17 November, 2015

 

A few days ago, the world has witnessed a series of terrorist attacks against France, against Paris and its citizens.  Deaths, injuries, tragedies, people’s lives were changed in a split of a second. Although we have all faced cruel acts of terror, throughout the world, whether in Madrid, New York, Buenos Aires, London, Nairobi, Mumbai, Ankara, Beirut, Jerusalem to name a few, we are shocked and shaken, again and again, to see death, injuries, trauma and Destruction.  Today, we all stand with France in these difficult times; we are all with Paris in solidarity and in the need to unite against terrorism.  A common enemy deserves a unified front, and a unified strengthened fight against those who want to undermine our basic values of democracy and freedom.

Almost 14 years ago, in another part of the world, another attempt was made to challenge our most basic values of freedom, including freedom of the press and the ability to report the realities on the ground.

In January 2002, the American-Israeli journalist, Daniel Pearl, was abducted and later viciously murdered in Karachi, Pakistan, while working on a story as the South Asia Bureau Chief of The Wall Street Journal. His mission: to investigate the alleged links of local organizations to Al-Qaeda.

 

Daniel Pearl or ‘Danny’, as his friends and family call him, was not the first journalist to be kidnapped or killed in his line of duty - in the same way the latest Paris Attacks were not the first terror attacks the world has witnessed.  Nevertheless, his death served as a wake-up call to many around the world - of the dangers of radicalization and extremism. No one is immune to its barbaric acts. Not even those who come to tell its story.

He was an American-Israeli. A Jew. His personal and family history, together with his upbringing probably had brought him to be so committed to his work, which he loved so much.

In the last video that his killers released, he clearly mentions, states, without hesitation: “My father is Jewish. My mother is Jewish. I’m Jewish.” In plain language telling his captives and soon-to-be-killers who and what he was.

 

The introduction to Daniel Pearl’s parents’ book: I am Jewish: Personal Reflections Inspired by the Last Words of Daniel Pearl, mentions that: "He did not say it under coercion, nor did he say it in defiance or with gallantry. He said it in his usual matter-of-fact way, slightly irritated, as if saying: 'How many times do I have to repeat myself? Two plus two equals four, and I am Jewish!' It was an assertive affirmation of identity, not a confrontation, nor a forced confession."

 

In his death, as in his life, he told a story. An accurate one. Making sure all the details are the right place and loyal to his professional ethics and standards.

 

His death achieved the opposite of what his killers clearly aimed and hoped for. It brought further the need for real investigative, independent, fearless journalism, one that continuously strives to reveal the truth and brings it to the common knowledge of people around the world, sometimes at a very high cost.

 

In many ways, Danny was not only a victim of a horrific act but also, without even been asked for it, an actor in a new kind of war. The kind of war that we have been witnessing in the past few years. An asymmetric war that is not fought by two full-fledged armies with tanks, soldiers and airplanes on each side. This new battle ground is shaping and becoming more evident by the day. There are new rules, a growing use of civilians, a changing role of media – whether it is media people being targeted or by taking advantage of new digital media platforms. It is a struggle on our way of life. It’s a war on perception.

We are here to commemorate the brutal death of Daniel Pearl. We are here also to pay tribute to his personal and professional legacy: journalism as a way of life. As we do that, as we reflect on journalism and the role of journalists, I cannot ignore some parallel dilemmas that we diplomats - I think my dear colleague the American Ambassador might agree with me - face these days. It feels that the emergence of new technology is changing our profession. We need to re-invent ourselves, in some way.  You are no longer just reporters because today everyone with a wifi or 3G access can report. And we are no longer just messengers because in an era of telephone, VC and whatsapp, heads of states can communicate directly.  Instead, we find ourselves in a more active role, putting more emphasis on commentary and analysis, less factual reporting. In this digital age, can we talk or- should we talk- about 'objective' journalism or journalists, curving their new professional niche and have to become interpreters rather than reporters.

 

In a UN Security Council debate last May on the Growing threats to Journalists, the wife of Daniel Pearl, Marianne said: “Terrorists were seeking to destroy dialogue and bonds between people and worked to create their own narrative that labeled people.  They killed journalists, humanitarian workers, Americans, Jews, those they called infidels and so on, in the hope of dispiriting those who identify with their victims.  To create a counter-narrative, journalists must destroy the base on which terrorists operate:  hatred.”

 

We all have a role in this - journalists, diplomats, leaders and each and every one of us in this room. We all should be united in the face of hatred.

 

I would like to thank to Mr. Bharath Visweswariah of the Chicago University - for hosting this event here today and being an instrumental partner in planning it.

The event today is the fruit of a cooperation of the Israeli and US Embassies, through the American Center.

I would especially like to thank Ms. Emily White from the American Center and Hanna Anzi and Ohad Horsandi from the Israeli Embassy for their contribution to the success of this event.

A special thanks goes to the moderator Shashi Nanjundaiah and our panelists here this afternoon: Yoav Karni, Siddharth Varadarajan and Gordon Fairclough, and the director of the film “The Journalist and the Jihadi: The Murder of Daniel Pearl”, Ramesh Sharma.

 

I hope you enjoy the movie and invite you all to stay for the panel that will follow named “Journalistic Freedom in the Age of Digital Media”.