The paragraph continued that the neighborhood is in “territory that Israel captured…that has not been recognized internationally… right wing settlers…acquired property in the area.” The New York Times painted the Jews as “right wing” extremists. On what basis? That they moved into a “predominantly Palestinian neighborhood”? That they moved into houses that “has not been recognized internationally” to be part of Israel? That just made those Jews a minority in the neighborhood, and Israel’s claim on the territory was a minority-held position. However, the actions taken by this group were peaceful; they purchased apartments and moved into them legally. They took no actions that warrant being called “right wing”.
However, the Arab “residents” that the Times described, have sought to kill Arabs that sell homes to any Jews, in accordance with Palestinian law. This particular Arab “resident” murdered innocent Israelis. Yet, for some reason, these Palestinians that seek to commit and do commit murder are not labeled extremists. This is both a perversion and inversion of reality.
A few paragraphs down, the Times called Israelis extremists again:
“Many of the recent clashes have centered on visits to the compound by hard-right Israelis who have been increasingly demanding the right to pray there. The mosque is on the Temple Mount, revered by Jews as the location of ancient Jewish temples and the holiest site in Judaism.” The juxtaposition of the sentences was unfair- the Jews had no interest of praying in the mosque, but were seeking to pray nearby on the holiest spot for Judaism. Were these “hard-right Israelis” seeking to hurt anyone? Were they seeking to destroy a mosque or convert anyone? Not at all. So how can their action be considered extreme?
It is true that Jews are a minority in the world. It is true that Israel is surrounded by dozens of Arab and Muslims states that either refuse to recognize Israel or call for its outright destruction. But simply being unpopular doesn’t make Jews or Israel extreme.
Jews seeking to buy and live in an apartment like anyone else is not extreme. Jews seeking to pray at their holy sites is not extreme. Quite the opposite: those people that seek to murder Jews for doing basic activities should be labeled extreme. Pinning terminology that make the Jews look like unpopular invaders and therefore extreme, ignores history, decency and honesty.
Shame on the New York Times. If these were blacks in the 1960s moving into predominantly white neighborhoods in the US, the Times would more likely call these people “courageous”.
Sources:
World religions: http://www.pewforum.org/2014/04/04/global-religious-diversity/
NY Times “right wing settlers” http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/23/world/middleeast/2-israeli-soldiers-wounded-near-egypt.html?_r=0
First One Through articles on Silwan:
False facts on Jews in Silwan: http://firstonethrough.wordpress.com/2014/10/20/real-and-imagined-laws-of-living-in-silwan/
Obama supporting Jew-free state: http://firstonethrough.wordpress.com/2014/10/02/obama-supports-anti-semitic-palestinian-agenda-of-jew-free-state/
UN echoing Palestinian narrative: http://firstonethrough.wordpress.com/2014/10/14/the-united-nations-provocation/