From: Dr. Michael Berenhaus [mailto:mberenhaus@comcast.net]
Sent: Tuesday, November 28, 2006 1:26 AM
To: letters@washpost.com
Cc: 'ombudsman@washpost.com'
Dear Editor,
Michael Rizk, in Israel Attacked First [Nov. 25, 2006], claims “Israel initiated the attacks” in the Israel/Hezbollah war this summer. Not only did Hezbollah kidnap two Israeli soldiers as Rizk correctly points out, but they also killed an additional eight. The Hezbollah offensive also included rocket attacks against Northern Israel before Israeli troops fired back. How does this portray Israel as the initiator of the attacks?
Rizk further blames Israel for the “devastation” in Lebanon. Interestingly, Rizk does not mention - or assign blame - to any entity for the devastation that occurred in Northern Israel – the result of thousands of rockets launched against its civilian population. Any country that allows a terrorist entity like Hezbollah – which has become an integral and welcome segment of Lebanese society, and which is represented in the Lebanese Parliament - to launch attacks from their soil should expect the country that has been attacked to retaliate and defend its citizens.
Michael Berenhaus
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Sunday, November 5, 2006
Letter to The Washington Post followed by their response
From: Dr. Michael Berenhaus [mailto:mberenhaus@comcast.net]
Sent: Sunday, November 05, 2006 11:41 AM
To: letters@washpost.com: 'ombudsman@washpost.com'
Subject: Washington Post title not neutral
Dear Editors,
On November 2nd , 2006, The Washington Post published an article and titled it “Israeli Troops Spark Clashes In Gaza Strip.” The article, however, states that “the raid was designed to root out stockpiles of crude Palestinian rockets…and the men who fire them into southern Israel.” This leads credence to the view that the Israeli raid was a defensive raid in response to Palestinian rocket attacks into Israel undertaken in an attempt to stop them from re-occurring. So what event really sparked the clash? The rocket attacks or the Israeli counter measures? That depends on which view is taken. The Israeli view is that the Palestinians firing rockets at civilians in Israel sparked the clash – after all, the Israelis do have a right to protect their citizens. The Palestinian view is that the Israeli troops sparked the clashes. The title that was given to this article indicates that the view taken by the The Washington Post appears to be equivalent to the Palestinian point of view. Moreover, is it fair to say that the one that hits back after being hit is the one that sparked the fight?
Sincerely,
Michael Berenhaus
-----Original Message-----
From: Deborah C Howell
On Behalf Of Ombudsman Internet DropBox
Sent: Sunday, November 05, 2006 4:08 PM
To: Dr. Michael Berenhaus
Subject: Re: Washington Post title not neutral
I got a number of complaints about that headline and have talked to the
editors about it.
Deborah Howell
Washington Post Ombudsman
Sent: Sunday, November 05, 2006 11:41 AM
To: letters@washpost.com: 'ombudsman@washpost.com'
Subject: Washington Post title not neutral
Dear Editors,
On November 2nd , 2006, The Washington Post published an article and titled it “Israeli Troops Spark Clashes In Gaza Strip.” The article, however, states that “the raid was designed to root out stockpiles of crude Palestinian rockets…and the men who fire them into southern Israel.” This leads credence to the view that the Israeli raid was a defensive raid in response to Palestinian rocket attacks into Israel undertaken in an attempt to stop them from re-occurring. So what event really sparked the clash? The rocket attacks or the Israeli counter measures? That depends on which view is taken. The Israeli view is that the Palestinians firing rockets at civilians in Israel sparked the clash – after all, the Israelis do have a right to protect their citizens. The Palestinian view is that the Israeli troops sparked the clashes. The title that was given to this article indicates that the view taken by the The Washington Post appears to be equivalent to the Palestinian point of view. Moreover, is it fair to say that the one that hits back after being hit is the one that sparked the fight?
Sincerely,
Michael Berenhaus
-----Original Message-----
From: Deborah C Howell
On Behalf Of Ombudsman Internet DropBox
Sent: Sunday, November 05, 2006 4:08 PM
To: Dr. Michael Berenhaus
Subject: Re: Washington Post title not neutral
I got a number of complaints about that headline and have talked to the
editors about it.
Deborah Howell
Washington Post Ombudsman
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