Philippe Karsenty
Encyclopedia
Philippe Karsenty is a French media analyst and the founder of Media-Ratings, which monitors the media in France for bias.
Karsenty came to public attention internationally in 2004, when he was sued for libel by the French television network, France 2
, after accusing the network of having broadcast staged footage of the reported killing of a 12-year-old Palestinian boy, Muhammad al-Durrah
, during a gun battle in the Gaza Strip
in 2000. France 2 won its case in October 2006, but the judgment was overturned by the Paris Court of Appeal in May 2008, with France 2 refusing to release the full footage taken by their stringer on the day. France 2 has appealed the decision to the Cour de cassation, France's highest court. Subsequently, Karsenty won a case against Canal+
, a French pay television channel, which broadcast a documentary film defending Enderlin's report. Karsenty said the documentary had defamed him while ignoring the facts of the case.
. When he was in his 20s, he set up a share-trading company on the Paris Bourse
, and continued to work as a broker until 1997. In 1996, he set up a business consultancy, and in 2002, he ran for parliament on a center-right ticket, losing to Nicolas Sarkozy
. In 2008, he was elected a deputy mayor of Neuilly-sur-Seine
.
He intends to stand as a dissident right-wing candidate, against the candidate endorsed by Sarkozy's Union for a Popular Movement
, in the Eighth constituency for French residents overseas
for the 2012 legislative election
.
Karsenty came to public attention internationally in 2004, when he was sued for libel by the French television network, France 2
France 2
France 2 is a French public national television channel. It is part of the state-owned France Télévisions group, along with France 3, France 4, France 5 and France Ô...
, after accusing the network of having broadcast staged footage of the reported killing of a 12-year-old Palestinian boy, Muhammad al-Durrah
Muhammad al-Durrah
The Muhammad al-Durrah incident took place in the Gaza Strip on September 30, 2000, on the second day of the Second Intifada, amid widespread rioting throughout the Palestinian territories...
, during a gun battle in the Gaza Strip
Gaza Strip
thumb|Gaza city skylineThe Gaza Strip lies on the Eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea. The Strip borders Egypt on the southwest and Israel on the south, east and north. It is about long, and between 6 and 12 kilometres wide, with a total area of...
in 2000. France 2 won its case in October 2006, but the judgment was overturned by the Paris Court of Appeal in May 2008, with France 2 refusing to release the full footage taken by their stringer on the day. France 2 has appealed the decision to the Cour de cassation, France's highest court. Subsequently, Karsenty won a case against Canal+
Canal+
Canal+ is a French premium pay television channel launched in 1984. It is 80% owned by the Canal+ Group, which in turn is owned by Vivendi SA. The channel broadcasts several kinds of programming, mostly encrypted...
, a French pay television channel, which broadcast a documentary film defending Enderlin's report. Karsenty said the documentary had defamed him while ignoring the facts of the case.
Early life and career
Karsenty was born into a family of Jewish immigrants from North AfricaNorth Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
. When he was in his 20s, he set up a share-trading company on the Paris Bourse
Paris Bourse
The Paris Bourse is the historical Paris stock exchange, known as Euronext Paris from 2000 onwards.-History and functioning:...
, and continued to work as a broker until 1997. In 1996, he set up a business consultancy, and in 2002, he ran for parliament on a center-right ticket, losing to Nicolas Sarkozy
Nicolas Sarkozy
Nicolas Sarkozy is the 23rd and current President of the French Republic and ex officio Co-Prince of Andorra. He assumed the office on 16 May 2007 after defeating the Socialist Party candidate Ségolène Royal 10 days earlier....
. In 2008, he was elected a deputy mayor of Neuilly-sur-Seine
Neuilly-sur-Seine
Neuilly-sur-Seine is a commune in the western suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the center of Paris.Although Neuilly is technically a suburb of Paris, it is immediately adjacent to the city and directly extends it. The area is composed of mostly wealthy, select residential...
.
He intends to stand as a dissident right-wing candidate, against the candidate endorsed by Sarkozy's Union for a Popular Movement
Union for a Popular Movement
The Union for a Popular Movement is a centre-right political party in France, and one of the two major contemporary political parties in the country along with the center-left Socialist Party...
, in the Eighth constituency for French residents overseas
Eighth constituency for French residents overseas
The Eighth constituency for French residents overseas is one of eleven constituencies each electing one representative of French citizens overseas to the French National Assembly.-Area:...
for the 2012 legislative election
French legislative election, 2012
The French legislative election of 2012 will take place on 10 and 17 June to elect the 14th National Assembly of the Fifth Republic, little over a month after the proposed date for the French presidential election run-off on 6 May...
.
Further reading
- Website of Media Ratings
- Fallows, James. "Who shot Mohammed al-Durra?", The Atlantic Monthly, June 2003.
- Karsenty, Phillipe. French Court Vindicates Al-Dura Hoax Critic, Pajamas Media, May 21, 2008.