On Tuesday, only NBC's Today covered Israel's heavy criticism of the Obama administration's effort to pushed a Hamas-backed cease-fire plan in Gaza. At the top of the broadcast, co-host Savannah Guthrie proclaimed: "...the Obama administration goes on the defensive after Israeli media rip John Kerry's efforts to make peace." [Listen to the audio or watch the video after the jump]
In the report that followed, correspondent Kate Snow observed: "The public and the press seem to have turned on Kerry. Take a look at the headline in this morning's paper. 'Obama and Kerry,' it says, 'are playing with fire.'"
While both ABC's Good Morning America and CBS This Morning covered the ongoing conflict on Tuesday, neither mentioned Kerry's huge diplomatic failure.
On Today, Snow explained:
Kerry's been soundly criticized in the Israeli media for the way he pushed for a cease-fire. A columnist for the liberal newspaper Haaretz said senior government officials in Jerusalem described Kerry's cease-fire proposal as a strategic terrorist attack....One paper called Kerry a "nudnik."
A sound bite ran of one Israeli defining the term: "A nudnik is somebody coming again and again and again and doesn't do much." Merriam-Webster describes "a person who is a bore or nuisance."
Snow remarked that "The coffee crowd in Tel Aviv thinks Kerry is out of his league."
Wrapping up the segment, she noted: "Now back in Washington there is concern that all of this bad talk about John Kerry is going to effect his ability to get anything done over here as a mediator."
Ironically, on Monday, chief foreign correspondent Richard Engel worried that Hamas would get "nothing" from a cease-fire deal.
Here is a full transcript of the July 29 report:
7:00 AM ET TEASE:
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: Breaking news overnight, Israeli strikes rain down on Gaza. The most intense fighting yet as the Obama administration goes on the defensive after Israeli media rip John Kerry's efforts to make peace.
7:01 AM ET SEGMENT:
MATT LAUER: We begin this Tuesday morning with our top story. Israel's heaviest assault on Hamas targets in Gaza since fighting there intensified about three weeks ago. Now efforts by the United States to end those attacks are taking a toll on the relationship with Israel. NBC national correspondent Kate Snow is in Tel Aviv this morning. Kate, good morning to you.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Israel Strikes Gaza Power Plant; Main Fuel Supply Destroyed As Shelling Escalates]
KATE SNOW: Good morning to you, Matt. John Kerry is still pushing all sides for an end to the bloodshed here. But diplomatically speaking, Israel may give him a hard time. The public and the press seem to have turned on Kerry. Take a look at the headline in this morning's paper. "Obama and Kerry," it says, "are playing with fire."
Overnight, more explosions in Gaza. This morning the main power plant took a hit, columns of smoke are still rising. Israel confirmed ten soldiers died yesterday, pushing the number of military deaths over fifty. The highest casualty count since a war in the north in 2006. That's only increasing Israel's resolve to keep going. And it helps explain why it's been so tough for John Kerry to negotiate a peace deal.
JOHN KERRY: I just want to say a very few words quickly about the events in Gaza.
SNOW: Kerry's been soundly criticized in the Israeli media for the way he pushed for a cease-fire. A columnist for the liberal newspaper Haaretz said senior government officials in Jerusalem described Kerry's cease-fire proposal as a strategic terrorist attack.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: U.S. Fuming Over Kerry Criticism; Israel Media Lashes Out At Secretary of State]
SHEERA FRENKEL [BUZZFEED MIDDLE EAST CORRESPONDENT]: The perception here is not just that Kerry and the Obama administration is taking the side of the Palestinians, but of the Arab world in general over Israel. And the feeling is that this America led by this president won't actually be there when it matters for Israel's security needs.
SNOW: One paper called Kerry a "nudnik."
UNIDENTIFIED MAN: A nudnik is somebody coming again and again and again and doesn't do much.
SNOW: The coffee crowd in Tel Aviv thinks Kerry is out of his league.
UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN: He thinks that he can make some agreements, he can write some nice words, and some nice statements. Come on, get real.
SNOW: The Obama administration spent Monday bending over backwards to defend Kerry.
SUSAN RICE: The reality is that John Kerry, on behalf of the United States, has been working every step of the way with Israel in support of our shared interests.
SNOW: Now back in Washington there is concern that all of this bad talk about John Kerry is going to effect his ability to get anything done over here as a mediator.
While the diplomats talk, by the way, at least thirty more Palestinians were killed in that overnight fighting. Matt.
LAUER: Alright, Kate Snow on the story for us. Kate, thank you very much.
