Sky News has edited and re-uploaded a new version of their video on the violence in Amsterdam, claiming the previous edit “didn’t meet Sky News’ standards for balance and impartiality.”
In other words, they changed it to be more sympathetic to the Israeli rioters who instigated the violence, and added an entire minute of Israeli propaganda.
This change offers unique insight into how the mainstream media takes cues from the Israeli lobby to brainwash their viewers and deprive them of crucial context. Here’s how they did so:
Previously, the video stated: “On Wednesday social media videos verified by Sky News showed Maccabi Tel Aviv fans tearing down Palestinian flags from outside of homes.”
In the updated version, “Maccabi Tel Aviv fans” has been replaced by “three men,” in an effort to mislead viewers into thinking the vandals - who can be seen wearing the Israeli team’s colors - were unaffiliated with the hooligans.
A section which stated that “other social media videos appeared to show residents chasing Maccabi Tel Aviv fans” was replaced with a section that no longer mentions the fact that those chasing them were Amsterdam residents. Instead, they claim the video “shows a man being chased through the street with a caption that reads “watch and enjoy. Six zionists chased away. Free Palestine.”
The factually correct statement that “Maccabi fans were seen attacking locals, as a police car can be seen driving by” was also removed. Sky News editors, apparently seeking to obscure the identity of the Israeli culprits, eliminated the factually correct sentence, and in its place state:
“A video posted on social media shows a large group of hooded men dressed in black running down the street and striking people at random.”
Crucial and factually-correct context that “Israeli far right ultras are notorious for their racism and physical violence” was removed entirely.
The earlier video’s conclusion, which correctly summarized both the evening’s events and the response by Western politicians, was also cut completely from the second video.
Previously, the narration ended: “Dutch, Israeli, and British leaders denounced the attacks as antisemitic, and even referred to as a pogrom. But their statements failed to mention the assaults by the Israeli hooligans against Dutch citizens.”
Rather than challenging these false claims, Sky News decided to accept them at face value, and omit the last sentence entirely. It now ends: “Dutch and Israeli leaders denounced the attacks as antisemitic, and even referred to it as a pogrom.”
In addition, a full 58 seconds of pro-Israel advocacy been injected into the piece. This includes a statement by Dutch Prime Minister falsely claiming that the mayhem was “simply antisemitic violence,” and testimony by one of the Israeli hooligans themselves, who compares the violence to October 7 without mentioning that it initiated by his compatriots.
Watch the before and after videos and see for yourself:
Mike