The New York Times article on nonviolence in the West Bank is strongly biased. As early as paragraph 7, the Israeli military gets its say: “These are not sit-ins with people singing ‘We Shall Overcome’… These are violent, illegal, dangerous riots.”
But we have to read on, all to way to paragraph 20, before we hear about Tristin Anderson, the American protester who was seriously hurt by an Israeli tear gas canister, and it isn’t until paragraph 23 that we learn that 19 Palestinians have been killed at the barrier since 2004.
Newspapers are supposed to write in inverse pyramid style, putting the most important information at the top. How many Times readers will get to the Israeli spokesman at paragraph 7, dismiss the story as just more Arab violence, and turn the page?
Appalling stuff. But it’s amazing the Times even mentioned Tristan Anderson at all. I expect that the hasbara mafia will be screeching at members of the Times senior management at tonight’s Upper West Side cocktail parties.
The NYTimes is the de-facto publishing agent for Israel. I remember looking for big headlines during the Lebanon invasion a few years back and they did little to fairly cover the situation. Friedman was making his usual strange commentary.
If there op-ed can hire Brooks, Friedman and Safire, with no opposing voice for alternate views, what can we expect.
I read it for movie reviews at this point.
Tom Friedman Strikes Again
link to trueslant.com
Take note that a map showing Israel’s border is included in the article. That usually happens only if a bombing has occurred within Israel. Maps that show Israel’s borders virtually never appear when showing the latest attacks by Israelis against Palestinians in East Jerusalem, the West Bank, or Gaza. “Jewish geography” is the usual norm in the US media lest we become confused about Israel’s right to make war against “terrorists” on the other side of Israel’s borders, modeled on the German media during WWII.
Yes, I was surprised to see the map there, although it doesn’t show or explain the settlements being expanded on that land. And I was appalled that it made such a big deal about dozens of Israeli soldiers being injured, and the demonstrations being so violent.
Then at the end, almost as an afterthought, “Oh yeah, 19 Palestinians were killed, too.” Nothing about how many were injured, sometimes permanently. It’s a start, but still a disgrace.
link to fasttimesinpalestine.wordpress.com
Now, how did I know it was going to be an Isabel Kershner story, even before I clicked on your link?
“Former Knesset Speaker Avraham (Avrum) Burg Joins the Sheikh Jarrah Protests”
link to huffingtonpost.com
There’s a translated IDF Radio interview with former Knesset Speaker Avrum Burg that is really interesting to read. It’s the first time he’s demonstrated for years.
Likewise Yossi Sarid. This escalation in injustice is bringing the Israeli left back up out of its grave.
It’s a decent article. Alright so the effort to stay away from the ‘nonviolent’ label for the activists sucks, as does the refusal to see blanket violence on the IDF side, but there’s a lot there.
Which reminds me I should grab the chance to post a plug for my modest new company, Deniability Corp. We have high velocity tear gas canisters, cluster bombs with high failure rate, and we’re working on phosfor grenades that can safely light a large area provided they’re fired at a high enough altitude. Deniability Corp. Because accidents can happen.
RE: “Deniability Corp. Because accidents can happen.” – Tuyzentfloot
IDF SPOKESPERSON: “But we used everything strictly in accordance with the supplier’s instructions. That damn Deniability Corp.! How dare they do this to Israel!”
Our legal department asks me to point out that our instructions for use are very clear about the dangers. Our tear gas canisters should only be used from long distance, as should our long range large caliber rubber bullets. Our new model phosphor flare which breaks up in many pieces to provide better lighting of the area should only be used at high enough altitude, otherwise it becomes dangerous. And our high failure rate cluster bombs come with the warning that the unexploded ordnance can be just as dangerous as a minefield, even if it doesn’t fall under any agreement over mines.
Because we’re in the business of making tools that become very dangerous when not used correctly, we only want to sell them to the most moral armies. This is a matter of ethics and we insist on it, even if it costs us a lot of sales.