Page 10 - ARUBA TODAY

A10 WORLD NEWS
Friday 11 august 2017
Channeling Trump? Beleaguered Netanyahu assails media

By DAN PERRY from it,” said Netanyahu.
JOSEF FEDERMAN “We know that the left and
Associated Press the media — and we know
JERUSALEM (AP) — Directly that it’s the same thing — is
addressing his nationalist on an obsessive witch hunt
base, a beleaguered lead- against me and my family
er accuses the news media with the goal of achieving
of obsessively promoting a a coup against the govern-
liberal agenda, conduct- ment.” The crowd chanted
ing a “witch hunt against “Down with the Media,”
me and my family,” and and one member held a
trying to overturn unpalat- large placard with a vulgar
able electoral outcomes English expression against
through sinister legal mach- the media in front of the TV
inations. This may sound like cameras. A reporter from
President Donald Trump. the Times of Israel news site
But this time it is Israel’s Ben- said Netanyahu supporters
jamin Netanyahu. hurled insults and epithets
Netanyahu has always had at him, while a Channel 10
a thorny relationship with TV reporter was surrounded
Israel’s prominent media by a group of people who
outlets, where top writers, taunted him. The tactic
broadcasters and editors of attacking the media to
are generally more open deflect attention from po-
to peace-seeking conces- In this Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2017 photo, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks at litical and legal trouble also
sions to the Palestinians his Likud Party conference, in Tel Aviv, Israel. Netanyahu is increasingly sounding like his friend, seems part of an emerging
President Donald Trump, as he confronts a burgeoning corruption scandal and is blaming the
than the prime minister’s media for his troubles, accusing journalists of conspiring in an alleged “coup” attempt as he tries zeitgeist in authoritarian-
nationalist Likud Party is. But to rally pressure on police and prosecutors to halt an investigation against him. leaning countries these
his comments at a Likud (AP Photo/Oded Balilty) days. In Vladimir Putin’s
Party rally on Wednesday lifted directly from Trump’s political opposition of con- who are conducting the Russia, independent media
evening — days after po- playbook. With hundreds spiring to topple him when actual investigation. have been taken over by
lice revealed he is a sus- of adoring supporters he cannot be defeated at “The thought police in the Kremlin-friendly figures and
pect in several corruption cheering wildly, Netanya- the ballot box. He carefully media work full-time to set muckraking reporters have
cases — were an escala- hu launched into a tirade, avoided any mention of the agenda, and woe to faced dismissals and even
tion that could have been accusing the media and the police and prosecutors anyone who veers away death. q

Child sex convictions spark UK debate about race and abuse

By JILL LAWLESS for sexual abuse.” number of South Asian men
Associated Press “It is a disease of racism working in the nocturnal
LONDON (AP) — Britain is and sexism that will not economy.
wrestling with a volatile abate until it is confronted “These young girls are in-
nexus of crime, race and culturally in homes, schools variably looking for warmth,
religion, after 18 people and places of worship as a for transport, for food, for
were convicted of sexually question of dignity, respect mind-numbing substanc-
abusing women and girls as and equal rights,” he said. es,” he said. “The preda-
young as 15. The recent high-profile cas- tors are hiding among the
One woman and 17 men es aren’t typical of all child takeaway workers and taxi
were convicted of, or ad- sexual abuse. Most abused drivers.” Some experts say
mitted, to charges includ- children are victimized on- the focus on South Asian
ing rape, supplying drugs line, at home or in institu- perpetrators masks how
and inciting prostitution in tions such as schools, and widespread child sexual
a series of trials that end- most of the perpetrators abuse is, and overlooks the
ed this week at Newcastle are white men. Police say fact that victims are often
Crown Court in northeast Northumbria Police Chief Constable Steve Ashman during a that in the year to October ignored by authorities be-
England. press conference in Newcastle Wednesday Aug. 9, 2017 after 2015, 12 percent of offend- cause of their youth and
The crimes follow a pattern several men were convicted of sexual offenses. ers in child sexual exploita- troubled backgrounds.
that has become grimly (Owen Humphreys/PA via AP) tion cases were from South Helen Beckett, an expert
familiar from cases across and now Newcastle has being tackled “because Asian backgrounds, and 59 on child sexual exploita-
Britain in the last few years. raised uncomfortable ques- people are more afraid percent were white. tion from the University of
The convicted men mostly tions. Some allege that the to be called a racist than But former prosecutor Na- Bedfordshire, said focusing
come from South Asian crimes were long ignored they are afraid to be wrong zir Afzal, who brought the on one ethnic group risked
Muslim backgrounds. Their by authorities afraid they about calling out child Rochdale abuse gang to missing other patterns of
victims — who were plied would be branded racist abuse.” trial, says Pakistani men are abuse.
with drugs and alcohol or fearful the allegations Ken Macdonald, Britain’s disproportionately involved “The emphasis that we’ve
before being abused at might inflame ethnic ten- former chief prosecutor, in the sort of “street groom- had on (abuse) being per-
parties, in taxis or in back sions. said some of the blame lay ing” seen in Newcastle. petrated by Asian males
rooms — are mostly white. Sarah Champion, a Brit- with particular communi- He says factors may in- means that that is often
The prosecution of child- ish lawmaker from Roch- ties who regarded “vulner- clude sexist attitudes to what we are looking for,
grooming gangs in Roch- dale, said Thursday that the able and disordered young women and other “cultural and therefore are more
dale, Rotherham, Oxford causes of abuse weren’t girls (as) just opportunities baggage,” and the large likely to find,” she said.q