I have often criticized the New York Times for slanting ‘news’ stories as well as for its consistent anti-Israel bias in editorials, selection of op-eds, columnists, etc.
Now the Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in America (CAMERA) has prepared a study of the Times’ content that they argue demonstrates that the newspaper is as bad or worse than I’ve said:
The dominant finding of the study is a disproportionate, continuous, embedded indictment that dominates both news and commentary sections. Israeli views are downplayed while Palestinian perspectives, especially criticism of Israel, are amplified and even promoted. The net effect is an overarching message, woven into the fabric of the coverage, of Israeli fault and responsibility for the conflict.
The summary (the full report, with detailed data will be available soon) lists several newsworthy topics — the peace process, the Mavi Marmara affair, the ‘siege’ of Gaza, violence and incitement in Israel and the territories. It argues that the Times’ coverage of these has been biased to the extreme. It also notes that editorials and articles chosen for the op-ed pages have been almost entirely anti-Israel — some totally irrational, such as a remarkably ugly piece by an anti-Israel extremist that “characterized Israel’s tolerance toward homosexuals as a devious ploy to conceal abuses of Palestinian human rights.”
There is no doubt in my mind that the data will confirm rigorously what I noticed years ago and continue to notice: that the New York Times has chosen the path of dishonesty and even deliberate defamation, over responsible journalism. They are not disinterested observers of events; they are fighters in an information war.
I think we must draw a distinction here between the normal political ‘slant’ of an editorial policy — all media have them — and a sustained policy to abet the assassination of a nation. I am entirely serious when I say that the difference between the New York Times and Der Stürmer is one of style and degree. The intent is similar.
“Oh, come on,” you say. “Don’t be an extremist yourself. It’s just the usual liberal bias.” No, it isn’t. It is a sustained campaign to establish certain false propositions in the minds of the public — an educated, influential segment of the public. These beliefs are intended to influence policy, in a way which will directly damage Israel’s security. The New York Times is doing its best, in other words, to get people (Jews) killed.
Here are some of the false propositions that are repeated, over and over, in the pages of the Times:
- The conflict continues because Israel is not prepared to make peace with the Palestinians.
- Any defensive action in the face of terrorism is collective punishment of Palestinians.
- Any defensive action that hurts Palestinians is disproportionate.
- Israel’s government is an extremist right-wing regime.
- Israelis in general are racially prejudiced against Arabs.
- The security fence is a land grab.
- Israeli Jews have no right to live beyond the Green Line.
- Eastern Jerusalem is “Arab Jerusalem.”
- ‘Settlers’ are terrorists, Palestinian Arabs are oppressed.
The objective of this propaganda is to make it harder for Israel to defend itself against terrorism and war, and to facilitate diplomatic pressure to reverse the outcome of 1967. Of course, once that is accomplished, it will be the results of 1948 that will be placed under pressure.
I could go on. I could speculate about the motivations of the editors and publishers. But wondering about the motivations of their enemies is a Jewish disease.
What we should do is to stop giving aid and comfort to them. To stop subscribing to this newspaper, even if we like the book reviews or sports articles. You wouldn’t make donations to Hizballah, right? Then don’t buy the Times.
Technorati Tags: New York Times, Israel
The NY Times is the daily Bible of many American Jews. From the number of stories on Israel and on Jewish matters my suspicion is that the paying readership of the Times has a very high percentage of Jews.
But the interest and focus on Israel is most often negative and as you say slanderous and inaccurate.
The history of the ‘Times’ is especially shameful in regard to Jews when one considers their burying in the back pages the information they had on the ‘Shoah’.
The analysis you provide of the character of the
Times is correct.
Their history is a very bad one and they do a tremendous amount of damage to Israel and the Jewish people today.