"We're scared; the IDF has to be allowed to succeed," says an Israeli in Ashdod. His remarks are simultaneously translated to English. The anchor in her studio turns to a reporter in Ashkelon, who is interviewing a French immigrant about the threat southern residents feel from the Qassam rocket fire. Then the program segues to a reporter in Sderot. And so on. Did the international media suddenly decide this week to focus on the Qassam rocket attacks on Israel? No. It has continued to focus on Gaza, where, from its perspective, the bigger story lies. The continuous reporting from Israel described above belongs to a relatively new international channel, i24news, which on Thursday celebrates one year on the air. "What interests us most, what justifies the reason for our existence, is providing an objective voice that explains what's happening in Israel and describes what Israelis are feeling, and that's what's new," says i24news CEO Frank Melloul, 40, a French diplomat who was among the founders of the French government station France 24. Just over a year ago, he decided he could have a greater impact if he immigrated to Israel and let the world, for once, tap into the Israeli pulse. And that's what he has been doing, successfully, through i24news, which broadcasts from its Jaffa studios in English, French and Arabic. Melloul, who once worked closely with the French foreign minister, said he had grown familiar with unflattering coverage of Israel. "Clearly there are anti-Semites and anti-Zionists throughout Europe, but the big problem is delegitimization aimed at Israel and born of ignorance," he said. "The conflict is being covered by those who don't always get it. This channel is the Iron Dome of news." The international media was still covering the ongoing operation on Wednesday. "Israel-Palestine: Where has the international community disappeared-" the weekly French L'Express asked. It featured prominent reports on "the deaths of four children in an Israeli bombing" and "how two populations observe each other during the wave of violence." It was a prime opportunity yet again to publish Danish photographer Allan Sorensen's recent photographs showing Sderot residents watching as Gaza is bombed. Under the photograph, the caption has one Sderot resident saying: "it's moving to witness to the spectacle." "This time, we had the impression that the journalists came to cover the conflict in a more balanced fashion," said Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor. "But as the operation progress, so too did the emphasis shift toward Gaza and its victims." Meanwhile, Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said the Indian government decided to nix a parliamentary discussion over the current crisis "because Israel and Palestine are both friends of India." Fresh winds have blown from New Delhi since Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent election. Has he also had an effect on the media? The India Times website chose on Wednesday to highlight Iron Dome's recently successful run. But the comment of the hour favoring Israel came from none other than Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, who denounced U.S. President Barack Obama's stance while indicating that Washington has been less than firm in its support of Israel during the current operation.
