A Nicer Tone From The New York Times

Having hosted various reporters, editors, photographers, diplomats and politicians, etc. in the twenty-eight years we're in Shiloh, I've learned that manners and friendly behavior are not always accurate indicators of the resulting articles and policies.  Some people are just very polite and friendly or very good actors.

That's one of the reasons I find my "little hobby" very challenging and sometimes refer to it as a "game," a sort of cross between chess and poker.

When I got an email from Helen Freedman of AFSI about what she considered a relatively positive article from The New York Times, I was curious.  NYT's Ethan Bronner and Rina Castelnuovo had visited me here in Shiloh not long ago, and since then I've maintained an email correspondence with Rina.  I've also noticed that David Haivri, who works with the Shomron Regional Council, seems to be their main source of information.  Many Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria do not welcome unaccompanied journalists.  I agree with that policy.  That's why I prefer to take journalists around Shiloh, rather than allow them to wander freely.

Bronner, Castelnuovo and Isabel Kershner seem to have a regular "contract" with David Haivri, who either accompanies them or sets up visits, like he did with us.  Rina's photos are stunning.

I think that they're all comfortable and familiar enough to go beyond the rhetoric.  It could also be that the Jewish residents are learning how to speak to journalists.  They live in Israel, unlike many who write about us based on mistaken presumptions and a lack of historic knowledge and perspective.  Don't get me wrong.  I'm not saying that everything they write is "kosher."

Remember that few journalists have a strong background in history, and many of today's were born post-1967 Six Days War and have absolutely no idea of what really happened.  Very few are sufficiently knowledgeable about geography to understand how tiny and vulnerable Israel is even with Judea and Samaria.  Most politicians know even less, and the higher up they are, the more chance they get their news from "digests," not even reading the paper or web.

And remember, too, to read carefully, and when you find a mistake, publicize it via letters to the editor, talkbacks and blogging if you have one.