One of Blumenthal's reports has centered on not just the IDF's original false claims that an activist shouted "Go back to Auschwitz," but Glenn Kessler's (of the Washington Post) report on this claim. On June 4, Kessler took this IDF claim and exaggerated it to report that: "The activists responded repeatedly with shouts -- "Go back to Auschwitz!"" This particular piece of reporting is not just an instance of repeating now-retracted IDF claims, but an exaggeration of those claims. (Here is Kessler's story: http://tinyurl.com/24fow3k)
Please join me in emailing the ombudsman at the Washington Post to issue a correction. The IDF has since retracted its claims that an activist shouted these words and the WaPo must correct the record. I also believe that Kessler should, at least, be asked to issue an apology for both reporting false information and for choosing to do so in a hyperbolic manner. This is an explicit example of very poor journalism tainted by an obvious anti-Palestine agenda. An agenda and attitude that is well-entrenched in the mainstream media in the US and Israel and leads to some of the more vicious instances of racism and nationalism that we are seeing in Israel and in the US regarding the flotilla attack and the horrendous and ongoing blockaded condition of Gazans.
We must speak out against this and, at the very least, hold our newspapers accountable to at least reporting facts and issuing corrections when appropriate.
Please take just a few minutes now to send The Washington Post an email (ombudsman@washpost.com). Feel free to use my email (pasted below) or doctor it as you feel fit.
In solidarity,
April
April
To Whom It May Concern:
I am writing to express my concern regarding Glenn Kessler's June 4th report "Israel gives its account of raid on aid ship headed for Gaza." In this report he states that "The activists responded repeatedly with shouts -- "Go back to Auschwitz!""
Firstly, it appears that he did not fully take seriously his journalistic responsibilities to investigate the realities of the situation since this IDF claim has now been retracted. Max Blumenthal of the Nation Institute (and others) have acted as journalist ought to and examined these original claims with critical eyes. Doing such they have rightly discovered that the clips originally released by the IDF were doctored. Clarification and new clips now do not include anyone shouting "Go back to Auschwitz." In the future, I urge you to more adequately cover this story and fully examine evidence before merely republishing questionable claims as fact.
Secondly, even if Kessler was merely parroting IDF claims he irresponsibly overstated even those. The IDF claimed that there was one activist shouting "Go back to Auschwitz." Claims of one activist shouting one statement once is hardly grounds to report repeated shouts from numerous activists. I can only assume from Kessler's reporting that he intended to sensationalize and increase anti-Palestinian sentiment in readership. This is inexcusable. Such actions by a Washing Post reporter ought to be taken seriously by the paper and investigated fully. While, I ask now for just an issued correction, I believe that this instance of obvious exaggeration be considered by The Washington Post and that your standards for journalistic integrity be enforced in the future.
Lastly, the IDF has now retracted its original claim that anyone shouted this phrase. As such, it is the Washington Post's responsibility to correct the record immediately.
I sincerely hope you take this message seriously and immediately take action to issue an appropriate correction:
The Washington Post and Glenn Kessler should both apologize for originally publishing a poorly investigated and hyperbolic version of IDF claims AND issue a correction that reflects the IDF's recent retraction.
