Article: King, Obama pledge work on 2-state solution

Date: June 30, 2010

The Courant published a photo of President Barack Obama with King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia. The caption read: "President Barack Obama poses Tuesday with King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia. After a private meeting they addressed a news conference, with Obama saying their talk covered a number of strategic issues, including Iran's nuclear program, Pakistan and Afghanistan, as well as 'the importance of moving forward in a swift and bold way in securing a Palestinian homeland that can live side by side with a secure and prosperous Israeli state.'"

The caption was simultaneously factual but unbalanced and misleading, suffering from sins of omission.

By omitting key context, including the continued unwillingness of the Saudis to even meet with Israel and its participation in the Arab boycott, the caption furthered the mistaken impression that the meeting was between to leaders whose sole interest, at least regarding the Arab-Israeli conflict and its Palestinian Arab-Israeli component, was peace.

Ratings

Factual Accuracy: 10
Bias-Free: 9
Pro-Israel: 0
Anti-Israel: 0

Article: Israel considers ways to ease Gaza blockade

Date: June 16, 2010


This article reported on what its title implies.

Bias. Lack of Balance: The article quotes an Israeli minister saying "It is time to end the closure in its current form. It does not provide any value to Israel. From a diplomatic stand point it causes great image problems." It is interesting that so many articles which quote anti-Israel statements fair to include any balancing quotes from Israeli spokespersons, but this article manages to include a quote from a high-ranking Israeli that paints Israel in a negative light.

Omission: The article omits any reference to the reasons for the blockade.

Omission. Half-Truth. Misleading: The article accurately reports "United Nations will deliver cargo to Gaza from three ships that tried to run the blockade but were seized May 31," but omits any reference to the fact that Israel earlier tried to transfer the goods to Gaza but Hamas refused to accept them.

Ratings

Factual Accuracy: 10
Bias-Free: 6
Pro-Israel: 0
Anti-Israel: 2

Article: Malloy Facing Lawsuit From Fellow Democrat

Date: June 15, 2010

This article by Christoper Keating, published June 15, 2010, is mostly the same as the article by Keating on the Courant's CapitoWatch blog Former Stamford Mayor Dannel Malloy Facing Slander Suit By Democrat Lee Whitnum Over Her Comments.

It reports on Whitnum suing Malloy for allegedly falsely making statements that Whitnum had made statements that were "anti-Israel and anti-Semitic."

Lack of Balance. Misleading: The article repeats allegations made by Whitnum, implicitly giving them some credence, without including any balancing information other than Malloy's pointing out Whitnum didn't like it when he "called her out" regarding statements which he "then viewed - and continue(s) to view - as anti-Semitic."

It also repeats allegations she keeps repeating about AIPAC, without any balancing opinions.

Ratings

Factual Accuracy: 10
Bias-Free: 8
Pro-Israel: 0
Anti-Israel: 0

Article: Israeli panel to probe deadly Gaza flotilla raid

Date: June 15, 2010

This article was a variation of the Sanders article Israelis have mixed feelings about flotilla inquiry published by the Los Angeles Times.

The article reported on the creation by Israel of a panel to investigate the Gaza flotilla incident, but contained significant amounts of opinion and included criticism of unnamed "critics" without including any balancing opinions.

Opinion. Bias: Thea article begins "With a sense of relief and a touch of anxiety, Israelis braced themselves Monday for another high profile probe of their military's conduct."

This injects the writer's interpretation of Israel's mood. The wording "another high profile probe" also creates the impression "high level probes" are routine and involves wrongdoing by the military.

Opinion: The writer also gave his opinion for the reason behind the "hope:" that the inquiry would head off United Nations calls for an international inquiry.

Misleading. Half-Truths. Omissions: The writer refers to those killed merely as "activists," making no reference to the fact they were armed and trained mercenaries who initiated an attack on the Israelis boarding the vessel.

Omission: The writer referred to the infamous Goldstone Commission's conclusion that "Israel committed war crimes" without any reference to the biased nature of the probe, the inclusion among the commission members of people who publicly condemned Israel prior to their appointment, its being conducted under the auspices of the incurably anti-Israel Human Rights Council or the admission by its chair that its conclusions had not been proven in any way that would stand up in a courtroom.

Opinion: The author injected his opinion about the mindset of the Israeli prime minister as he set up the commission.

Opinion: The writer injected his opinion that the "panel will have a narrow mandate."

Omission. Misleading: The writer referred to Hamas as merely an "Islamic militant group," omitting any use of the word "terror."

Unbalanced. Absence of Rebuttal: The writer gave the opinion of critics, saying they "noted that the commission does not have the independence and investigative authority of a so-called national inquiry commission," but did not give any balancing opinions.

Ratings

Factual Accuracy: 8
Bias-Free: 5
Pro-Israel: 0
Anti-Israel: 5

Letter: Thomas' Words More Than Shameful

Date: June 14, 2010

The Courant published a letter by Harvey Jassem responding to the Courant's June 11 editorial on Helen Thomas' suggestion that Israeli Jews go "home" to the European countries (to which they'd fled from other countries after being kicked out of Eretz Yisrael).

Jassem writes "Thomas' suggestion that Jews leave Jerusalem yet again is both offensive and ignorant." He points out they have demonstrable ties to their land and that land is the land of Israel.

Ratings

Factual Accuracy: 10
Bias-Free: 0
Pro-Israel: 10
Anti-Israel: 0

Editorial: MS. THOMAS' SHAMEFUL EXIT

Date: June 11, 2010

This editorial recognized Thomas "has no one to blame but herself for the ignominious final chapter" (in her long career).


It balanced praise of most of her career with criticism of her anti-Semitic outburst, although it never mentioned anti-Semitism.

Misleading: An inset in the editorial read: "ILL-CHOSEN, UGLY WORDS. Pioneering female journalist, 89, ends career with anti-Israel tirade."

This was not an "anti-Israel tirade;" it was an anti-Semitic tirade. She was telling Jews to get out of their homeland.

Overall, the editorial was balanced, even if one doesn't agree with its take on the incident.

Ratings

Factual Accuracy: 10
Bias-Free: 9
Pro-Israel: 0
Anti-Israel: 0

Article: Fatah disunity forces delay in West Bank vote

Date: June 11, 2010

This is a short Reuters article. It may be found o the Orlando Sentinel web site at epaper.orlandosentinel.com/OS/OS/2010/06/11/ArticleHtmls/11_06_2010_002_037.shtml.

Opinion: The writer called Fatah's inability to agree on a unified election list "a sign of the problems faced by a party that once dominated Palestinian politics but has struggled to maintain its stature since Yasser Arafat's death."

Ratings

Factual Accuracy: 10
Bias-Free: 10
Pro-Israel: 0
Anti-Israel: 0

Article: Gaza blockade eased, scorned

Date: June 10, 2010

This was a short article by Edmund Sanders published June 10, 2010. It consisted of most of the first seven paragraphs of the article available on the Los Angeles Times web site at latimesblogs.latimes.com/babylonbeyond/2010/06/israel-opens-border-for-snack-foods-but-gazans-arent-biting.html.


The article reported on Israeli broadening of the list of goods which could be transferred into Gaza. It reported almost completely on the Arab reaction, which just a tiny reference to Israel denying the moves were a reaction to criticism following its interception of the "Free Gaza" flotilla.

Opinion: "Israel's move impressed almost no one in this impoverished seaside territory."

Opinion: The article referred to the flotilla as being an "aid flotilla."

Omission. Misleading: "Nine people, including a U.S. citizen, were killed when activists resisted."

The article fails to mention the nine people were among those who resisted and were paid mercenaries. It also omits the fact that the "U.S. citizen" is one in name only, having left the United States at the age of two and apparently never returning.

Ratings

Factual Accuracy: 8
Bias-Free: 5
Pro-Israel: 0
Anti-Israel: 3

Article: Summit castigates Israel

Date: June 9, 2010

This article was published by The Courant June 9, 2010. It consists of most of the first three paragraphs of a Reuters article which may be found at www.reuters.com/article/idUSLDE65713A20100608. It reported on a meeting of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia.


Omission. Misleading: It referred to all members of the Conference except for Israel condemning Israel's diversion of the "Free Gaza" flotilla, falsely implying the Conference itself condemned Israel. The Conference itself took no action, since it can act only by consensus.

Opinion. Omission. Half-Truth: The article also referred to "nine pro-Palestinian Turkish activists" being killed, but omitted the fact that they were paid mercenaries, making the statement they were pro-Palestinian an opinion rather than statement of fact.

It did name three participants, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Syria's Bashar Assad, Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, which at least enabled intelligent readers to infer the composition of the Conference was far from unbiased.

Ratings

Factual Accuracy: 9
Bias-Free: 5
Pro-Israel: 0
Anti-Israel: 8

Letter: Examine Why Thomas Said It

Date: June 9, 2010

The Courant published a letter on June 9, 2010 from Pat Settembriono on Vernon on the "retirement" of Helen Thomas from Hearst after her anti-Semitic outburst was caught on video.

Inaccuracy: The letter falsely stated the reason for Thomas' outburst was: "the naval blockade of Gaza, the deadly interception of relief boats and Israel's tactics in preventing boats with much-needed aid from reaching an impoverished people."

Her outburst came well before the "Free Gaza" flotilla, which was not a relief boat and wasn't bringing much-needed aid.

Ratings

Factual Accuracy: 0
Bias-Free: 0
Pro-Israel: 0
Anti-Israel: 10

Letters: Response to Israeli Ship Raid

On June 3, 2010, The Courant published two letters regarding the Israeli raid on the "Free Gaza" flotilla, one anti-Israel letter from Sarasvati Panciera of Granby  and one pro-Israel letter from Jim Tierney of West Hartford.


The anti-Israel letter was more than four times the length of the pro-Israel letter, which also never actually mentioned the incident directly.

The anti-Israel letter was particularly vile in that it used the Holocaust to attack the Jewish state.

Ratings

Factual Accuracy: 10
Bias-Free: 0
Pro-Israel: 5
Anti-Israel: 10

Article: Netanyahu Praises Troops For Flotilla Raid

This article by Edmund Sanders was published June 3, 2010. It is a shorter version of an article on the Chicago Tribune web site at http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/la-fg-israel-raid-20100603,0,3243559.story.


Opinion: The article begins with a value judgement of acts of the Israeli prime minister: "Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave a vigorous, unapologetic defense Wednesday of his government’s deadly raid of a protest flotilla bound for the Gaza Strip."

Misleading. Half-Truths. Omission: The article refers to Israel killing "nine activists," omitting the fact that they were paid mercenaries.

Opinion. Bias: " &ellips; did little to appease critics who say Israel used excessive force." This gives an opinion about the effect of Netanyahu's words. It is also biased, creating the impression that there is validity to the accusations of Israel's critics.

The article did accurately quote Netanyahu pointing out "This was not a love boat. … It was a boat of hate."

Opinion: "Monday’s early-morning raid has turned into one of the biggest diplomatic challenges Netanyahu has faced since taking office a little over a year ago."

Ratings

Factual Accuracy: 10
Bias-Free: 7
Pro-Israel: 0
Anti-Israel: 5

Article: Defiant, Israel defends raid

This article, subtitled "Activists offer reports on deadly flotilla takeover," was written by Edmund Sanders and published June 2, 2010. It was published along with a photo of demonstrators waving Palestinian flags in front of the home of the Israeli ambassador in Turkey. It is a shortened version of a longer article available on the Courant's website at http://www.courant.com/news/breaking/la-fg-israel-aftermath-20100602,0,6669896,full.story.


Opinion: The headline itself including the opinion that Israel was "defiant," an opinion which was also given in the first sentence.

Inaccuracy: The writer inaccurately referred to "a humanitarian flotilla bound for the Gaza Strip." Even one of the organizers admitted it was not a humanitarian mission.

Opinion: The writer referred to "Israel's hard-line response."

Opinion. Misleading: The writer opined "The initial firsthand versions had come almost exclusively from the Israeli government." This is misleading because, regardless of where the initial firsthand versions originated, the overwhelming majority of reported versions came from anti-Israel propagandists.

Misleading. Unverified or Unsubstantiated Statements: The article included the statement: "the captain of one of the other ships in the flotilla, Huseyin Tokalak, said Israeli ships opened fire on the Mavi Marmara before boarding that ship, according to Reuters." While this may be an accurate report of what Reuters said that captain said, there was no firing from the Israelis until after the mercenaries on the Mavi Marmara had attacked the Israeli commandos.

Opinion. Misleading: "The Gaza relief flotilla embarked from Turkey." It was not a relief flotilla.

Lack of Balance. Absence of Rebuttal: "Turkey's foreign minister &ellips; compared the Israeli raid to the Sept. 11 attacks." This absurd statement wasn't balanced.

Ratings

Factual Accuracy: 7
Bias-Free: 5
Pro-Israel: 0
Anti-Israel: 7

Article: Israeli ship raid sparks furor

This article by Edmund Sanders was a shorter version of an article "Israel criticized over raid on Gaza flotilla" available at www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-israel-clash-20100601,0,7304478.story.

Misleading, Omission, Half-Truths: "Israel faced a global diplomatic firestorm Monday over its deadly raid against a protest flotilla carrying humanitarian aid that was attempting to break through an Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip."

This was the start of the article, making it appear as if Israel planned a deadly raid. It omitted the highly relevant fact that the main "weapon" the Israelis brandished were paintball guns and nothing became deadly until the Israelis were attacked. It also omits mentioning that Egypt also controls access to Gaza.

The article also fails to give any Israeli perspective until the third paragraph.

Misleading: The article inaccurately states Israeli commandos "immediately clashed with activists on board" after rappelling onto the ship. Actually, the Israelis were immediately attacked.

Omission: The article never points out that the diversion of five of the six ships in the flotilla was done without any injuries, thus discouraging intelligent people from coming to the obvious inference that the deaths and injuries were part of a deliberate plan by the flotilla organizers.

Lack of Balance: The article reports "U.S. officials expressed regret at the loss of life in the raid but stopped short of criticizing Israel until full details of the incident were released." This implies Israel was deserving of criticism and the activists who incited the violence weren't.

Ratings

Factual Accuracy: 9
Bias-Free: 5
Pro-Israel: 0
Anti-Israel: 8