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Elections 2009 / Journalists have hard time selling Israel election story abroad
By Cnaan Liphshiz , Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: israel news, israel elections 

After the drama of the Gaza operation, foreign journalists expect an uphill battle in selling the story of the Israeli general elections to their editors and audiences back home.

Click here for exclusive Haaretz coverage of the elections in Israel

"You have to bear in mind the news context in the United States," says Simon McGregor-Wood, Middle East bureau chief and correspondent for ABC News. "We have this exciting, new administration presenting exciting, new plans at a time of enormous financial difficulty."
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But while the buzz surrounding U.S. President Barack Obama's first days in office may eclipse the Israeli elections, it could also generate interest, according to McGregor-Wood. "Obama signaled early on that he intends to be actively engaged in the Middle East," he said.

McGregor-Wood, who is British, added that the fact that U.S. audiences are familiar with the leading contender, Likud's Benjamin Netanyahu, could also help him pitch the story. "This is especially true considering that Israel's relationship with the U.S. could become more difficult if Netanyahu is elected. This could be the angle to the story," McGregor-Wood said.

McGregor-Wood said ABC editors in the U.S. have not yet responded to his suggestions for covering the election.

To make the deadline for U.S. evening news programs, TV reporters must file by about 1 or 2 A.M. Israel-time, which means they will have to rely on exit polls for the results. "We obviously need to be cautious with exit polls," said McGregor-Wood, for whom today's Israeli election will be his second.

Arne Lapidus, who writes for several Swedish newspapers, first came to Israel at the height of one of the most dramatic election campaigns, that of 1981. "I will have covered eight elections, but it seems like 20," he said.

He said Livni's gender does heighten the interest factor for Swedes, especially since the leader of that country's opposition, Mona Sahlin, has a shot of being elected Sweden's first female premier next year.

Lapidus said the Gaza operation has generated interest abroad in the election. The election's link to that operation will probably be the angle chosen by Teije Brandsma, Israel correspondent for De Telegraaf, the largest daily in the Netherlands.

"The world is now busy with the people in Gaza after Israel's invasion, so this angle is probably more appropriate," he said. "It is also interesting to note how Israel is apparently tilting to the right while Europe and the U.S. are going in an opposite, more progressive direction," Brandsma said.

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      1.   Europe 07:47  |  Jay 10/02/09
      2.   Is europe becoming more "progressive?` 08:00  |  Jacob 10/02/09
      3.   # 1 jay 09:45  |  Axel 10/02/09
      4.   Not just is Israel is left and right confused.. 09:54  |  Edward 10/02/09
      5.   Journalists have hard time selling Israel story abroad.. 10:12  |  foreign journalist 10/02/09
      6.   No surprise at lack of interest abroad 10:55  |  Manny Goldstein 10/02/09
      7.   INTEREST IN ISRAEL 11:53  |  Neutered Observer 10/02/09
      8.   Oi Ve.... 11:54  |  Max Needlebaum 10/02/09
      9.   Jay - because the Right looks backwards... 12:12  |  Palestinian Brit 10/02/09
      10.   Why 12:58  |  Axel 10/02/09
      11.   Every Israeli election is nothing more 13:05  |  Buick from Boca 10/02/09
      12.   If its not a reason to blame israel - 13:15  |  Danj 10/02/09
      13.   Palestinian Brit - not true 13:57  |  David 10/02/09
      14.   Israels behavior remains constant through every government 14:15  |  Natallie Durson 10/02/09
      15.   Eclipse of Israeli elections 14:49  |  Stephen Wade 10/02/09
      16.   Lack of interest? 15:04  |  Suzannah 10/02/09
      17.   the press has no problem misreporting on Israel 15:05  |  Petra 10/02/09
      18.   # 5 Seek employment at Al Jazeera 15:14  |  Petra 10/02/09
      19.   Lackluster coverage 16:03  |  Mark Lincoln 10/02/09
      20.   Israeli democracy doesn`t matter 16:04  |  Richard 10/02/09
      21.   any one know how many illegal setlements were erected today 17:25  |  Pronsias 10/02/09
      22.   The Real Question Is 19:10  |  Yaakov Sullivan 10/02/09
      23.   to Haaretz 21:00  |  GA 10/02/09
      24.   to Pronsi in Ireland 21:06  |  GA 10/02/09
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