Yaron accuses top reporter of fixing 'confirmed-kill' tape

Israel Defense Forces Spokesman Brigadier General Ruth Yaron on Monday accused the host of Channel 2's "Fact" program, of "cooking" a tape aired by the channel containing an IDF communication recorded during the alleged "confirmed killing" of a 13-year-old Gaza girl by an IDF officer.

Company commander Captain R is charged with shooting Iman al-Hamas near the IDF's Girit outpost in the southern Gaza Strip on October 5.

Interrupting a panel debate on "Communications companies and the government," Yaron, who was sitting in the audience, attacked "Fact" host Ilana Dayan, claiming that the tape had been fixed.

Yaron's outburst came after Dayan said that, "the army cannot handle investigative programs like 'Fact' - the true factual report that tells the public the true story, is something you [the army] is not used to. You are used to reporting at someone else's behest."

Yaron then told Dayan that, "There is nothing too low for you. Even as a professional journalist you 'cook' a tape in order to heighten the drama. There is nothing too low for you. As far as you are concerned the visual image is always your top priority and takes precedence over everything else. Even over the truth."

"If you can point at one untrue fact in our report and bring it to discussion," Dayan said in response, "then I'm willing to talk to you. I will not hold a discussion like this."

The two later continued their conversation in private.

On Sunday, IDF Chief of Staff Moshe Ya'alon also bitterly criticized the program for the report shown several weeks ago, which he labelled "deceitful and shocking."

The tapes of the soldiers' communications at the time of the incident indicate that one of the troops identified Al-hamas by saying: "It's a little girl. She's running right now, heading east."

After the first shots, another soldier said: "She's behind the ditch and nearby pile of dirt, half a meter away. Scared to death. The [bullets] hit right near her, centimeters away."

At a later stage, the commander reported to his base: "This is the situation: We fired shots and killed her. [She's] dressed in jeans and a tank top. She also had a kaffiyeh [Muslim head covering] on her head. I also confirmed the kill."

Monday's panel, hosted by media veteran Dan Shilon, also included, among others, renowned news anchor Haim Yavin, Maariv reporter Ben Caspit and Army Radio chief Avi Bnaya.

Yaron's claim that Dayan worships the visual image was sparked by a comment earlier in the discussion, in which Dayan quoted French philosopher Pierre Bourdieu.

Dayan stated she agrees with the French philosopher, who claimed that decision-makers and journalists actually lack any influence over the media, unless they provided a visual drama that filmed well. "Television is not interested in nuance, texts and depth - it is interested in the image," Dayan said.

	Ilana Dayan: The army cannot handle investigative programs like 'Fact.' (Archive)