Newshour’s Christmas Eve Error on Palestinian Fatalities

Channel WABC in New York was not the only television broadcast to slip up in its coverage of Palestinian fatalities Christmas Eve.

Judy Woodruff of PBS’ “Newshour” erred Dec. 24:

In Bethlehem, Christian pilgrims and tourists alike flocked to Manger Square, the traditional birthplace of Jesus. Other celebrations were canceled, as four more Palestinians died in clashes with Israeli forces. (Emphasis added.)

The excerpt in question is 4:26 seconds into the broadcast.

In fact, one Palestinian, gunman Bilal Omar Zayed, died in clashes with Israeli forces that day, not four. A Palestinian witness reported that Abu Zayed shot at Israeli troops in Kalandiya during an arrest. Troops returned fire. The other three Palestinians were killed as they carried out attacks against Israelis.

As the Associated Press reported that day:

Four Palestinians were killed on Thursday, among them three who Israel said were carrying out attacks on soldiers [sic — they also attacked civilian security guards, as indicated below] in the West Bank, the latest in a three month-long wave of unrelenting Israeli-Palestinian violence.

The four separate incidents came as revelers were gathering in the West Bank city of Bethlehem for Christmas celebrations, festivities that are being dampened by the latest outburst of violence.

Israeli authorities said that three Palestinians were killed after they carried out or attempted to carry out attacks against Israelis across the West Bank. A fourth Palestinian was killed in clashes with Israeli troops, according to a Palestinian hospital official.

In the first incident, police spokeswoman Luba Samri said the attacker approached the entrance to an industrial zone in the Ariel settlement and stabbed two security guards, wounding them moderately, before they shot and killed him. Two other Palestinians were killed in two other incidents, including an attack by a motorist on Israeli troops, with one soldier lightly wounded.

The fourth Palestinian, who died in clashes with the Israeli military in the Qalandiya refugee camp in the West Bank, was hit in the head by live fire, according to Ahmad Bitawi, the director of Ramallah hospital. (Emphases added.)

CAMERA has contacted “Newshour” editors to request a correction making clear, that contrary to the Dec. 24 report, one Palestinian died in clashes with Israeli forces that day (after he fired on Israeli troops), not four, while another three were killed as they carried out stabbings and car-ramming attacks against Israelis.