The ink has barely dried on the New York Times announcement that Jodi Rudoren will replace Ethan Bronner as Jerusalem bureau chief, and the move is already generating controversy. As Jonathan wrote yesterday, Bronner was attacked by Israel-bashers for having a son who formerly served in the Israel Defense Forces. And now Rudoren is apparently reaching out to these same anti-Israel activists, the Washington Free Beacon’s Adam Kredo reports:
Already, Rudoren is beaming out cutesy missives to prominent, self-described anti-Zionist players such as Ali Abunimah, co-founder of Electronic Intifada, a website that contains a treasure trove of writings highly antagonistic toward the Jewish state.
Rudoren also Tweeted yesterday with the website Mondoweiss, an online portal that is known to traffic in Israel-bashing.
Early yesterday afternoon, Rudoren Tweeted a friendly dispatch to Abunimah, who has referred to Zionism as “one of the worst forms of anti-Semitism in existence today.” …
“Hey there. Would love to chat sometime. About things other than the house. My friend Kareem Fahim says good things,” Rudoren responded, referencing her Times colleague who covers Syria.
Electronic Intifada’s toxic anti-Israel rhetoric goes so far beyond mere political criticism, publishing articles that equate Israel to Nazi Germany and calling Zionism a form of anti-Semitism. It’s hard to imagine what “good things” the incoming New York Times Jerusalem bureau chief could have heard about EI, or why she would “love to chat sometime” with the site’s founder.
Rudoren’s exchanges with Abunimah, and with the vehemently anti-Israel Mondoweiss blog, have already raised concerns within the pro-Israel community:
“Obviously a New York Times reporter is expected to talk to everyone in the context of reporting a story, perhaps even terrorists at times. But it’s concerning to see the tone of these exchanges,” said Josh Block, a Middle East analyst and former top official at a pro-Israel group. “These are not people you engage like this, especially your first day as Jerusalem bureau chief for the paper of record. You really don’t even want to be seen in public with them—it’s just a mistake.”
Was the friendly outreach to Israel-bashers an honest mistake? Or a sign of where the New York Times wants to take its Israel coverage? The reporting at the Times has never been particularly favorable toward Israel, and the comments from the new Jerusalem chief indicate that it could get much worse before it gets better.
At least there is no longer a pretense of impartiality at NYT. They might as well just be considered an arm of al-Jazeera or perhaps that is what they are actually going for. Considering they are generally on the verge of bankruptcy maybe they are waiting for that infusion of guilf-oil mney to save their sorry butts.
Calling MondoWeiss "vehemently anti-Israel" is being very, very charitable. MondoLies, as it is more accurately known, is chock full of lies about Jews and Israel. The people who run it are anti-Jewish Jews who are married to non-Jews (Arab non-Jews in some cases) and proud of it. This tells us much about their worldview. I used to follow MondoLies; they make up lies about Israel and Jews and then repeats those lies, hoping that someone will think that they are now confirmed truths. The NY Times isn't that much better, and has it's own long track-record of "mis-stated" reports which turn out to be entirely untrue. The newspaper of record long ago ceased being that. n nJake in Jerusalem
Adam Kredo was too soft on Abunimah. He is a first class liar and hatemonger. Consider his lies at the recent bds conference in Philadelphia at Penn.
The New York Times is a fully functioning adjunct of the White House. It has been for a long time. I wouldn't be amazed if Judi's name was tossed out BY the White House. This isn't a mistake or an oversight. It's intentional, it's planned and it represents the core of the NYT and the White House official agitprop. Dear me, if the NYT stops having a Jerusalem Office and renames it the "Occupied al Quds" Office we shouldn't be too too shocked. And when they start publishing OpEd's 'questioning' the Holocaust, we shouldn't be surprised either. You know it's coming and they will do in in the most polite and progressive way so as not to alienate the left.
Has anyone noticed that Soros’ Media Matters has M.J.Rosenberg using antisemitic stereotypes and Hitler had his Alfred Rosenberg for ideological matters.
Dershowitz writes that he cannot vote for Obama unless he cuts ties with Media Matters
http://www.commentarymagazine.com/2012/02/15/dershowitz-vote-for-obama-media-matters/
Maybe he should include the NYT which is no more than a “Pravda” for the Left’s continued duping of the electorate.
It was certainly honest, and she is certainly mistaken. There was no mistake, however.