web analytics
May 22, 2013 /13 Sivan, 5773
At a Glance ▼
InDepth
Sponsored Post
The Tosfos Yomtov was convinced that the death of 300,000 –600,000 Jews during the Chmielnicki massacres of 1648-49 were because of improper Tefila. Communicated: Tefilla

Chillul Tefila Bifarhesia, as well as halachicly challenged verbiage and dress, are external manifestations of a critical lack of personal yiras shomayim which has lethal consequences.



Home » InDepth » Op-Eds »

Is the New York Times Pro-Zionist?

tell a friend
David HaIvri

David HaIvri
Photo Credit: David HaIvri/Wikimedia

Is the New York Times Pro-Zionist? Wow, that was a dumb question. Unless you are a student of the Protocols of the Elders of Zion, I strongly doubt that you would need a second chance to guess the answer. The New York Times is a flagship of American journalism. It is published in the heart of one of the world’s largest Jewish population-centers outside of Israel, and it has been pointed out that it has had Jewish owners and some of its influential writers over the years have been Jewish. Even with these factors considered, we are left with the follow-up question: “So what?” If this paper is located in a world Jewish center and has Jewish owners and writers, does that make it a Jewish paper? Is the Jewish Press redundant to the New York Times? Sounds a little silly, doesn’t it?

Last week, the New York Times announced that they are commissioning a new Jerusalem Bureau Chief to replace Ethan Bronner, who has completed his four-year assignment in Israel. Ethan, like his replacement, is an American Jew. Throughout his time here, both Jews and Arabs have criticized his reporting for being more sympathetic to “the other side”. I myself have had issues with his portrayal of events here, and have even engaged him about the way in which he and foreign journalists generally report on issues in Judea and Samaria – with a pre-conceived bias not complimentary to the Jewish residents and our rights here. Although my interests are clear, I guess that the fact that both Arabs and Jews equally feel that he is not reporting as they would like is a sign that he has succeeded relatively well in holding on to neutral ground.

Guilt By Association?
Bronner came under heavy attack from anti-Israel propagandists a few years ago when his son enlisted in the IDF. They claimed that he could no longer present an even-handed report on the conflict when his own child was wearing the uniform of one side. I didn’t think that concern was well-founded then, and I remain convinced that following that thread to its logical conclusion would bring it to the ludicrous point where anyone with close relative involved in any type of activity is unfit to write about anything connected to that activity.

The New York Times’ newly-appointed Bureau Chief Judi Rodoren came under fire this week from pro-Israel bloggers who noticed that she sent a friendly tweet to a very obnoxious anti-Israel propagandist based in Chicago. Rodoren, also an American Jew, was put to the test on her questionable relationship with a hater of Israel. “Is she a Zionist?” was one question asked. Her response was that the only “ist” she would call herself is “journalist.” Well, that is really what is expected of her. She is not coming to Israel as a representative of American Jewry (whose support for their President Obama calls into question their support for Israel even more than Rodoren’s tweet with the Electronic Intifada’s Ali Abunimah).

I would be glad to see American Jews in general be more supportive of Israel – but in regard to foreign journalists, Jewish or otherwise, I wish to see objective reporting. Tell the story like it is and let the readers decide for themselves. Don’t make us Jewish-Israeli-Zionists out to be monsters, and don’t make the Islamic Jihadi terrorists out to be peaceful human rights activists. There is a real story going on here in this beautiful and tiny country. It might very well be the most interesting story in the world. Journalists stationed here should open their eyes and report what they see without ugly accent colors painted by hate-mongers tweet blasting from Chicago or elsewhere.

tell a friend

About the Author: As a child David Ha'ivri made Aliya with his family from the US in 1978. Married, with 8 children, he lives in a small town in Samaria. He is the director of public diplomacy and communications for the Shomron Liaison Office. He works with GatherIsrael.com to promote Aliyah. He is social media master and strategic consultant. Follow David Ha'ivri's daily activity on Twitter @haivri.


You might also be interested in:


one comment so far

You must log in to post a comment.

One Response to “Is the New York Times Pro-Zionist?”

  1. m hayman says:
    February 23, 2012 at 3:01 PM

    Most Jews are socialists/commies. Even the so called rightwing Jews. You need to reconfigure the article.

SocialTwist Tell-a-Friend

Current Top Story
Rep Weiner's Anti-GOP Rant
Why Weiner’s Entry Is Bad News for Both Bills
Latest Indepth Stories
Moshe-Feiglin-022213
InDepth → Columns → Moshe Feiglin

The importance of the caucus on organ harvesting in China, sponsored recently by the Liberal Lobby in the Knesset, cannot be exaggerated. On the surface, the caucus’s topic seems odd. Knesset members and other VIPs were called together to discuss horrors being perpetrated by the Communist regime in China against what the government there calls “regime opponents.”

Shurin-Dov
InDepth → Columns → Dov Shurin

My mother, the eldest daughter of Reb Yaakov Kamenetsky, zt”l, was niftar last month at the age of 92. She took her last breath in her home in Efrat, Israel, next door to the shul that was my father’s for 24 years before his passing in 2007.

Louis Rene Beres
InDepth → Columns → Louis Rene Beres

Following the Boston Marathon bombing, one crucial point will likely remain overlooked. The most loathsome aspect of this or any other terror bombing attack on civilians will always lie in the inexpressibility of physical pain. While all decent people will abhor the idea of bombs expressly directed at the innocent, whether here or in other countries, none will ever be able to process the very deepest horrors of what has been inflicted.

InDepth → Columns → Keeping Jerusalem

It’s only natural to see increasing evidence of Jerusalem’s glorious Jewish past being unearthed, quite literally, under modern Israeli sovereignty. The new archaeological finds are also very timely – as the Arab onslaught attempting to detach Jerusalem from its Jewish roots gains steam, the facts on the ground, or “under” the ground, show quite otherwise.

InDepth → Op-Eds

The Talmud (Berachot 26b) says, “tefillot avot tiknum” – “prayer was established by the avot.” The Talmud then uses the following verse (Bereshit 19:27) to prove how Avraham established prayer: “Vayaskem Avraham baboker el hamakom asher amad sham et pnei Hashem” – “And Avraham got up early in the morning to the place where he had stood before God.”

InDepth → Op-Eds

Nearly 13 years ago, then-Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak journeyed to Camp David to end the conflict with the Palestinians. With the approval of President Clinton, he offered Yasir Arafat an independent Palestinian state in almost all of the West Bank, Gaza and in part of Jerusalem. Arafat said no.

InDepth → Op-Eds

The news that the Internal Revenue Service unfairly targeted conservative groups has brought renewed spotlight on a 2010 lawsuit filed by the pro-Israel group Z Street, which alleges it was also singled out by the IRS when applying for tax-exempt status.

InDepth → Editorial

In an editorial last week (“Circling the Wagons”) we noted the efforts by the administration and its supporters to dismiss allegations that the government’s spin on the Benghazi attack was designed to shield the president and that the IRS was improperly used to stifle opposition to Mr. Obama’s reelection.

InDepth → Editorial

As the controversies besetting the Obama administration continue to grow in number and intensity, the prospect that President Obama would seriously consider military action against Iran, should that country continue its drive to become a nuclear power, becomes more and more remote. So we welcome the current enhancement of sanctions against Iran on the federal and New York State levels.

InDepth → Interviews and Profiles

To his parents’ friends, he was “Mrs. Greenberg’s disgrace,” but to sports fans he is one of the greatest – if not the greatest – Jewish baseball players of all time. Long before Sandy Koufax, Hank Greenberg excited Jewish sports fans with his prowess on the baseball diamond.

InDepth → Front Page

To eat is to live – to keep our physical bodies alive. For without the body, there is nothing. No experience. No memory. No joy and no hardship. But man, unlike animals, eats to live and to enjoy. So how should a Jew respond when he is challenged as to why he imposes upon himself not just ceremonies dedicated to the enjoyment of eating but even more to the limiting of what he can eat?

InDepth → Op-Eds

Neither Secretary of State Kerry nor the president he serves seem to understand Russia’s goals in the Middle East.

InDepth → Analysis → Rubin Reports

You might think that six Khamenei followers might split the hardline vote but don’t worry as that will be taken care of in the ballot-counting if necessary.

More Articles from David Ha'ivri
öéìåí ùùåï úéøí 0524203780
Blogs → Living in the Land

Your children will look back and thank you for moving them to Israel now.

A settler tending to his vineyard in the settlement of Bat Ayin. European anti-settlement activists are pushing to curtail the sale of products from Judea and Samaria.
Blogs → Living in the Land

Community is one of the factors that has brought many people, including Olim, to come to live in the small towns of Judea and Samaria.

Blogs → Living in the Land

A new blog about Aliya and living in the land of Israel.

Blogs → Guest Blog

Many people would rather be ignorant of the truth than change their views and biases.

InDepth → Op-Eds

Purim is a good opportunity to speak with our teenagers about the dangers of alcohol and substance abuse.

News → Eye on Palestine

Arabs steal olives from Jewish-owned grove, then destroy trees. Victim
asks why the media makes Jews the villain.

InDepth → News Extra

David Ha’ivri, director of the Shomron Liaison Office, responds to a Jewishpress.com story about Jewish groups that expressed concern over Congresswoman Michele Bachmann’s efforts to uncover the relationship between Huma Abedin, top aide to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and leading figures in the Muslim Brotherhood.

Judaism → Holidays

A few years ago, I happened to be in Los Angeles for the fast of Tisha B’Av. Towards the end of the fast, between afternoon and evening prayers, the rabbi of the shul asked if I could say a few words to the congregation to explain the significance of the holy day and the fast.

    Latest Poll

    Which is the most beautiful location in Jerusalem?









    View Results

    Loading ... Loading ...

Printed from: http://www.jewishpress.com/indepth/opinions/is-the-new-york-times-pro-zionist/2012/02/22/

Scan this QR code to visit this page online:

No related posts.

Close