The Guardian‘s coverage of the Israeli commando attack on an aid ship off of Gaza:
Meanwhile, the Times and the Post both use a form of the word “condemnation” in their leader. Like Israel was a child who simply misbehaved.
Maybe it’s still too early to slap a definitive label on the actions of the Israeli navy—there’s a lot we don’t know about last night’s raid. But the Guardian is not passively accepting the narrative fed to them (note the accompanying story “Israeli publicity machine cranks into gear,” and the emphasis on video evidence). And they’re not afraid to use the word “Terrorism” in describing the actions of a non-Muslim, internationally recognized state.
The editors are also discarding with the classic victim-aggressor dichotomy that much of the American press feels obliged to propagate when discussing all conflicts involving Israel. This tragedy, the lives lost, cannot be redeemed by such clearheadedness, but a press that demands a return to reality from the disturbingly dogmatic Israeli leadership can certainly prevent future and deeper wounds.
