Letters in Journal Constitution, Pioneer Press, Patriot Ledger Address False Description of CAMERA

After a column published in the Atlanta Journal Constitution, St. Paul Pioneer Press and Patriot Ledger (Quincy, MA) relayed inaccurate information about CAMERA, the newspapers published the following letters to clear the record:


St. Paul Pioneer Press

Normal Criticism

In his piece defending Jimmy Carter (“Carter might be right, he might be wrong, but he’s no anti-Semite,” Dec. 19), Jay Bookman approvingly quotes an opinionated Israeli columnist, and in doing so misleads readers.

The columnist, Larry Derfner, wrongly characterizes the media watchdog group CAMERA as “right-wing” and implies we are aligned with “the Republican Party, the Christian Right, Fox News and an assortment of other forces.” In fact, we are neither right wing nor left wing. We are a nonpartisan organization that takes no position with regard to American or Israeli political issues.

We have, however, pointed out serious problems with Carter’s book and media appearances. Just as “normal countries … are subject to normal criticism” (as Bookman correctly notes), normal books are also subject to normal criticism. So we did not slap the “anti-Semitism” label on Carter. Rather, we criticized the numerous substantive errors of fact and other serious distortions that may deceive Americans with regard to why peace remains so elusive in the complex Middle East. Those errors are documented on our Web site, https://www.camera.org/.

GILEAD INI
Boston, MA

The writer is senior research analyst for the Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in America.


The Atlanta Journal Constitution

CAMERA points out Carter’s errors

In his column defending Jimmy Carter, Jay Bookman approvingly quotes an Israeli columnist, and in doing so misleads readers (“Anti-Semitism label confines open debate,” @issue, Dec. 18).

The Israeli columnist suggested that any observer who believes Israel seeks peace, even while defending its citizens against violent attacks, and any observer who would point out factual errors in anti-Israel commentary, must somehow be associated with “the Republican Party, the Christian Right, Fox News and an assortment of other forces.”

The truth is, as indicated in poll after poll, Americans of all stripes understand Israel’s difficult situation and see the country in a positive light. These attitudes are reflected in the bipartisan congressional support for Israel.

The Israeli columnist also wrongly characterizes the media watchdog group CAMERA as a “right-wing” group. In fact, we are a nonpartisan organization that takes no position with regard to American or Israeli political issues.

We have, however, pointed out grave problems with Carter’s book and media appearances. Just as “normal countries . . . are subject to normal criticism” (as Bookman correctly notes), normal books are also subject to normal criticism. Like many other critics of the book, CAMERA did not slap the “anti-Semitism label” on Carter. We documented numerous substantive errors of fact and other serious distortions that may deceive Americans with regard to the question of why peace remains so elusive in the complex Middle East.

Like many other critics of the book, CAMERA did not slap the “anti-Semitism tag” on Carter. We documented numerous substantive errors of fact and other serious distortions that may deceive Americans with regard to the question of why peace remains so elusive in the complex Middle East.

GILEAD INI

Ini is senior research analyst for the committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in America


The Patriot Ledger

Column defending Carter on Israel was misleading

In his Dec. 20 commentary defending Jimmy Cartger (“Anti-Semitism tag confines debate”), Jay Bookman of the Cox News Service approvingly quotes an opinionated Israeli columnist, and in doing so misleads readers.

The columninst suggested that any observer who believes Israel seeks peace, aven while defending its citizens against violent attacks, and any observer who would point out factual errors in anti-Israel commentary, mst somehow be associated with “the Republican Party, the Christian Right, Fox News and an assortment of other forces.”

The truth is, as indicated in poll after poll, Americans of all stripes understand Israel’s difficult situation and see the country in a positive light. These attitudes are reflected in the bipartisan congressional support for Israel.

The columnist also wrongly characterizes the media watchdog group CAMERA as a “right-wing” group. In fact, we are a non-partisan organization that takes no position with regard to American or Israeli political issues.

We have, however, pointed out grave problems with Carter’s book and media appearances. Just as “normal countries . . . are subject to normal criticism” (as Bookman correctly notes), normal books are also subject to normal criticism.

Like many other critics of the book, CAMERA did not slap the “anti-Semitism tag” on Carter. We documented numerous substantive errors of fact and other serious distortions that may deceive Americans with regard to the question of why peace remains so elusive in the complex Middle East.

GILEAD INI
Senior Research Analyst
Committee for Accuracy in Middle East
Reporting in America
Boston

Comments are closed.