Times suddenly concerned about 'civilian suffering'
The New York Times published an article in Thursday's editions that's designed to make you feel sorry for all the 'civilian suffering' going on in Gaza (Hat Tip: Memeorandum). I want to make several points about it.First, the article reports three times - including in its title - that Gaza is 'densely populated.' It would have you believe that Gaza is the most densely populated place in the world. It is not. Manhattan and Tokyo (among others) are much more densely populated than Gaza. The Times wants you to believe that the 'suffering' in Gaza is worse because it's so densely populated. Don't believe it.
What makes Gaza different is its repetition of a pattern seen throughout the Muslim world where terrorists ('militants' in Times parlance) live and hide among the civilian populations. But for the most part, they do so with the 'civilians' consent. Note how the Times describes this:
The military and government facilities of Hamas are intertwined with buildings where Gaza’s civilian population lives and works. Israelis say Hamas fires rockets at Israel from civilian neighborhoods.Israelis say? Let's go to the videotape. Beit Hanoun. October 2007. Schoolyard.
By the way, in seven years of constant rocket attacks on southern Israel, I don't recall the Times worrying too much about Israeli 'civilian suffering.'
Second, in the article, an anonymous 'dentist' wonders why Israel would bomb a vehicle he claims was clearly marked as an ambulance. Let's go to the videotape to see why.
For those who want to learn a bit more about how the 'Palestinians' hide terrorists behind ordinary civilian activities, go here.
And then the Times trots out a 'humanitarian coordinator' to tell us how the 'Palestinians' are starving:
Large, multigenerational families huddle in their houses, hoarding the shrinking supplies of water, food and gasoline. Despite the cold, many have kept their windows open to prevent them from shattering when bombs explode nearby. Shops are closed except for grocery stores, bakeries and pharmacies.While food and staples are often in short supply in wartime, the 'Palestinians' and the 'humanitarian' agencies are like the boy who cried wolf. They were also claiming there was no food in Gaza when this picture of a Gaza supermarket appeared in the media:
“Conditions for parents and children in Gaza are dangerous and frightening,” Maxwell Gaylard, United Nations humanitarian coordinator for the Palestinian territories, said in a statement.
Are they really starving now? Is there a wolf outside?It's entirely possible - indeed likely - that civilians are suffering in Gaza. But the media's job is to present that suffering fairly and in context. Once again, the Times has failed to do so.
posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 6:10 PM
2 Comments:
Its important to point out the civilian population in Gaza elected Hamas and supports its government there. Everything is done with their consent and full support. Even so, Israel has not struck unarmed civilians although Israel has the full right to do under international law since the presence of "protected persons may not be used to render a site or area immune to military operations." Hamas is aware of Israel's respect for human life and cynically uses it to shield terrorists, who by its own admission are, "in love with death." The New York Times knows all this and prints a one-sided and highly biased account of the events in Gaza as though Israel attacked out of the blue. The truth in fact is the exact opposite of the story's claims, as shown in the videotapes presented here. That however is the first casualty in a war although it doesn't have to be had the New York Times done its job.
The Hamas coup could not have succeeded if Palestinians did not like Fatah - whose rule was brutal and corrupt. At least Hamas has made sure Gazans could go to the mosques on time. They may not even have that by the time Israel finishes blowing up everything in sight that could be stockpiled weapons. Right now Gaza is one big ammo dump waiting to go off!
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