Ministry of Defense Rectifies Misinformation
A map of the security barrier around Bethlehem from the Ministry of Defense website.
After an inquiry from CAMERA, the Israeli Ministry of Defense has rectified erroneous information that it apparently gave to 60 Minutes regarding the security fence. In a segment about Palestinian Christians that aired on April 22, 2012, “60 Minutes” reported that the security barrier built to stop suicide bombers coming from the West Bank “completely surrounds” Bethlehem when, in fact, it does not.
Harry Radliffe, producer for the segment in question subsequently reported that 60 Minutes got its information about the security barrier from the Israeli Ministry of Defense. CAMERA contacted the Ministry of Defense, which has issued the following statement.
Unfortunately, due to a misunderstanding in the Administration of the Seam Line at the Ministry of Defense, it appears incorrect information was passed on by officials regarding the nature of the security fence in the Bethlehem region. Bethlehem is not surrounded by the security fence.
It is unfortunate that the reporters at “60 Minutes” did not subject the incorrect information it received from the Ministry of Defense to the same level of scrutiny it reserved for Ambassador Michael Oren.
The onus is now on “60 Minutes” to issue a correction regarding the security fence. Its source for the misinformation it passed off as fact has now retracted its statement.
More from SNAPSHOTS
Double Standards: Boycotts and Discrimination in MassLive
May 16, 2025
Anti-Israel activists, including Harvard University’s Lara Jirmanus, a clinical instructor, seem to struggle with the concept of “discrimination.” Quoted in a May 14 MassLive article, “Harvard ‘failed to respond’ to 450 discrimination complaints. Staff hand-delivered [...]
Swarthmore Students Are Learning: It Was Never About Palestinian Rights
May 14, 2025
Students at Swarthmore College are so close to understanding the conflict. An article in the Swarthmore Phoenix details the frustrations of student activists with the college’s Students for Justice in Palestine. The gist of their criticism is [...]
AFP Arabic Stops Mislabeling Northern Israeli Communities ‘Settlements”
August 10, 2021
A view of Metulla, northern Israel (Photo by Hadar Sela)After failing to set the record straight last May when Agence France Presse's Arabic service repeatedly referred to Jewish communities in northern Israel as "settlements," the [...]
NY Times Praises Ilhan Omar’s Book While Glossing Over Her Antisemitism
August 19, 2020
A recent New York Times book review boosts Rep. Ilhan Omar’s (D-MN) autobiography while glossing over her antisemitism. In the paper’s Aug. 16, 2020 edition, NYT reporter Christina Cauterucci writes: The memoir offers breathing room [...]
When TV Interviews of Ilhan Omar Constitute Journalistic Malpractice
August 11, 2020
Rep. Ilhan Omar’s (D-MN) documented animosity toward Jews and Israel was ignored in recent interviews by MSNBC and C-SPAN. MSNBC’s The Beat for July 23, 2020 included host Ari Melber’s 10-minute conversation at 6:16 [...]
Boston TV Station WCVB Teamed Up With Terrorist Supporter CAIR
July 7, 2020
WCVB-TV (channel 5) (Boston’s ABC network affiliate) recently misled area viewers about a matter involving antisemitic propaganda. This occurred on its local Sunday show Cityline hosted by Karen Holmes Ward who is described by the [...]
Harper’s Magazine Echoed Palestinian Propaganda Condemning Israel And America
June 2, 2020
Writing in Harper's, Kevin Baker condemns the U.S. Middle East peace plan [“The Striking Gesture,” Easy Chair, May 2020], mischaracterizing it as, “Give up all your [Palestinian] hopes and your holiest places, embark on a [...]