Once again, the New York Times has failed in its duty to its readers to tell the full truth about Israel. This latest example of Times journalistic malpractice is on display in today’s report about Israel’s dangerous escalation of air attacks against Syria, during which an Israeli F-16 warplane was shot down, amid fears that Iran and even Russia might be drawn into the conflict.
First, and most important, the article, by Isabel Kershner, nowhere explains that many Israelis and others believe that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is promoting regional armed conflict to distract attention from the corruption probes that are zeroing in on him and his wife, Sara. This site back in December quoted respected Haaretz opinion writer Bradley Burston’s view, that Netanyahu “needs a war with Iran,” that he is “desperate because police detectives and investigative journalists are closing in on him.”
Since then, the investigative heat on the Netanyahus has only increased. Haaretz reports that the police this week will publish their recommendations in two separate cases against the couple. In Case 1000, an Israeli businessman allegedly bribed the Netanyahus with cigars, champagne and jewelry. Case 2000 contends that a media tycoon offered to report on Netanyahu favorably if the Israeli prime minister would push legislation that curbed a rival publication. And meantime, Netanyahu lashed out at the Israeli police chief on Facebook last week.
How could the Times have left this important background out of its lengthy article on the aerial warfare over Syria?
Second, the Times report leaves the false impression that the fighting started only yesterday, when an unmanned Iranian drone allegedly crossed from Syria into Israeli airspace, prompting Israel to ‘defend itself’ by striking back at an Iranian base in Syria. The outstanding Israeli online publication, +972, exposes this distortion in a persuasive article by Haggai Matar that points out that “Israel has been bombing inside Syria for months.” He goes on:
“Make no mistake: the dramatic escalation of violence on the Israeli-Syrian border Saturday morning was initiated by Israel, and it is Israel’s responsibility to end it.”
Larry Derfner, the distinguished veteran Israeli journalist, was even more blunt on his Facebook page. Derfner, who last year published an impressive memoir explaining why he has abandoned liberal Zionism, had this to say right after yesterday’s aerial clashes:
. . . Israel has been bombing the crap out of Lebanon and Syria and occasionally killing Iranians, too, prior to today’s “Act of Iranian aggression.” No, sorry, ISRAEL IS THE AGGRESSOR IN THIS CONFLICT AND HAS BEEN FOR YEARS. The injuries to one of the Israeli pilots is on ISRAEL’s head. And in the next war, every drop of spilled JEWISH BLOOD, not to mention Arab blood, will be on Israel’s head too.
It’s not looking good for Netanyahu. The downing of the F-16 shows that the technological gap between Israel and its foes has narrowed considerably.
The NYT piece is almost laughable in its clumsy attempt to whitewash Israel’s actions. The language is a real hoot:
” Israel intercepted what it said was an Iranian drone that had penetrated its airspace from Syria. The Israeli military then attacked what it called the command-and-control center from which Iran had launched the drone”
“one of Israel’s F-16 fighter jets crashed in northern Israel after coming under heavy Syrian antiaircraft fire.”
The drone (origin unknown) was over the Golan, occupied Syrian territory. Official Israeli sources declared that they had possession of it while, at the same time, showing a video of a drone being blown to bits in the sky! Most likely it was a cheap Israeli drone or archival footage , retrospectively used as justification of an air attack on Syria that went wrong.
One (possibly two) of their of their ships was hit by Syrian anti-aircraft missiles (most likely S-200s that Russia finally gave permission to deploy after their plane was taken down a few days ago). The Pilot ejected but, according to some usually reliable sources, died in hospital last night.
The Israeli spin is mind-numbing but their reaction may have surprised some. About six weeks ago I predicted both the event and the reaction. It was only a matter of time before Syria got the green light from Russia to retaliate against Israel’s air attacks which have been numerous and carried out with impunity:
https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2013/05/20135512739431489.html
Netanyahu offered up a load of bluster but appears to be abiding by Putin’s advice “avoid any steps that could lead to a new round of confrontation.”
It is good advice. The Syrian War has not worked out as planned and the re-vitalized and re-armed forces on Israel’s border are capable of doing much damage within Israel. Classic blow-back. Despite Netanyahu’s desperate need for a distraction right now, I don’t think even he is foolish enough to chance it.
It appears that Israel is treading very close to Russian toes, and complaints and warnings are being made. Iran and Russia (and Syria) as allies in Syria? http://dailycaller.com/2016/02/20/how-the-iran-russia-syria-alliance-is-the-middle-easts-number-one-problem/
And the USA and Turkey and whoever else feel perfectly free to inject themselves into the fray. What a wonderful free-for-all; what a wonderful world!
Iran was one of the original seven countries on the US hit list drawn up some years ago. The first three were to be Iran, Iraq and Syria. Israel and idiots in the US Congress/war machine have wanted a “false flag” to get into another brutal and illegal war. The US wants the war for its ongoing hegemonic and new world order goals; Israel to remain the controlling power in the area.
Don’t forget the Brookings Institute’s 170 page paper from 2009, “Which Path to Persia” that lays out the plan’s exact progression. It’s sickening. Iran has never attacked anyone and the black cloud of its eight year war with Iraq still lingers.
I believe the coming war with Iran is a far bigger endeavour than just Netanyahu’s excuse to distract from his corruption.
Brewer – I’ve enjoyed reading through your comments to this article. There’s a lot there that I didn’t know. I hope you are right that the US Saudi Israel coalition is more bark than bite and that Iran will not be attacked.
People here in the West talk about an attack on Iran in terms of when not if it will happen. I’m sure there’s a lot of posturing going on along with ample amounts of misinformation. I never pretend to know what is actually happening behind the scenes but im always interested in what others have uncovered or believe is transpiring or planned.