The New York Times And Reform Zionism |
The New York Times is the renowned paper of record in America. Yet it is consistently anti -Israeli . That is a problem.
Those of us who consider ourselves Reform Zionists do not shrink from criticizing the Israeli government when it conducts itself badly. In my last blog post, I described how the Netanyahu government has failed to protect Palestinian farmers from settler violence, Arab bus drivers from right wing harassment, and local peaceful supporters of reconciliation from physical attacks by Likud members and others.
Those of us in the World Union for Progressive Judaism, spanning six continents and more than a thousand congregations, remain committed to a vision of a pluralistic, democratic Israel. We share this vision with many in Israel whose views rarely get reported in the American press.
Committed to that vision, we reject efforts by the New York Times and others to depict Israel solely as the neighborhood bully while mostly ignoring or downplaying the constantly genocidal forces of Hamas and Hezbollah, and the widespread support, even now, among Palestinians for the Oct. 7 horrendous massacre as surveyed by the leading pollster of Palestinian society, Dr. Khalil Shikaki.
The Times front page December 2 headline shouts “What Imperial Israel means for the Middle East.” The subhead accuses Israel of taking down enemies at will. It is silent about the hatred and intransigence of Israel’s enemies as it describes the........