France2: Free the Secret Muhammad al Durah Tapes

The Al-Durah hoax was an immense propaganda victory for the jihad against Israel. But there is abundant evidence that it was just that: a hoax.

Pajamas Media has linked to a great deal of useful background material about this incident.

StandWithUs is asking for help:

Please write to Nicolas Sarkozy regarding upcoming Mohammed al-Dura case

Dear Friends,

We need your help.

Please take five minutes and fax a note to French President Nicolas Sarkozy about the upcoming trial in two weeks regarding the release of critical footage by French television that would show that the Palestinian boy, Mohammed al-Dura, was not killed by Israelis.

This is important because the al-Dura incident has been used to inflame the Arab world, and continues to be used to this day as a trigger for hatred and ideological warfare, and even violence. Wach this video of Mohammed al-Dura telling Palestinian children to follow him into heaven where they can enjoy cotton candy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=canTCmXEMk8

Tell President Sarkozy that the photo of al-Dura was at the crime scene of the murder of journalist Daniel Pearl, who actually lived in France with his wife for a period of time. The case of Mohammed al-Dura is still brought up on college campuses, to illustrate that Israel is "the worlds worst human rights abuser" It would be extremely significant if French TV finally released this footage.

Read it all.

And here is a petition you can sign, asking France2 to release the tapes. It says:

People around the world who depend on the media for reliability, accuracy, and transparency in reporting, demand that France2 release the unedited video tapes ("rushes") that its Palestinian cameraman, Talal abu Rahmah, sent them on September 30 and October 1, 2000 from Gaza.

On September 30, 2000, your Middle East correspondent Charles Enderlin, broadcast a story about Muhammad al-Durah, a 12-year old Palestinian boy. Using the footage and the testimony from his cameraman, Talal abu Rahmah, Enderlin reported that Israeli soldiers had targeted and killed the boy. That allegation of deliberate murder spread instantaneously around the world.

Extensive doubts have emerged about almost every claim of this explosive report, and they raise serious questions about both the journalistic integrity of the cameraman and the professional judgment of his employer, your correspondent Charles Enderlin.

As a result, the raw footage France2 received from Talal abu Rahmah represent key evidence in this crucial case.

But instead of releasing the tapes, your institution has responded to criticism of your correspondent's broadcast by suing French citizens for defamation and keeping the tapes secret for nearly seven years now.

If France2 reports the news responsibly and uses reliable cameramen, you have nothing to hide. Show the tapes and let the public judge.

Whatever political or religious beliefs we hold, whatever we now think about what happened on September 30, 2000, we, the undersigned, believe that all the victims and all of their loved ones – on both sides of the terrible war for which Muhammad al-Durah’s image served as the icon – deserve that this evidence at last be shown.

We, the undersigned, respectfully, but firmly, request that France2 release all the tapes for September 30 and October 1, 2000 for public inspection immediately.