AP Grossly Understates Iron Dome Interceptions
As of Saturday, the Iron Dome intercepted more than 550 rockets fired by Palestinians since the start of “Operation Protective Edge” (Photo from Israel’s Ministry of Defense)
In an Aug. 1 Associated Press article, Bradley Klapper grossly understates the number of Palestinian rockets fired at Israel that have been intercepted by the Iron Dome. He wrote:
The money will go to restocking Israel’s Iron Dome, which has been credited with shooting down dozens of incoming rockets fired by Palestinian militants over three and a half weeks of war.
As of Saturday (Aug. 2), the Iron Dome has shot down 552 rockets, the army reported.
Following the congressional vote to approve an additional $225 million for the Iron Dome, U.S. Congressman David N. Cicilline (D-RI), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, released the following statement:
Israel has the right to defend itself against any assault on its sovereignty and its people. This emergency funding will help replenish Israel’s Iron Dome to safeguard the Israeli people from Hamas rocket fire. Since the beginning of the escalation of violence the Iron Dome has intercepted hundreds of Hamas rockets and saved the lives of innocent civilians. . .
Stating that the Iron Dome shot down “dozens” of rockets, not “hundreds” is a substantive misrepresentation. While AP editors have declined to publish a clarification, they agree that the future reports should correctly reflect that that hundreds of rockets have been intercepted.
Unfortunately, in its live blog Saturday (Aug. 1), the Times of Israel relied on the misleading AP report alleging that the Iron Dome shot down “dozens” of rockets. (Screen capture below.)
Another post on the same live blog later in the day (17:35) correctly reports that, as of Saturday, the Iron Dome shot down 552 Palestinian rockets. Times of Israel editors have yet to correct the erroneous reference to “dozens” of intercepted rockets.
More from SNAPSHOTS
Haaretz Editorial Repeats Inaccuracy About East Jerusalem Arabs
April 17, 2018
Despite the fact that just last month Haaretz corrected a news story which erred on the status of east Jerusalem Arabs, an April 10 editorial again misrepresents about the rights of this population, stating: Palestinians [...]
AP and Times of Israel Correct,
Haaretz Retains“Explosive Bullets” ChargeApril 13, 2018
Update: To its credit, Haaretz has also corrected its piece. After intervention by CAMERA, the Associated Press and Times of Israel have commendably corrected stories relaying the outlandish claim that gunshot injuries with exit wounds [...]
‘Moderate’ Fatah Names Children’s Summer Camp After Murderer
April 12, 2018
Khalil al-Wazir and Yasser Arafat, Abbas' predecessor Fatah, the movement that dominates the West Bank-ruling Palestinian Authority (PA), has named a children’s summer camp after a terrorist. Major media outlets routinely describe both Fatah and [...]
Top Palestinian Official: Hamas is Using Human Shields in Gaza for Media Coverage
April 9, 2018
Mahmoud al-Habbash. Image courtesy of Palestinian Media Watch A high-ranking Palestinian Authority (PA) official, Mahmoud al-Habbash, has said that Hamas is sending civilians to die in violent demonstrations along the Israel-Gaza border in order to [...]
Where’s the Coverage? Syria Violates Demilitarized Buffer Zone with Israel
April 8, 2018
Bashar al-Assad The Syrian government of Bashar al-Assad has placed tanks and heavy artillery inside a demilitarized border zone with Israel. Although Assad’s move violates a “decades-old agreement,” it was widely ignored by major U.S. [...]