Washington Post Ombudsman Michael Getler today discusses a recent front page story about the wall Israel is building around Jerusalem. The article prompted at least one reader, a Jew who spent time in the West Bank, to challenge American politicians to see for themselves how the wall is an impediment to peace while we send $13 million A DAY to Israel for its defense, according to the writer.
In Getler’s column, he addressed criticism of the article from David Bernstein, executive director of the American Jewish Committee’s Washington branch. Bernstein wanted mention of the suicide attacks. Getler defended the article but agreed the suicide attacks should have been acknowledged and then summarized the suicide death toll. He then mentions that that summary was just reported in a Post story 10 days before the article in question.
In every article about suicide bombers, does The Post mention the pernicious policies of Israel that cause such deep frustration and anger in Palestinians? No, of course not.
You rarely see in Getler’s column acknowledgement of complaints from readers who think The Post’s coverage, placement or headlines have an anti-Palestinian bias. Yet, I know there is a deep frustration at The Post’s stance and it hears from pro-Arab groups. But their complaints don’t make the paper.
One issue I’ve constantly communicated to Getler is The Post’s habit of making suicide bombings in the Middle East front page news, while the murders of Palestinians are usually buried in the paper. Here’s the text of my last email to Getler:
On Jan. 30, on A1 The Post ran the story “11 Killed By Bomb On Bus in Jerusalem.”
Today [Feb 12, 2004], on A32 The Post has “Israeli Raids in Gaza Kill 15 Palestinians.”
Exactly what is the criteria that dictates that the killing of 11 Israelis in yet another tragic suicide bombing is A1 news but the killing of 15 Palestinians in yet another Israeli raid A32 news?
I’ve pointed out many instances of this pattern to Getler over the last couple of years, but as usual, I received no response.
This is not a criticism of the reporters, especially John Ward Anderson and Molly Moore, who do a terrific job of reporting from the Middle East, but rather of editorial judgement about how such stories are played. Anderson’s story about the wall deserved to be front page and I applaud The Post for putting it there. I just wished Getler would be as sensitive to complaints from the other side.