Journal for the Study of Antisemitism

178 JOURNAL FOR THE STUDY OF ANTISEMITISM [ VOL. 1:139
to report are unclear, although the theory advanced by Benkin–that the
absence of coverage is a direct result of Choudhury’s pro-Israel slant–has
not been challenged. 151
Other Unreported Events
Other newsworthy events in the Middle East that have gone virtually
unreported include:
• The recent challenge in the United States Senate to an aid bill for
Egypt and the Palestinian Authority. Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-
KY) questioned the wisdom of giving $75 million to Palestinians in
the West Bank and Gaza when there was no end in sight to their
violent confrontation with Israel. He noted that in Egypt, “government-sponsored
newspapers support Adolf Hitler and incite violence
against Jews and Israel. Is this kind of relationship worth the
request of $2 billion:” 152
• The U.S. State Department continues to offer rewards for the capture
of the Palestinian terrorists who have killed eighteen American
citizens and wounded many more in Israel, the West Bank, and
Gaza. No American newspaper has mentioned these rewards in
either editorial or news columns–or, in fact, that the State Department
itself has not publicized them. 153
• Former President Bush’s decision at the end of May 2005 to postpone
once again moving the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv
to the capital, Jerusalem–despite his explicit campaign promise that
he would begin the process of doing just that “the first day that I
am in office”–escaped any editorial notice. 154
The Arab View
Evaluating Different Perspectives
“Violence and terrorism,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
also Daya Gamage, “Wall Street Journal Urges Bush Administration to Protect
Bangladesh Journalist Choudhury From Persecution,” Asian Tribune, Oct. 12,
2006.
151. Telephone conversation with Richard Benkin, August 11, 2008.
152. Only one American newspaper (the Tulsa World) reported Sen. McConnell’s
remarks. Id.
153. Id.
154. Id.