Fake Viral

Journalist C J Werleman posts a morphed photo of Israel and UAE rugby players

Written by Md Mahfooz Alam

On 13 August 2020, the then US President Donald Trump had brokered a landmark peace agreement between Israel and UAE. A joint statement by the US, Israel and the United Arab Emirates was released in which the three countries had agreed to “the full normalization of relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates”, and the agreement was called “historic diplomatic breakthrough” that would “advance peace in the Middle East region”. The agreement was named ‘Abraham Accord’.

CJ Werleman, a global correspondent for Byline Times tweeted a photo on 10 July of two Rugby players of Israel and the UAE with the caption “Normalization”.

In the photo, an Israeli player wearing a blue T-shirt can be seen touching UAE player in the red T-shirt inappropriately.

(Photo Courtesy: Twitter/Screenshot)

FactO Check:

The photo posted by CJ Werleman is morphed. On conducting a reverse image search of the viral photo, we found the real photo. Werleman, by posting the morphed photo, is possibly taking a potshot at the ‘normalization’ of relations between Israel and the UAE.

In March 2020, in a bid to improve their relationship, Israel and the UAE for the first time in history took to the field to play a rugby match. In an article published on 18 March 2022 with the title “Rugby history to be made as Israel and UAE to play first game” on the website Rugbypass, the two players can be seen embracing each other side by side with their hands at each other’s waist.

(Photo Courtesy: Rugbypass/Screenshot)

We also found a full shot photo of the players posted by a Twitter user Martin Cross.

 

Why the peace agreement?

Because of the long-standing conflict with Palestinians,  Israel does not have diplomatic relations with Gulf Arab countries. However, Israel has been trying to improve its relations with Arab countries. In a bid to corner Iran, Donald Trump brokered the landmark peace agreement between Israel and UAE.

Conclusion:

C J Werleman, a journalist and activist highlights atrocities against Muslims from around the world and is also critical of the Indian government. He must have posted the morphed photo to take a dig at the new growing relationship between Israel and UAE.

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About the author

Md Mahfooz Alam

Mahfooz is a multimedia journalist and regularly writes fact-check stories for Facto News. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Mass Communication. He has worked as an intern fact-checker for The Quint. He specializes in research and fact-checking and aspires to do investigative reporting.

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