"Israeli" University: "Israels" Image Hurt since Pullout

Source: Al-Manar TV, 3-1-2008
"Israel's" image in the international media has deteriorated since the 2005 disengagement from the Gaza Strip, despite expectations to the contrary, according to a study conducted at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
According to a statement released by the Department of Media Relations at the university, instead of helping mend "Israel's" "image as an occupier and an oppressor," and decreasing international demand for major territorial concessions on "Israel's" part, the disengagement only served to aggravate "Israel's" already poor showings in the international media arena.
Researchers Dr. Tamir Sheafer and Itai Gabai tracked representations of "Israel" in the American and British media and found that, despite temporarily finding favor in the media's eyes directly following disengagement, "Israel" was generally represented "in a more negative light after the disengagement in comparison to the period that preceded it."
"We found that one of the main reasons for this phenomenon is that "Israel" continues to be viewed by the world as a conquering state," Sheafer explained. "We also found that the demands from "Israel" to territorial concessions in the Territories not only were not lessened following the disengagement, but actually became stronger."
The study also showed, however, that "Israel" is not alone- the Palestinian Authority was also unable to rectify its international image. According to the conclusions, the PA, which had hoped to improve its media standing by holding elections, was unsuccessful in selling its exercise in democracy. "Although the Palestinian Authority tried to market the elections of January 2006 as positive and democratic, the elections were ultimately portrayed in a negative light in the foreign media due to their strengthening of Hamas," Sheafer said.