Does the ‘NY Times’ think Netanyahu is American?

By Mairav Zonszein October 2, 2013 | Edit

Tuesday’s New York Times editorial about Netanyahu’s “pushback” on Iran at the United Nations General Assembly doesn’t say much, except for implying that diplomacy is preferable to military force when it comes to Iran’s nuclear program. But what is noteworthy (and irksome) is the way in which the editorial board of the paper refers to the Israeli prime minister:

Mr. Netanyahu has legitimate reasons to be wary of any Iranian overtures, as do the United States and the four other major powers involved in negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program. But it could be disastrous if Mr. Netanyahu and his supporters in Congress were so blinded by distrust of Iran that they exaggerate the threat, block President Obama from taking advantage of new diplomatic openings and sabotage the best chance to establish a new relationship since the 1979 Iranian revolution sent American-Iranian relations into the deep freeze. (Emphasis mine)

“Mr. Netanyahu and his supporters in Congress?” Could you imagine any other world leader being written about in such a way? The wording makes it sound like Netanyahu is an American citizen and a member of the government – perhaps the senator of the 51st state? His name could very well be substituted in the sentence by any American politician, for example: “John McCain and his supporters,” “Eric Holder and his supporters,” or “Lindsey Graham and his supporters.” They all could have made just as much sense.

And why is it that the New York Times simply accepts that Netanyahu and his friends in Congress have the power to “block President Obama from taking advantage of new diplomatic openings?” Why not make the editorial about how ridiculous it is that Netanyahu could have such sway over American foreign policy?

Perhaps there is a possibility that in between the lines of this bland editorial lies a cryptic attempt to take a jab at AIPAC and its supporters in Congress who are trying to get the U.S. to apply military force in Iran?

Maybe “AIPAC” should have been substituted for “Mr. Netanyahu” in the editorial. Too bad the Times doesn’t have the guts to go through with that.

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TEST TEST GAL Our team has been devastated by the horrific events of this latest war. The world is reeling from Israel’s unprecedented onslaught on Gaza, inflicting mass devastation and death upon besieged Palestinians, as well as the atrocious attack and kidnappings by Hamas in Israel on October 7. Our hearts are with all the people and communities facing this violence. We are in an extraordinarily dangerous era in Israel-Palestine. The bloodshed has reached extreme levels of brutality and threatens to engulf the entire region. Emboldened settlers in the West Bank, backed by the army, are seizing the opportunity to intensify their attacks on Palestinians. The most far-right government in Israel’s history is ramping up its policing of dissent, using the cover of war to silence Palestinian citizens and left-wing Jews who object to its policies. This escalation has a very clear context, one that +972 has spent the past 14 years covering: Israeli society’s growing racism and militarism, entrenched occupation and apartheid, and a normalized siege on Gaza. We are well positioned to cover this perilous moment – but we need your help to do it. This terrible period will challenge the humanity of all of those working for a better future in this land. Palestinians and Israelis are already organizing and strategizing to put up the fight of their lives. Can we count on your support? +972 Magazine is a leading media voice of this movement, a desperately needed platform where Palestinian and Israeli journalists, activists, and thinkers can report on and analyze what is happening, guided by humanism, equality, and justice. Join us.

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