users published, which are clear violations of Facebook’s ethical policies (and which had not already been removed by the time our report went live).  Each post glorified a specific terrorist, who is known or reputed to have murdered Jews.  To see the original screencaps, and English translations of the Arabic text associated with each post, see our original report.

As of September 18, as the following screencaps and links show, all of these items are still published on Facebook:

The AQNN Palestinian “terror tunnel” glorification/threat video (viewed 235,000 times):

Llocated at: https://www.facebook.com/QudsN/videos/1218439738232925/

18sept16-tunnel-video-still-active


Fatah’s post glorifying terrorist Abdel Mohsen Hassouna

Located at: https://www.facebook.com/Official.Fateh.1965/photos/a.1591709777754363.1073741828.1591249977800343/1750682565190416/?type=3

18sept16-fatah-post-1-still-up


Fatah’s post glorifying terrorist Ahmad Camel

Located at: https://www.facebook.com/Official.Fateh.1965/photos/a.1591709777754363.1073741828.1591249977800343/1751035618488444/?type=3

18sept16-fatah-post-2-still-up


Fatah’s post that glorifies Palestinians who murder Jews by running them over with cars

Located at: https://www.facebook.com/Official.Fateh.1965/photos/a.1591709777754363.1073741828.1591249977800343/1750188108573195/?type=3

18sept16-fatah-post-3-still-up


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(3) Facebook has allowed both users to continue publishing materials that violate its policies – and one of these posts may have helped to incite at least five terrorist attacks on Jews

On Friday, September 16, there were three Palestinian terrorist attacks.

On the morning of Saturday, September 17, a Palestinian approached several IDF officers, under the auspices of reviewing some papers. He then pulled a large knife from out of his pants and attempted to murder these soldiers.

The entire incident was captured on security video, including the officers’ shooting of this terrorist, Hatem Abdel-Hafiz al-Shaloudi, who later died at the scene.

This story was covered widely in the Israeli news media. Even the Palestinian News Network presented the story accurately:

Palestinian man shot, killed after alleged stab attack in Hebron Saturday morning

18sept16-pnn-report-story-as-attack-not-martyr


The Al Quds News Network uploaded this video to Facebook, and posted it with the claim that this terrorist was “a martyr”

As noted in our original report, the Al Quds News Network (“AQNN”) is an extremely popular “news” source and social media portal among young Palestinians, and is reportedly well-known for posting “snuff” videos, of Jews being murdered (1, 2).

The AQNN decided to use Facebook to promote the view that al-Shaloudi was not a terrorist, but rather, was a “martyr,” and explicitly labeled him as such in the caption to the above video:

Located here: https://www.facebook.com/QudsN/videos/vl.1827501367485333/1264759556934276/?type=1

18sept16-aqnn-video-frame-of-jordanian-stabber-w-text

Here is a close-up of the caption:

18sept16-aqnn-video-frame-of-jordanian-stabber-w-text-callout

The text reads:

شاهد لحظة تنفيذ الشهيد حاتم الشلودي عملية الطعن التي أسفرت عن جرح أحد جنود الاحتلال وسط الخليل صباح اليوم.

Which, according to Google Translate, reads as follows in Arabic:

“Witness the moment the implementation of the martyr Hatem Alchloda appeal process that resulted in the injury of one of the Israeli soldiers the center of Hebron this morning.”

18sept16-calling-jordanian-who-attempted-to-murder-idf-a-martry-2

This post was an explicit violation of Facebook’s ethical policies, as articulated in its Community Standards, which state the following (emphasis added):

Dangerous Organizations: What types of organizations we prohibit on Facebook.

We don’t allow any organizations that are engaged in the following to have a presence on Facebook:

* Terrorist activity, or

* Organized criminal activity.

We also remove content that expresses support for groups that are involved in the violent or criminal behavior mentioned above. Supporting or praising leaders of those same organizations, or condoning their violent activities, is not allowed.

Given this, Facebook would have every legal and moral justification for permanently banning the AQNN — just as it did after it removed the “snuff video” that served as the catalyst for our original report.


Within 48 hours, the AQNN’s video — and caption — was viewed more than 200,000 times

As an indication of the AQNN’s immense influence and reach within the Palestinian territories, the following screencap of its Facebook video page, taken Monday, September 19 at 6:30pm — 48 hours after it posted this video — shows that it has been viewed 209,217 times, and gained 8,336 “Likes”:

18sept16-aqnn-video-frame-209k-views-8300-likes


Also within this 48-hour period, there were five more Palestinian terrorist attacks

Since Friday, September 16, there have been seven terrorist attacks on Jews, including six stabbings and a car ramming.  Three of these stabbing attacks occurred in the 48 hours after the AQNN posted the Facebook video that claimed one of these terrorists was a “martyr”:

  • how-to-stab-jew-in-the-neck
    Excerpt of Palestinian propaganda video, showing how to stab a Jew in the neck to have highest likelihood of killing the victim (Courtesy: Times of Israel).

    A stabbing attack in Jerusalem injured two Israeli police officers.  One officer is recovering; the other, a female, is clinging to life in an ICU after severe stab wounds to her neck
    (Note: Palestinians have been publicizing instructional videos and other materials that show how to stab a Jew in the neck, to ensure the highest likelihood of killing the victim; sample image at right.)


Conclusion

In our original report, we documented the fact that Facebook instituted immediate, permanent bans against two counter-terrorism users who merely posted opinions that the social media giant found objectionable. Yet it has not only allowed two of the most notorious violators of its ethical policies to not only remain active, but to continue posting materials that are clearly designed to incite, glorify and justify terrorism against Jews.

Did the fact that Facebook enabled the AQNN to explicitly depict as a hero a terrorist who had an attempted to murder Jews, help to incite the additional attacks in the following 48 hours?  There is no way to know for sure.

One thing, however, is certain: Facebook’s acts in this regard can only help facilitate the mass incitement of terrorism against Jews, by users whom, according to its ethical policies, should have been banned long ago.

If, after reading this report, you would like to express your thoughts to Facebook, please click here.


Bibliography

Presented in chronological order.

2 Palestinians ram truck into West Bank bus stop, one of them killed: Palestinian man killed, woman injured, as they try to run over people near Kiryat Arba; 3 Israelis treated for mild injuries; knife found in vehicle, by Judah Ari Gross, Times of Israel, September 16, 2016, 2:15 pm.

Amid West Bank terror spike, IDF boosts forces in Hebron: Extra battalion sent to flashpoint city after three attacks in two days; upcoming holidays raise specter of renewed violence, by Judah Ari Gross, Times of Israel, September 17, 2016, 9:47 pm.  Excerpt:

On Friday morning, a Jordanian national was shot and killed as he attempted to stab a Border Police officer at the Damascus Gate in Jerusalem. Less than an hour later, a soldier shot and killed a Palestinian man and seriously wounded a Palestinian woman who allegedly carried out a car-ramming attack outside the Kiryat Arba settlement next to Hebron.

On Friday afternoon, a bus driver was also lightly wounded when unidentified perpetrators threw rocks and glass bottles full of paint at his vehicle on the highway between Jerusalem and the Ma’ale Adumim settlement. Finally on Friday evening, a soldier was lightly wounded in a stabbing attack in Hebron. The assailant was shot and killed by forces at the Gilbert checkpoint near the Tel Rumeida neighborhood. […]

On Saturday morning an IDF soldier was lightly wounded in a stabbing attack in the West Bank city of Hebron. The assailant, identified as Hatem Abdel-Hafiz al-Shaloudi, was shot and killed by security forces near the Tel Rumeida neighborhood of the city, the army said.

Stabbing attack in Jerusalem’s Old City: Two seriously wounded in stabbing attack near Herod’s Gate in Old City. Terrorist neutralized; by David Rosenberg, Arutz Sheva, September 19, 2016, 7:45am. Excerpt:

Two Israelis were wounded Monday morning in a terror attack in the Old City of Jerusalem. Initial reports indicate the two were stabbed near Herod’s Gate, and that the attacker has been neutralized.

Both of the victims have been identified as police officers. One, a 38-year old female officer, is in serious condition. The second victim, a 45-year old male officer, is in moderate condition.

Two Palestinians shot dead in alleged Hebron stabbing attempt: Assailants killed after approaching border guards in flashpoint city with knives drawn, police say, by Judah Ari Gross, The Times of Israel, September 19, 2016, 2:33 pm. Excerpt:

Border Police officers shot and killed two Palestinian men apparently attempting to carry out a stabbing attack near the Tomb of the Patriarchs pilgrimage site in Hebron on Monday, police said. They approached the officers before taking out knives and attempting to stab a group of them. The Border Police officers opened fire at the assailants, hitting both of them, police said.

One was pronounced dead a short while later, while the other was taken to Jerusalem’s Shaare Zedek Medical Center in critical condition and died of his wounds a few hours later, police said. The assailants were identified as cousins Muhannad Jamil al-Rajabi, 21, and Amir Jamal al-Rajabi, 17, by the Palestinian health ministry. They were both residents of Hebron.

Another stabbing attempt foiled in Hevron: For the second time today, a stabbing attempt was foiled in Hevron this evening, by Uzi Baruch, Arutz Sheva, September 19, 2016, 10:22pm. Excerpt:

IDF forces foiled an attempt tonight (Monday) to stab a soldier in the Abu Sneineh neighborhood of Hevron. During routine searches, a terrorist attempted to attack the unit and was neutralized without being shot. He was arrested and taken for questioning by security forces.

Police arrest brothers of East Jerusalem man who stabbed cops: Policewoman in very serious condition with neck wounds, male colleague stable with moderate injuries after attack near Old City, The Times of Israel, September 19, 2016, 11:25 pm. Excerpt:

Israeli police on Monday arrested the three brothers of an East Jerusalem man who stabbed and wounded two police officers outside the capital’s Old City earlier in the day. The three were suspected of expressing support for the stabbings, and police were investigating whether they helped their brother plan and carry out the attack. The assailant, 20-year-old Ayman Kurd, a resident of the Ras al-Amoud neighborhood, was shot and critically wounded during the attack, police said.

A 38-year-old policewoman was seriously wounded in the assault, and a 45-year-old policeman sustained moderate injuries.

As terror returns to Israel’s streets, UN envoy urges restraint: After 8 attacks since Friday, Mladenov says sides ‘must take measures to preserve calm’; Herzog blames government for renewed violence, by Times of Israel staff, September 19, 2016, 9:05pm.

5 Days of Terror in Israel, what happened?: Since Friday, there has been a surge in terror attacks. We are here to inform you of those attacks and try to figure out why they happened. Created by StandWithUs, for PlayBuzz.com, September 20, 2016.

Israel: Palestinian killed after attempted stabbing, Boston Herald (via AP), September 20, 2016.

Soldiers foil stabbing at Kiryat Arba bus stop — army: Palestinian teenager shot, seriously wounded as he tries to attack Israelis outside West Bank settlement, by Judah Ari Gross, Times of Israel, September 23, 2016, 12:46 pm. Excerpt:

A Palestinian teenager on Friday attempted to stab Israelis outside the West Bank settlement of Kiryat Arba before he was shot by Israeli security forces, the army said. No Israelis were injured in the attack. The assailant — 14 years old according to Palestinian media — was shot and wounded. He received treatment on the scene, before being taken by military ambulance to Jerusalem’s Shaare Zedek Medical Center for further medical care, the army said.

The assailant suffered gunshot wounds to the leg and chest. He was in serious condition, unconscious and on a ventilator, according to a spokesperson for the hospital.

NY judge raps Facebook for not taking suit by Israeli terror victims seriously: Nicholas Garaufis says it’s ‘outrageous, irresponsible and insulting’ that social media giant would send first-year attorney to defend case, by Times of Israel staff September 23, 2016, 12:12 pm. Excerpt:

A Brooklyn judge on Thursday slammed Facebook for making light of a $1 billion lawsuit filed by Israeli terror victims, calling a decision by the social media giant’s law firm to send a first-year associate to defend the case “outrageous, irresponsible and insulting.”

In July, the families of five Americans murdered or injured in recent Palestinian terror attacks in Israel lodged a lawsuit against Facebook for failing to ban the Gaza-based terror group Hamas from using its social media platform.  The suit was brought to the New York State District Court under the Anti-Terrorism Act, which allows American citizens who are victims of terror attacks overseas to sue in US federal court.

In a hearing on Thursday, US District Judge Nicholas Garaufis gave a public dressing-down of the lawyer representing Facebook. “You tell your folks back at Kirkland & Ellis that if they think so little of this court that they didn’t send a partner here to talk about this kind of problem which implicates international terrorism and the murder of innocent people in Israel and other places,” Garaufis said, according to the New York Daily News. “I think it’s outrageous, irresponsible and insulting.”

Garaufis ordered a new hearing on September 28, and said he wanted a partner from the firm present.

Facebook apologizes for disabling Palestinian journalists’ accounts, by Ali Abunimah, Electronic Intifada Media Watch, September 24, 2016 [Ed.: EI is a virulently anti-Israel propaganda and incitement website]. Excerpt:

Facebook says it made a mistake in disabling the accounts of journalists who administer the pages of two of the most widely read Palestinian publications on the Internet. “The pages were removed in error and restored as soon as we were able to investigate,” a Facebook spokesperson has told The Electronic Intifada. “Our team processes millions of reports each week, and we sometimes get things wrong. We’re very sorry about this mistake.”

The Electronic Intifada understands that the accounts were suspended after they had been reported for violations of Facebook’s “community standards.” But once investigations were undertaken and no violations were found, they were restored.

On Friday, administrators for the Facebook pages of Quds, which has more than five million “likes,” and Shehab News Agency, which has more than six million, found they could not access their accounts. Quds and Shehab News Agency have confirmed to The Electronic Intifada that the disabled accounts have now been restored.

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