AKEED, Aya Khawaldeh

No sooner had Ahmad Daqamseh, a soldier discharged from service, been released after serving his prison term than media outlets and activists on social media networks began to publish stories expressing fears that Israel might assassinate him to avenge his killing of seven Israeli girls in 1997 in Al-Baqurah. These stories are part of media speculation, which is mainly for sensationalist purposes and is not based on facts and information pertaining to Israel"s intention to do this.

Based on a qualitative analysis of dozens of news reports, published over the period of a whole month since Daqamseh"s term approached its end, AKEED has observed that this intensive coverage has been characterized by the following:

First: The end of Daqamseh"s term and whether he would be released or not is a newsworthy development, specifically in light of the background concerning the reasons and implications of his imprisonment. This explains the intensive media coverage.

Second: The newsworthiness of the development does not justify why media outlets employed elements of sensationalism and exaggeration, relying on undocumented speculation and greatly highlighting it at the expense of content that is documented by sources and facts.

Third: A lot of the coverage that preceded the release of Daqamseh sought, intentionally or not, to develop a clear media agenda as if assassination was a foregone conclusion. Consequently, a certain media and political framework dominated the coverage and established a presumed connection between the release and assassination.

Fourth: It is obvious that some media outlets confused the function of news with the function of interpreting events. The latter is closer to the job of opinion pieces where writers may interpret events the way they like. This is not the job of editors of news reports. 

The Jordanian Media Credibility Monitor "AKEED" followed how these media outlets handled this issue and sought to increase concern about Daqamseh. The Monitor examined the correctness of this conduct, depending on the viewpoint of an expert in international law and a former information minister.

One of the reports run by newspapers and electronic sites was an interview published by Al-Araby Al-Jadeed with a brother of Daqamseh before the end of his prison term. The brother revealed family fears that Israel might assassinate Daqamseh after his release. He said: "We expect this to happen. We do not rule out anything by the Israelis," as he put it. Other media outlets held the government responsible for his life.

Some media outlets published a report by a foreign news agency headlined "Israeli Media Outlets Criticize Jordan"s Release of Daqamseh," while others published reactions by the Israeli press.

AKEED raised a question about these media outlets publishing speculation and whether this is considered part of reasonable fear or unacceptable media behavior.

Dr. Waleed Mohammed Saadi answered the question as follows: "The prison term against Daqamseh was legally fulfilled. He has served his full term, based on the ruling of a court of law. There is no need for any talk or criticism."

Saadi said that the idea of the assassination of Daqamseh was unacceptable and that Israel would not do it because it would be committing a crime against the Jordanian judiciary and questioning its credibility and fairness. Regarding media outlets that published such speculation, Saadi said that such information was not based on reasonable fear at all. This is meant to provoke public opinion and cause confusion.

In a call with AKEED, former Information Minister Dr. Nabil Al-Sharif said that it would have been better if local media outlets had monitored facts and changes and steered clear of speculation and expectations. Columnists and commentators may express opinions. It is the duty of the media to clearly distinguish news from opinion.

Al-Sharif affirmed that publishing such news does not serve the general good. Jordan is a stable country and can protect its borders. Anyone who raises such fears is depicting Jordan as a weak state and is saying that any party can attack it. It is not good for the media to plant this idea in citizens" minds. He regretted the fact that many media outlets republished the report of Al-Araby Al-Jadeed and did not observe professional standards. Rather than depending on existing evidence, these outlets depended on speculation, which, wittingly or not, harms the country.