Newsweek, like numerous other media outlets, ran breathless coverage of world response to President Trump’s announcement acknowledging Jerusalem as the capital of the state of Israel. A video accompanying several articles, including one on December 11, 2017 entitled “Trump Is A Partner in ‘Bloodshed’ After Recognizing Jerusalem As Israel’s Capital, Turkey’s President Says,” included two factual errors.
First, the opening text accompanying the images stated that “Global unrest continues to erupt following President Trump’s decision to name Jerusalem Israel’s capital.” Trump did not name Jerusalem’s capital. Israel named its own capital at its founding in 1948 and American law affirmed the same reality and fact in The Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995, passed by large majorities of the House and Senate. The law states that Jerusalem should be recognized as the capital of Israel and the embassy moved there no later than May 31, 1999 (the law included a renewable waiver allowing the President to postpone moving the embassy for six months at a time). Trump followed the law and formally recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
Second, the video claimed most countries “set their embassies in Israel’s capital of Tel Aviv.” Needless to say, Tel Aviv is not Israel’s capital.
Commendably, Newsweek editors corrected both errors. The new language now refers to “President Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital” and notes that many countries “set their embassies in Tel Aviv.”
Curiously, the video produced by Joseph Gedeon, offers a direct quote by only one nation — North Korea — denouncing the American action. A representative terms the U.S. decision “an insult to international legitimacy and global consensus.” Certainly, North Koreans know first hand about violating international legitimacy and global consensus, but why logically, morally and journalistically does Newsweek cite this pariah nation in such a context?
For additional Newsweek corrections prompted by CAMERA, please see here.