The following is a letter to the editor that I wrote, which appeared in The New York Times, regarding the paper’s coverage of Israel in response to a recent front-page article entitled “The Misery of Life Under Occupation,” which I found to be entirely one-sided and deeply disturbing.
May 25, 2021
To the Editor:
Re “The Misery of Life Under Occupation” (front page, May
23):
While there are certainly Palestinians who yearn for a
better life that is devoid of strife, your decision to impugn Israel for the
present state of affairs is disingenuous and unjustified.
Israel’s enduring struggle for its very survival stems from
an array of existential threats, including rocket attacks aimed at civilian
centers and heinous acts of terror carried out by militant extremists intent on
obliterating Israel. It is due to the actions of the terrorists, whose wanton
disregard for human life extends to both Israelis and rank-and-file
Palestinians. Israel has no choice but to carry out security measures intended
to safeguard its people.
Painting a picture that portrays Israel as the aggressor
while failing to hold Hamas and other terrorist organizations accountable for
fomenting violence that adversely affects the daily lives of Palestinians is
irresponsible. At a time of rising anti-Semitism and increasing anti-Israel
animus, I encourage you to put a greater emphasis on impartiality in your reporting.
N. Aaron Troodler
Bala Cynwyd, Pa.
