In direct response to recent remarks by CNN-founder Ted Turner equating Palestinian terrorism and Israeli self-defense, Israeli satellite television company YES rushed up negotiations with Fox News, and the latter network became available to Israeli viewers this afternoon. "I would make a case that both sides are involved in terrorism," Turner said, falling in line with a familiar pattern of perceived anti-Israel bias on CNN. Israel Radio reported that even before Turner's comments, Israel's cable and satellite companies had registered high public demand for Fox News, because "they consider its coverage of the Middle East more balanced than CNN's." Yonah Wiesenthal, Deputy Chairman of YES for marketing and content, said that the channel number allotted to Fox, 25, was purposely made close to that of CNN, 26, in order to symbolize that there is an alternative to CNN.

One of the first Fox interviews Israeli viewers saw today was with Alon Pinkas, Israeli Consul-General in New York. Pinkas said that Arafat's condemnations of terrorism are not enough: "We've had enough of those. What Israel needs to see is actions, and there is no question that if he wanted to, he could stop the terrorism. He has 35,000 armed policemen!" Asked if possibly Arafat no longer had influence on the terrorists, Pinkas said, "Then he should go home. He can't talk peace all day and then say he can't control his people. Can you imagine if one of the states rose up against the federal government, and the President would [excuse it by saying that] the governor of North Dakota or Alabama can't control his people?!"

Other Israeli bodies have strong criticism of CNN as well. Yesha Council spokesman Yehoshua Mor-Yosef faxed a letter yesterday to Jerusalem Bureau Chief Mike Hanna, breaking off all contact with him: "In light of CNN's repeated lack of objectivity and professionalism regarding the Israel-Arab conflict [Mor-Yosef wrote], and especially the scandalous remarks made by Mr. Ted Turner yesterday, I must inform you that the Yesha Council of Jewish Communities in Judea, Samaria and Gaza has decided to cease cooperation with CNN and with its correspondents." Communication Minister Ruby Rivlin was also angered at CNN. He said yesterday that its coverage of Israel "has passed all limits and red lines," and that if Turner had made his comments in Israel, he would have been declared "persona non grata."