Journal for the Study of Antisemitism

2009] BETRAYING TRUTH 161
the Palestinian terrorist groups, including Hamas. 84
*
National Public Radio’s coverage of the Middle East regularly minimizes
or omits Palestinian incitement and aggression, blames Israel for
much of the violence, and repeats Palestinian grievances without challenge
or response. A few examples:
• In a story about Hamas, NPR declined to mention the group’s
stated aims to destroy Israel, Jews, and Judaism, besides its opposition
to the peace process. It characterized Sheik Ahmed Yasin (the
Hamas leader known to be responsible for numerous deadly terrorist
attacks) simply as “a spiritual leader.” 85
• Palestinian rioters were depicted as “lobbing stones at an Israeli
military outpost,” while Jewish rioters were described as engaging
in “mob-style aggression.” 86
• The Jewish neighborhood of Gilo is called “a settlement built in
occupied east Jerusalem” when in fact it is an integral part of the
city. 87
In a recent six-month period of intensive coverage on the Middle East,
not one of NPR’s 278 segments was devoted to the strategic significance of
the West Bank, and only one report discussed the military significance of
Golan Heights. 88
*
As noted earlier, on more than one occasion, the British Broadcasting
Company’s reportorial style has given the appearance of not-too-subtle
advocacy for the Palestinian point of view. 89 The Guardian likens Israeli
84. Eric Rozenman, Washington Post-Watch: Palestinians vs. Palestinians? The
Post Is Mute, C.A.M.E.R.A., August 5, 2008, http://www.camera.org/index.asp?x_
context’2&x_outlet’38&x_article’1520.
85. C.A.M.E.R.A., NPR Bias Persists, available at http://www.camera.org/
index.asp?x_context=4&x_outlet=28&x_article=281
86. C.A.M.E.R.A., A Record of Bias: NPR’s Coverage of the Arab-Israeli Conflict,
available at http://www.camera.org/index.asp?x_article=75&x_context=4.
87. C.A.M.E.R.A., New CAMERA Study Blasts NPR Bias, February 19, 2001,
available at http://www.camera.org/index.asp?x_context=4&x_outlet=28&
x_article=85.
88. C.A.M.E.R.A., A Study in News Manipulation, November 4, 1992, http://
www.camera.org/index.asp?x_print’1&x_context’6&x_article’212.
89. See supra note 54 and accompanying text. [Andrea Levin, Eye on the