COVER FEATURE NOT

CARTOONSALL ARE FUNNY n Pesach, The New York Times published an anti-Semitic cartoon in its international edition. The distasteful image depicted a blind US President Donald Trump wearing a yarmulke, being pulled along by a dog with the face of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and a Star of David on its collar. Kobby Barda, who heads the Gal Program at the Academic Center of Law and ScienceO in Hod Hasharon, Israel, was the first person to bring attention to the cartoon on social media. Thanks to his efforts to call the Times to task, together with a number of Israeli diplomats, American congressmen and Jewish organizations that joined the chorus of condemnation, the paper published an apology in its “Opinion” section last Sunday, and an “Editors’ Note” in its international edition on Monday. On Tuesday, an editorial called the cartoon “appalling” and its appearance evidence of the danger of anti-Semitism and “numbness to its creep.” The following day, the Times announced that the editor who had chosen to publish the cartoon would be disciplined, and that it had canceled the contract with the syndicate that provided the cartoon. The Times will also update its bias training to include a focus on anti-Semitism, according to a note sent to employees by A.G. Sulzberger, the newspaper’s publisher, and it will no longer run syndicated cartoons drawn by artists who have no direct ties to the newspaper. Describing the cartoon as “offensive,” Mr. Sulzberger said it had been “downloaded and published by A conversation with Kobby Barda, a single production editor working without adequate oversight.” The newspaper is also changing its the man who alerted the world to the highly procedures to ensure that the situation will not repeated. “Though I’ve been assured there was no malice involved in this mistake, we fell far short of our standards and values in this case,” he wrote. offensive cartoon in The New York Times Mr. Barda’s area of expertise is American politics and the ties between Israel and the US. He wrote a thesis on the establishment of AIPAC, and published the first book written in Hebrew about Donald Trump,The

BY RABBI YITZCHOK FRANKFURTER LETZTER DORON CREDIT: PHOTO Key to Trump’s Mind. I spoke to Kobby Barda last Thursday. 3 IYAR 5779 // MAY 8, 2019 / AMI MAGAZINE 59 Cover Feature: Not All Cartoons Are Funny

You deserve a lot of credit for alerting of the paper doesn’t sit and look at every scary place. Things that were unheard of only the world about that cartoon. single cartoon or decide what happens to a short time ago have now become main- I got a lot of coverage in Israel, but I don’t every page of every edition of the newspaper. stream. I’m not talking about political points have a foothold in the American media, and Still, I would expect the powers that be to of view and whether socialism or commu- I haven’t gotten any credit for bringing about look into their souls and make a cheshbon nism are good solutions. I’m talking about the original apology. I happened to see the nefesh and ask themselves how something the idea that it’s okay to say something like cartoon on the Twitter feed of one of my like this could have happened. The other “it’s all about the Benjamins” or “the Jews friends, who attacked the Times and wrote, question pertains to the newspaper’s reader- control the world.” If the Jews control the “Isn’t that anti-Semitic?” but no one picked ship. How could they have not noticed that world, then it’s okay to hunt them down. up on it. When I saw that, I resolved that this was offensive? What led them to become With one cartoon, The New York Times le- something had to be done. The fact that the blind to such an anti-Semitic cartoon? gitimized The Protocols of the Elders of Zion. cartoon had been up for 24 hours without The Jews are the ones who force America to anyone protesting was what really bothered What is your theory as to how people go to war, and we are the ones who control me, and that’s why I wanted to send a clear become desensitized? them. That leads to the notion that it’s okay MORE FOR message that it was unacceptable. It has to do with the fact that the core belief to get rid of “those people.” This is the alarm space of the liberal and progressive movements is that people need to pay attention to. As an What was your first step? that Trump and Netanyahu are one beast outsider I can be more objective, and I see The first thing I did was to share it on social with two heads. I was recently in the United things that are very disturbing. collaboration media and ask people to do likewise. The States and had a debate with the editors of cartoon was shared thousands of times. I also The Forward. Liberals, and especially liberal If most people didn’t realize that the tagged anyone I could think of in American Jews, have a big problem right now because cartoon was anti-Semitic, an argument The offensive cartoon as it appeared in The New York Times Your business relies on great people politics. Then I sent Consul General Dayan Israel is identified with President Trump could be made that no damage was working toward a common goal. With a text message asking him for his help. He a Jewish symbol on him. President Trump, have the orange, yellow and red background, more than any other president in history and done. So why make a big deal? a seamless copier and integrated was the one who approached the Times and wearing sunglasses to indicate that he’s blind jarring colors that evoke Armageddon. The they can’t stand it. I told them, “I’m not Because it’s a big deal that people didn’t automated system for document demanded an apology. I also used my posi- to reality and needs a seeing eye dog to lead Portuguese artist included just about every American. You’re the ones who voted him in, realize it. It’s funny that Trump was the one management, your team will have tion as spokesman for the Israeli Professional him around, was also dressed in a black suit anti-Semitic cliché he could think of. just as I didn’t vote for Netanyahu but he’s who was portrayed as blind, when the real more time to do what they do best. Football League to ask the journalists with to convey that he’s ultra-Orthodox, which is The next day someone sent me the other still my prime minister. But seriously, what blind people are those who work at the Times And that makes all the difference. whom I have a relationship to contact the also something the Nazis would do, lumping cartoon of Netanyahu that was making the do you expect the Israeli government to do along with its readers. The fact that no one Times. I also sent the cartoon to one of Con- all Jews together in the same category. Then rounds where he’s taking a selfie on Mount when they’re dealing with an American ad- noticed it should be a wakeup call. CALL TODAY TO FIND OUT gressman Lee Zeldin’s aides and to just about you have Netanyahu’s portrayal as a dog, Sinai, and I didn’t see anything objectionable, ministration that’s so sympathetic to Israeli HOW TO MAKE YOUR every conservative media outlet. The idea which is meant to characterize him as subhu- although I really didn’t understand what the interests? Trump keeps doing nice things for Do you think that it instills a DOCUMENTS WORK FOR YOU. was to draw attention to the cartoon so it man. The Muslims do that a lot these days, cartoonist was trying to say. “That one’s okay,” Israel, and people like that.” subliminal message of anti-Semitism? could be turned into a story so people would although they usually use pigs and monkeys I said. “There’s nothing anti-Semitic about it, If you look at the bigger picture, there are No. The problem is that it builds up a realize that the Times had done something instead. And let’s not forget that the artist it’s just political criticism.” But the first one a lot of people who would do just about tolerance. It’s like the famous experiment wrong. Not everyone agreed with me at first. gave Netanyahu a big nose, which has always was right out of Der Stürmer. anything to get rid of Trump. They are so with the frogs, where they put them into a Several people told me that there wasn’t any been used in anti-Semitic caricatures. And obsessed with him that they’ve become com- big pot of water and slowly raise the tem- story to tell, including some highly respected he was portrayed as a dachshund, which is You described its venomous character pletely blind to everything else. And I’m not perature to boiling. A frog can adjust to dif- Israeli journalists who felt it was a legitimate a breed that is used for hunting. Then you very well. But was it an isolated case? talking about one person or group. Hundreds ferent temperatures, but eventually it dies cartoon. But eventually a lot people under- The New York Times uses lots of syndicated of thousands of people saw the cartoon and because it’s just too hot. The problem here is stood that it was evil. cartoons, and some of them are just as bad. didn’t bat an eyelash. It’s really shocking that that everyone simply adjusts to the increasing You would think that in today’s world these it was up for so many hours without anyone anti-Semitism and doesn’t call it out for what What did you find so offensive about types of cartoons would only appear in caring or doing anything about it. it is, and the few people who do protest aren’t it? “With one cartoon, Muslim newspapers, but that’s not the case. given the appropriate platform for their It had all of the signs of Der Stürmer in The New York Then you spoke up, and lots of other voices. Yet ironically society is now on a path 1939. Putting a yarmulke on the head of a Times legitimized Many people consider the Times to be a people around the world eventually to a place where someone can be murdered non-Jew is an old tactic that was employed ‘The Protocols of Jewish-run publication, yet they still joined you. because he wrote the wrong thing on social by the Nazis in their propaganda. Whenever publish anti-Semitic cartoons. But think about it: The person who started media! It took the Nazis a while before they they wanted to portray a non-Jew as being the Elders of Zion.’” I’ll divide my response into two parts. The the uproar wasn’t even an American; he was put us into the gas chambers. They came into under the influence of the Jews, they’d put first has to do with operations. The publisher an Israeli! America is starting to become a power in 1933 and started off with cartoons OFFICE EQUIPMENT l SALES l LEASING SERVICE l SUPPLIES 212.434.0222 • [email protected] 60 AMI MAGAZINE // MAY 8, 2019 // 3 IYAR 5779 www.dos-usa.com Cover Feature: Not All Cartoons Are Funny

being used to promote Republicans in cially in comparison to the Democrats and and propaganda, but they only the upcoming election campaigns, what they have to offer. So there’s no way to started killing us systematically a because their radicalism and anti- know if he’ll be reelected or if someone from number of years later. Americanism are so offensive to a the other side will win, in which case Israel As a researcher into American large segment of the population. will suffer the consequences very quickly, politics, I see this as a symptom of Yes, but many of the 21 or so people who G-d forbid. the current situation in which the are running for the Democratic nomination Democratic Party and its exten- for president agree with them, or at least We already had eight years of Obama. sions—the liberal academia and remain silent about their positions. Who Unfortunately, Obama will go down in media—have allowed themselves would believe that two key candidates for history as a great Zionist in comparison to to descend to places where I never the Democratic Party nomination would whoever the next Democratic president will believed America would allow them call the government of Israel racist? be. I’m not including Joe Biden, but I don’t to go. If you look at what has hap- I wrote the first book in Hebrew about know how even he would act given the pened since the 116th Congress President Trump, which is now in the current atmosphere in his party. Look at the convened on January 3, the three process of being translated into English way they speak about Israel! This is also the evil women who are now leading under the title The Key to Trump’s Mind, so same faction that has hijacked the media and the Democratic Party [Alexandria I closely monitor everything related to him. controls them completely these days. We’re Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar and A.G. Sulzberger, publisher of The New York His poll numbers right now aren’t particu- going to have to wait until 2020 to find out Times Rashida Tlaib] have started to larly good, even though he was just cleared if they can manage to build an agenda that attack Israel to such an extent that I respectfully disagree. I think those of Russian collusion and the economic appeals to people outside the big coastal Nancy Pelosi couldn’t recruit women are doing a huge favor for the numbers are brilliant. He doesn’t get the ap- cities. By the way, look at what happened to enough members of her party to Republican Party. They’re already proval numbers you’d expect to see, espe- the Labor Party in Israel. The progressive condemn Ilhan Omar for her state- ments. I’m not even talking about removing her from her committee position; consisted of white male Protestants. The overreacting when they start making I’m talking about a simple condemnation. problem, however, is that the Democrats are comparisons to Nazi Germany. And the reason Pelosi couldn’t do it is that now a jigsaw puzzle of many identities and Absolutely, but in this case I think the the mainstream of the Democratic Party, groups that don’t have common interests and greatest punishment for the Democratic Party which used to be occupied by centrists, has are even mutually exclusive. This has led to would be the collapse of its own values, been hijacked by its ultra-progressive wing. a situation in which the Muslims, who are meaning the use of political correctness as a It is that kind of environment that allowed now the rising stars of the liberal left, are glue to bring minorities together. I see how this caricature to be published by the liberal attacking other factions within the progres- Nancy Pelosi is constantly stumbling over New York Times without any editorial over- sive movement. This is something that people the radicalization of her own party, and she sight and with hundreds of thousands of fail to understand. Nazi Germany also started doesn’t really know how to deal with it. I people failing to raise a red flag. by targeting Jews and other small minorities think she’s done a lot over the years to before it went on to subjugate most of improve the relationship between Israel and Why do you think the liberals have Europe. It’s a terrifying precedent. the US; she’s a key speaker at every AIPAC become so antagonistic towards conference. The same goes for Chuck Israel? It’s unfortunate that people are always Schumer. I don’t have anything against the When it comes to identity politics, the accusing Jews and Israelis of Democratic Party in and of itself, and I’m not liberal left has adopted the Muslims as their a Republican. There are a lot of very good own, not realizing the repercussions. As we people in the current Democratic Party, but have seen since the 1960s, political correct- I don’t like the direction in which it’s going. ness allows any individual or group within “As an outsider I Congresswoman Elaine Luria of Virginia, the minority to identify themselves any way can be more who is Jewish, was a commander in the Navy, they want to, and it also gives them the space objective, and I see but most people haven’t heard of her. But if to say anything they want. That is the only things that are you ask people who AOC, Ilhan Omar or way that you can unite people who have Rashida Tlaib are everyone has heard of nothing at all in common, in contrast to the very disturbing.” them, and they’re only freshmen. Republican Party, which has traditionally

62 AMI MAGAZINE // MAY 8, 2019 // 3 IYAR 5779 Cover Feature: Not All Cartoons Are Funny

element took control of the party, and they portant newspapers in the world, the Times now have the fewest seats in the Knesset in needs to take a fresh look at what happened he motto at the top of the front page The New York Times in 1896. Ochs and journalistic reflection of their anxiety about their history. This is the party that founded and analyze the process that brought them THE of The New York Times reads “All the his descendants—who have owned the dual loyalty. the State of Israel! Having said that, the there. They need to look into their souls T News That’s Fit to Print.” But newspaper ever since—were deeply Laborites don’t see it as the disaster it is, and try to understand how they’ve been according to historian and author Jerold S. committed to Reform Judaism. Was Why was Ochs so worried about the and they continue with the same narrative able to be so blind. NEW Auerbach, when it comes to coverage of their religious affiliation a significant Times being accused of being too as if their agenda wasn’t soundly rejected. Israel, the Times prints only what fits the factor in determining what the Times sympathetic to Jewish concerns? They don’t realize that most people are The New York Times did teshuvah and YORK preconceptions and prejudices of the reports on Jewish issues? The arrival of Jewish immigrants from much closer to the center. We’ll find out in said they were sorry. Do you accept assimilated Jewish family that has owned the Adolph Ochs embraced the classical Russia and Romania—impoverished, Yid- 2020 if the same applies to the Democratic their apology? TIMES newspaper for more than a century. Reform definition of Judaism as a religion, dish-speaking, evidently foreign and con- voters of the United States. I do. To their credit, they apologized twice Auerbach, who taught American history not a national identity. He was the son-in-law spicuously Jewish—left Ochs worried that for what happened, which isn’t easy. I ac- EXPOSED at Wellesley College for more than four of Rabbi Isaac Mayer Wise, leader of the he would be associated with them in the eyes You’re talking about politics, but cepted the first apology, and the second one AN decades, makes his case in his new book, Reform movement in the late 19th century. of non-Jews. While there is no evidence that there’s an anti-Semitic problem that was even better. For me, the fact that they Print to Fit: The New York Times, Zionism and The waves of Eastern European Jewish Ochs feared imminent pogroms in the United isn’t political. Anti-Semitism is took down the cartoon and apologized INTERVIEW Israel, 1896-2016. immigrants who began to arrive in the United States, his newspaper nonetheless reflected growing on both the right and the left. twice is enough, and I don’t believe that WITH PROF. In this exclusive interview, Prof. Auerbach States in the early 1900s, with their foreign the views of assimilated Reform Jews —pre- Of course, and the reason for that is continuing to put pressure on them is the explains what he found when he dug into languages, customs and politics, made dominantly of German origin—who were what’s happening in politics. In the past, right thing to do. Some people demon- JEROLD S. the history of America’s most influential daily assimilated Jews like Ochs uncomfortable. determined to remold Judaism so that it if someone wanted to be an anti-Semite he strated outside their offices and/or canceled newspaper. As the movement to settle and develop Eretz appeared more compatible with American didn’t hide it. You’d see a militia in Michi- their subscriptions, and they’re welcome to AUERBACH Yisrael began to gather strength and attention national identity and loyalty. gan sending out anti-Semitic propaganda do whatever they feel is right. I’m not here Your story begins with young Adolph in Europe, American Reform Jews vigorously by Rafael Medoff or even carrying out attacks, G-d forbid. to dictate to anyone. But I forgive them Ochs, a son of German Jewish asserted their patriotic loyalty to the United You describe Joseph M. Levy, who That was the anti-Semitism we traditionally completely for what happened. l immigrants, purchasing and reshaping States. The New York Times became the reported from British Mandatory knew and feared, but over the last three or four decades it has been significantly reduced. However, over the last couple of years, and especially the last four or five months, the “progressive” movement has allowed the extreme left and extreme right to unite on one thing: anti-Semitism. David Duke retweeted The New York Times’ ATTENTION cartoon and commented, “Russian collu- sion?” meaning that the real collusion is MEASLES OUTBREAK Jewish collusion. Hatred of Jews is now the glue between the two extremes, the common ground on GET VACCINATED! which everyone can find agreement. There were very few deadly anti-Semitic attacks in this country in the last century, but we IF YOU HAVE have now had two in only the past six months. That’s very frightening, and I don’t fever, cough, red eyes, runny nose and body rash, believe it happened in a vacuum. The Times’ board meeting in December 1962, clockwise from To summarize, you view this as a foreground center: Orvil E. Dryfoos, much larger problem than The New Arthur Ochs Sulzberger, Louis M. Loeb, Iphigene Ochs Sulzberger, York Times. Harding F. Bancroft, Arthur Hays The Times isn’t the only mouthpiece of Sulzberger, Francis A. Cox, Eugene the progressive movement; it’s also very R. Black, Paul Van Anda and Richard N. Cohen. When Mr. Dryfoos died strong on the college campuses and in other the following year, Arthur O. media formats. But as one of the most im- Sulzberger became publisher. PLEASE CONTACT YOUR DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY!

64 AMI MAGAZINE // MAY 8, 2019 // 3 IYAR 5779 Cover Feature: Not All Cartoons Are Funny

Palestine from 1928 to 1936, as reporting, or does the Times really view “the forgotten pioneer of New Israel as Nazis? Make sure to do it right. York Times reporting from That article was written by veteran Times cor- Jerusalem.” It seems that he respondent Anne O’Hare McCormick. A Times 845.774.2387 crossed the line from objective editorial initially recognized that the “tragic raid” | reporter to political partisan. at Kibya was retaliation for many violent Arab

Levy was an American-born Jew attacks on Israeli villages. But rising international adup media whose boyhood was spent in Jeru- criticism of Israel prompted fearful editorial back- salem, studied at the American tracking. The Times labeled the Israeli attack “an University of Beirut, served as sec- outrage which no amount of provocation can retary to the British governor of Je- justify”—although the Times itself had already rusalem following World War I, and justified it. spent seven months living with a Bedouin tribe in Trans-Jordan. He From 1948 to 1967, the Jordanians was hired by the Times in 1928, and bulldozed dozens of synagogues in the at first was fascinated with archeo- Jewish Quarter of Jerusalem, and logical discoveries that affirmed the desecrated or destroyed thousands of Biblical narrative of Jewish antiquity Jewish tombstones on the Mount of Olives. in the land of Israel. Did the Times report on these outrages? No. The Times’ primary focus in those years was So what changed? on the plight of Palestinian Arab refugees, whose The murderous Arab riots in the numbers it has consistently inflated. It went from Jewish Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem The Nazi persecution of Europe’s Jews Judaism, which lobbied against the 700,000 to 900,000 to “almost a million.” Today the Times has and Hebron in 1929 refocused Levy’s presented the Times with its most serious establishment of a Jewish state. The embraced “five million,” by counting all descendants of refugees coverage. He began taking part in secret challenge of journalistic responsibility. Ochs New York Times gave this small group as refugees. The actual number of genuine Palestinian refugees discussions with a group that consisted of a was dismissive of the looming threat to Jews an enormous amount of coverage. still living is reliably estimated to be 30,000. former British civil servant who vigorously in Germany. He believed that Hitler’s rise to Was the Times openly crossing the line opposed the promise of a Jewish national power was not cause for alarm. between journalism and advocacy? During the 1950s and 1960s, Jordan enforced an home in Palestine; Judah Magnes, an Following Ochs’s death in 1935, his son- Sulzberger was actively involved with the apartheid-like ban to keep Jews away from the Western American Reform rabbi who had become in-law, Arthur Hays Sulzberger, became Council. He embraced the idea of Jews and Wall, and used the alleyway adjacent to the Wall as a chancellor of the new Hebrew University and publisher, launching the family dynasty that Arabs living in a bi-national Palestine, and garbage dump. How did the Times cover that Jordanian was urging the Jewish concessions to the still owns the Times. Sulzberger, like Ochs, devoted three Times columns to the Coun- policy? Arabs; and the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, was a fervent Reform Jew, and insisted that cil’s Statement of Principles. He even linked The Times provided no coverage of Jordanian control over the who had been convicted of inciting riots Jews must not be identified in theTimes as Zionism to the Nazi claim that Jews are “a Old City. Its focus shifted after the Six-Day War as the Times began Our white glove concierge service promises you'll be getting against Jews a decade earlier. Levy guided a distinctive group. The Times defended racial group apart,” insisting that Jews were portraying Israel as a harsh occupier. the vacation your dreams are made of. Built with the kosher their anti-Zionist views into the Times, and restrictive American immigration quotas, “human beings,” not members of “any par- traveler in mind and set against New Hampshire's mountainous view, Arlington Hotel offers all the perks you're looking for in a the newspaper embraced their claim that and refused to identify the refugee problem ticular racial group.” If Israel had destroyed mosques and Muslim tombstones, vacation—plus plenty of surprises. Jewish development of the country was to as a Jewish problem. Rather, it was “the and dumped garbage next to Muslim religious sites, do blame for the conflict. problem of mankind,” the Times said. After As your account moves into the you think the Times would report it? evading the lethal danger that European 1950s, you find quite a bit of hostile Of course. The Times’s double-standard reflects decades of intense Assimilated Jews such as Adolph Ochs Jews confronted during the 1930s, the Times coverage in the Times, even though discomfort with the idea, and eventual reality, of the Jewish people Gourmet 24 hour Shul and Centrally located Luxury meals tea room mikvah next to popular amenities and Joseph Levy did not want muted its coverage of the Holocaust. Sulz- there were no “occupied territories” rebuilding, and returning to, their historic Jewish homeland. This attractions European Jews immigrating to berger strongly opposed the identification or “illegal settlements” in those days. basic attitude, implanted by Adolph Ochs, has remained at the Palestine in the 1930s because it would of Jews as the primary victims of Nazi ex- For example, when some Arab core of Times editorial judgment and is embedded among journal- upset the Arabs; nor did they want termination, lest the newspaper be identi- civilians were killed in an Israeli ists who know nothing of their predecessor Joseph Levy but echo them in America because they thought fied as a Jewish newspaper. counter-terror strike on the Jordanian his discomfort with Jews in the Land of Israel. that their presence would provoke anti- town of Kibya, a Times reporter called Semitism here. So where were Jews In 1942, a handful of Reform rabbis it “the holocaust at Kibya.” Was the You have a chapter about longtime Times reporter and fleeing Hitler supposed to go? established the American Council for choice of that word just sloppy columnist Thomas Friedman, who won a Pulitzer Prize

66 AMI MAGAZINE // MAY 8, 2019 // 3 IYAR 5779 T: 603.869.7777 | W: www.arlingtonhotelnh.com Cover Feature: Not All Cartoons Are Funny

Mourning at the levayah of Moshe Agadi, Hy”d

for his book, From Beirut to Jerusalem, hasn’t disqualified him from being treated as a based on his coverage of the 1982 major public figure? Lebanon War for the Times. In his I can only speculate: Friedman is a talented journalist with book, he claimed that he had been strong opinions and claims of wisdom whose incessant strongly pro-Israel until he saw criticism of Israel, echoed by other Times columnists, fits Israel’s actions in that war, which comfortably into decades of Times discomfort with Zionism turned him into a critic of Israel. and Israel. He was neither the first, nor the lastTimes Jeru- Was that a truthful description of his salem correspondent with animosity toward Zionism and political evolution? Israel. Joseph Levy preceded him and Jerusalem bureau chief Friedman’s selection as Times Jerusalem Jodi Rudoren, joined by PLO advocate Diaa Hadid and a bureau chief in 1979 was revealing about steady stream of critical columnists have followed in their Times’ coverage of Israel and its enduring footsteps. discomfort with the Jewish state. As a teenager, Friedman was excited by Israel’s When the Times hired Hadid as one of its victory in the Six-Day War and did correspondents stationed in Israel, her main volunteer work on a kibbutz. But on a visit journalistic credentials were that she previously had to Egypt during his college years, Friedman written for extreme anti-Israel outlets such as The became smitten with Arab culture—by his Electronic Intifada. Is it conceivable that the editors own account—and he returned to Brandeis of the Times were not aware of her background? If University with his identity transformed. they were aware, how could they justify hiring her? He joined a Middle East peace group that The Times was fully aware of Hadid’s background and supported Palestinian self-determination All the News That Fits...Their Agenda political bias. But its Public Editor suggested that the Times and joined “Breira,” an organization of he New York Times’ coverage of this photo underneath it showed an Israeli could improve its coverage by employing an Arab-speaking Reform rabbis and left-wing Jewish Tweek rocket attacks against Israel woman in a wheelchair being assisted by reporter. After the 9/11 attacks, she had written: “I can’t look intellectuals that endorsed Palestinian from Gaza followed the predictable Israeli medical personnel. at Israelis any more... I don’t want to be friends with them. national aspirations. “both sides are to blame” formula. Thus the Israeli attack looked more I don’t want to talk with them.” In an early report for the In 1982, Friedman was hired by the “Israel and Gaza in Worst Combat devastating, since the car was totally Times she accused Israel of a “racist policy.” As a Times cor- Since War of 2014,” according to the destroyed; whereas the injured Israeli Times and was posted in Beirut. The mas- Times’ front page headline on May 6. woman did not look seriously hurt. The respondent, her sources were biased, and her mistakes were sacre of Palestinians in the Sabra and There was no acknowledgement that caption under the two photos asserted: frequent. Her defining attribute as a reporter was Palestinian Shatila refugee camps by Lebanese Chris- Hamas was the aggressor. Instead, “Gaza and Israel have launched hundreds advocacy. After a year of repeatedly false reporting, her ar- tian Phalangists enraged Friedman, who readers were informed that “fighting of rockets.” ticles stopped appearing in the Times. No explanation for furiously blamed Israel. Admitting that he escalated” and “violence broke out” The article, written by Jerusalem her departure was ever provided. which then “mushroomed into a display bureau chief David M. Halbfinger and was not “professionally detached,” he lac- of firepower by both sides.” longtime correspondent Isabel Kershner, erated the Israeli commander and, he The violence consisted of “Palestinian was presented as news but offered a Does it seem to you that the Times’ coverage of Israel wrote, buried “every illusion I ever held rockets and missile attacks killing four rationalization for the Palestinian rocket has become noticeably more biased in recent years? about the Jewish state.” Editor A.M. Rosen- Israeli civilians and Israeli forces taking assault. The authors referred to it as If so, why? thal recalled him to Washington and told aim at individual Gaza militants…The a “localized expression of Palestinian The Times’ bias toward Israel is deeply embedded in the Palestinian death toll reached 22.” impatience with Israel’s failure to alleviate him that his criticism of Israel in a news As a general rule, the Times does not dire humanitarian conditions in Gaza.” newspaper. The assimilationist fear of dual loyalty that con- column was unacceptable editorializing refer to Palestinian terrorists as terrorists. The Times article did not acknowledge sumed Adolph Ochs and Arthur Hays Sulzberger morphed and, if repeated, he would be fired. But It prefers euphemisms such as “militants” that Israel permits dozens of truckloads into relentless criticism of the world’s only Jewish state. Its Friedman’s criticism of Israel ever since, as and “protesters.” of food, medicine and other goods recent despicable cartoon, depicting Prime Minister Netan- Times Jerusalem bureau chief and Wash- Continuing the both-sides-are-guilty to enter Gaza every day. The Israeli yahu as a dog with a Star of David hanging from his neck, theme—but inevitably making Israel look “blockade” of Gaza, which the Times and ington columnist, has been unrelenting. more guilty—the front page article was other news media often cite as a basis leading a blind President Trump wearing a kippah, reached accompanied by two large photographs. for Palestinian violence, actually consists a new Times low. The Times is not alone, of course. With few Today Friedman is an influential The photo given the upper placement only of Israel preventing the entry of exceptions the mainstream media, preening its liberal values, op-ed columnist at the Times and a was one showing the remnants of a car weapons and materials that can be used has followed in the Times’ footsteps. “All the News That’s Fit frequent guest commentator on major that an Israeli strike totally destroyed. The for making weapons. to Print”—the Times’ enduring motto—has become news television talk shows. Why is it that that fits an agenda reflecting discomfort with the idea, and his falsification of his biography the reality, of Israel’s existence. l

68 AMI MAGAZINE // MAY 8, 2019 // 3 IYAR 5779