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January 09, 2006
New York Times Whitewashes Palestinian Terrorist Groups Again
The New York Times’ bureau chief Steven Erlanger has again (Jan. 8, 2006) whitewashed Hamas, adopting its own words to justify the terrorist group's action as a "struggle against Israeli occupation.�? CAMERA previously criticized Erlanger for this sort of lapse in accuracy, pointing out that that the terrorist group’s campaign of suicide bombings and attacks against women and children on the streets of Israel can hardly be classified as a struggle against or resistance to occupation. Yet Erlanger has persisted. In his Sunday article, Erlanger characterizes Hamas–not as terrorists bent on Israel’s destruction, but—as “a radical Islamic group Hamas, dedicated to a continuing armed struggle against Israeli occupation.�?
It is not as if Erlanger does not recognize Hamas’ motives. A database search of New York Times articles show that on at least six occasions (Nov. 6, Nov. 7, Nov. 12, Nov. 14, Nov. 19, and Dec. 24) since writing the Nov. 4 article criticized by CAMERA, the newspaper's bureau chief described the organization as “sworn to Israel’s destruction.�?
Why then has he now reverted to doing PR for Hamas?
In this same article, Erlanger also misrepresents the Road Map, softening the obligations of the Palestinians. He claims that:
One of the road map's first requirements is that the authority disarm all militants, including Hamas, Islamic Jihad and Al Aksa Martyrs Brigades, which is affiliated with Fatah itself.
But the Road Map requires more than just that. It also stipulates that the Palestinian Authority "undertake visible efforts on the ground to arrest, disrupt, and restrain individuals and groups conducting and planning violent attacks on Israelis anywhere."
It is time for the Times to stop whitewashing Palestinian terrorist groups and the obligation of the PA to dismantle them. (Hat tip: Mediacrity)
Posted by RH at January 9, 2006 01:32 AM
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