A recent Associated Press news report that was featured by many news outlets worldwide inadvertently disclosed the truth that the Israel Defense Forces are not occupying cities in Judea and Samaria (the West Bank).
The story was authored by Tia Goldenberg and is described by the AP on its website as “an Associated Press reporter and producer covering Israel and the Palestinian territories.”
The news article referred to recent Israeli counter-terrorism operations in “the occupied West Bank,” citing a raid in the city of Jenin as an example. But here’s the hitch: Israel does not occupy Jenin.
The Israeli governor and military administration of Jenin departed back in 1995. The Palestinian Authority runs Jenin’s courts, police, unions, media, schools, elections (on the rare occasions they are permitted) and everything else that makes up daily life. The IDF is deployed outside of cities like Jenin in order to maintain overall security of the region and stop terrorist operations. The IDF’s role is exactly what the internationally recognized Oslo Accords identified it as.
The very nature of Israel’s counterterror actions demonstrates that the Israelis are not occupying the city: as Goldenberg herself noted in her article: Israel recently conducted “near daily” raids in Jenin.
If Israeli forces were occupying Palestinian Authority-controlled cities like Jenin the IDF would not be staging raids — they would already be in the city continuously.
In reality, Israeli troops enter cities such as Jenin only briefly, when they are in hot pursuit of terrorists, and then they withdraw. It is the Palestinian Authority’s governing administration that remains as the civil administration day after day.
Why does one news report matter? One reason is that so many newspapers, major ones as well as small town ones depend on the AP for their international coverage.
This story alone appeared in the following major daily newspapers:
The Boston Globe
The Chicago Tribune
The Detroit News
Las Vegas Sun News
Los Angeles Times
South Florida Sun Sentinel
The Washington Times
As well as dozens of websites for TV and radio stations.
But there’s more. In January, after an error by a different AP reporter, I sent letters to the editors to several newspapers. The response from one editor is telling. This Iowa-based newsman wrote: “I would suggest contacting the Associated Press with your concerns. It is their news story. Thanks, Kyle J. Ocker”
And that’s the problem: news editors trust the AP.
The Associated Press has reporters stationed throughout the Middle East, so how is it that they still can’t get the most basic facts about Israel and the Palestinian Authority right?
About itself the AP states “For over 175 years, The Associated Press has been a trusted, independent source for fast, accurate and unbiased reporting.” That accuracy seems to not apply to Israel.
American newspaper editors should do the right thing and tell the AP to stop misrepresenting what’s happening in Israel and/or stop using reports from Goldenberg and others who are perpetuating the canard of “Israeli occupation.”
Fully 98% of the Palestinian Arab residents of those areas live under the security rule of the Palestinian Authority and its forces. The Israeli governor and the military administration of those territories departed back in 1995. That’s a long time for the AP to mislead the readers of its articles.
Judea and Samaria was, under the terms of the Oslo II Accords agreement, organized into three areas. Area A is under Palestinian Authority administrative as well as police control and A constitutes about 18% of the Judea and Samaria. But what’s important to note here is that Area A is by far the most densely populated out of three areas.
Area A includes eight Palestinian Arab cities. This list includes Nablus, Jenin, Tulkarem, Qalqilya, Ramallah, Bethlehem, Jericho and well over two-thirds of Hebron. There are zero Israeli families or neighborhoods living in Area A.
If news editors can’t get the AP to correctly report on Judea and Samaria then these journalists should correct these types of errors themselves if they want to continue using the AP. That’s really what journalistic ethics demand. Until then, if you care about truth in Middle East reporting, please send a letter to the editor next time you see false reports about an occupation that does not exist.
Moshe Phillips is national chairman of Americans For A Safe Israel, AFSI, (www.AFSI.org), a leading pro-Israel advocacy and education organization.
The Associated Press vs. Judea and Samaria’s Jews
Moshe Phillips
A recent Associated Press news report that was featured by many news outlets worldwide inadvertently disclosed the truth that the Israel Defense Forces are not occupying cities in Judea and Samaria (the West Bank).
The story was authored by Tia Goldenberg and is described by the AP on its website as “an Associated Press reporter and producer covering Israel and the Palestinian territories.”
The news article referred to recent Israeli counter-terrorism operations in “the occupied West Bank,” citing a raid in the city of Jenin as an example. But here’s the hitch: Israel does not occupy Jenin.
The Israeli governor and military administration of Jenin departed back in 1995. The Palestinian Authority runs Jenin’s courts, police, unions, media, schools, elections (on the rare occasions they are permitted) and everything else that makes up daily life. The IDF is deployed outside of cities like Jenin in order to maintain overall security of the region and stop terrorist operations. The IDF’s role is exactly what the internationally recognized Oslo Accords identified it as.
The very nature of Israel’s counterterror actions demonstrates that the Israelis are not occupying the city: as Goldenberg herself noted in her article: Israel recently conducted “near daily” raids in Jenin.
If Israeli forces were occupying Palestinian Authority-controlled cities like Jenin the IDF would not be staging raids — they would already be in the city continuously.
In reality, Israeli troops enter cities such as Jenin only briefly, when they are in hot pursuit of terrorists, and then they withdraw. It is the Palestinian Authority’s governing administration that remains as the civil administration day after day.
Why does one news report matter? One reason is that so many newspapers, major ones as well as small town ones depend on the AP for their international coverage.
This story alone appeared in the following major daily newspapers:
The Boston Globe
The Chicago Tribune
The Detroit News
Las Vegas Sun News
Los Angeles Times
South Florida Sun Sentinel
The Washington Times
As well as dozens of websites for TV and radio stations.
But there’s more. In January, after an error by a different AP reporter, I sent letters to the editors to several newspapers. The response from one editor is telling. This Iowa-based newsman wrote: “I would suggest contacting the Associated Press with your concerns. It is their news story. Thanks, Kyle J. Ocker”
And that’s the problem: news editors trust the AP.
The Associated Press has reporters stationed throughout the Middle East, so how is it that they still can’t get the most basic facts about Israel and the Palestinian Authority right?
About itself the AP states “For over 175 years, The Associated Press has been a trusted, independent source for fast, accurate and unbiased reporting.” That accuracy seems to not apply to Israel.
American newspaper editors should do the right thing and tell the AP to stop misrepresenting what’s happening in Israel and/or stop using reports from Goldenberg and others who are perpetuating the canard of “Israeli occupation.”
Fully 98% of the Palestinian Arab residents of those areas live under the security rule of the Palestinian Authority and its forces. The Israeli governor and the military administration of those territories departed back in 1995. That’s a long time for the AP to mislead the readers of its articles.
Judea and Samaria was, under the terms of the Oslo II Accords agreement, organized into three areas. Area A is under Palestinian Authority administrative as well as police control and A constitutes about 18% of the Judea and Samaria. But what’s important to note here is that Area A is by far the most densely populated out of three areas.
Area A includes eight Palestinian Arab cities. This list includes Nablus, Jenin, Tulkarem, Qalqilya, Ramallah, Bethlehem, Jericho and well over two-thirds of Hebron. There are zero Israeli families or neighborhoods living in Area A.
If news editors can’t get the AP to correctly report on Judea and Samaria then these journalists should correct these types of errors themselves if they want to continue using the AP. That’s really what journalistic ethics demand. Until then, if you care about truth in Middle East reporting, please send a letter to the editor next time you see false reports about an occupation that does not exist.
Moshe Phillips is national chairman of Americans For A Safe Israel, AFSI, (www.AFSI.org), a leading pro-Israel advocacy and education organization.
Did you enjoy this article?
You'll love our roundtable.
Editor's Picks
Israel and the Internet Wars – A Professional Social Media Review
The Invisible Student: A Tale of Homelessness at UCLA and USC
What Ever Happened to the LA Times?
Who Are the Jews On Joe Biden’s Cabinet?
You’re Not a Bad Jewish Mom If Your Kid Wants Santa Claus to Come to Your House
No Labels: The Group Fighting for the Political Center
Latest Articles
A Bisl Torah ~ Are You Paying Attention?
A Moment in Time: The Israeli Election – Counting Votes, Building Bridges
Rabbis of LA | Rabbi Rembaum on Life Without Fredi
‘You Can See Everything’: Holmes on the Range
Ruby Red Beet Kubbah
A Jewish Victory
Trusting G-d’s Plan ft. Elaine Chaya
Zion Ozeri’s Photographs Reveal the Many Faces of Jewish Identity
His photographs portray Jews shaped by different cultures, histories and traditions while revealing the connections that unite them.
Milken School Opens Jan Koum Campus in Bel Air
The site is now home to Milken’s Upper School, serving students in grades 9 through 12, and expands the school’s footprint across its three campuses to 28 acres.
For Teens, Israel Travel Is Not the End Goal. Jewish Peoplehood Is.
A well-designed Israel experience cannot resolve every question. But it can give young people context, relationships, language, and a sense that they belong to a people and a story larger than themselves.
El-Sayed, Mélenchon, and the Future They Portend
Some have accused me of anti-Muslim bias. Let me answer that plainly: I have none. My issues with El-Sayed would be the same whether he were Jewish, Christian, Hindu or Baha’i.
Unbreakable Blue Thread: Reclaiming Our Past and Our Future
I write to you, all you first and second generations, and I assure you from generations five, six and seven that if we keep doing what we need to do, if we stand together, keep our traditions, educate ourselves in our ancient wisdom, keep Hebrew spoken and sung in our midst, we will not only endure. We Jews will thrive.
Unstuck in the Middle with You
Kwall, the Raymond P. Niro Law Professor at DePaul University College of Law, argues for a center defined by enough common commitments to make communal life possible.
Sewage Without Borders
Israel’s water security depends on what flows into the sea on the other side of all of them, and our water policy should start from that reality.
Torah Portion: Vayera
The parsha ends with the binding of Isaac, the Akeida, probably the darkest chapter in the entire Torah.
Gene Lichtenstein, August 15, 1930-October 18, 2026
Mr. Lichtenstein edited the Jewish Journal of Los Angeles from 1986 until 2000.
Let Them Talk
If we want our younger generations to love our faith, our culture, and our peoplehood, we need to be welcoming when they show interest and have a spark of curiosity.
A Wild and Improbable Story Hits Israel
It turns out that claim about Israel being a democracy wasn’t just propaganda. The two million Arabs who live in the world’s only Jewish state really do have the power to vote.
Why I Came to Vote in Israel
My journey to the ballot box was circuitous. The path I hope Israel will follow is derech Adonai: the way of righteousness and justice.
Bibi’s Battle
Overall, the anti-Netanyahu bloc is projected to win 53 seats, while the Netanyahu-led right-wing religious bloc is projected to win 50. Both are expected to fall well short of a 61-seat majority.
Bibi and Gadi
Let’s consider how Netanyahu and Eisenkot would govern differently given their many similarities on international and security matters.
Riots in France, Balagan in Israel
Suddenly, after years of lecturing Israel about being “too violent,” Macron was calling in his army to deal with out-of-control rioters, declaring that “those who sought to bring down the Republic will be held accountable.”
California Governor Election Preview: Xavier Becerra vs. Steve Hilton
Up (and Down) In Michigan
A report on the Jewish nostalgia for a political home in the lead up to Michigan’s elections.
Highest Turnout Ever Recorded in Israel as Ballots Are Cast to Decide Netanyahu’s Fate
The first parliamentary election since Oct. 7, 2023, pits Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition against Gadi Eisenkot’s ideologically diverse opposition, with neither bloc expected to secure a governing majority.
Can a Day of Political War Be a Day of Sacred Prayer?
Sleep-deprived and anxious, I called my friend Yossi Klein Halevi in Jerusalem in the hope that it might bring some relief to my nervous system.
More news and opinions than at a Shabbat dinner, right in your inbox.