The New York Times has come under fire on social media for tweeting on May 8 that the Israeli Defense Ministry has made a name for itself in developing “ways to kill people.”
The tweet was promoting a May 7 article from the Times detailing how the Israeli Defense Ministry’s research-and-development arm has been designing technology to save lives during the COVID-19 pandemic, including various tests to see if people are infected with the virus.
The full tweet read, “The Israeli Defense Ministry’s research-and-development arm is best known for pioneering cutting-edge ways to kill people and blow things up. Now it is turning to saving lives.” The lede of the article is similarly worded.
The Israeli Defense Ministry’s research-and-development arm is best known for pioneering cutting-edge ways to kill people and blow things up. Now it is turning to saving lives. https://t.co/uxIvDLf4nB
— The New York Times (@nytimes) May 8, 2020
Jewish groups condemned the tweet.
“This tweet is sensationalist,” Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt tweeted. “It is irresponsible that the @nytimes buried the important story about Israel’s military developing innovative responses to #COVID19 beneath demonizing language that seems to question Israel’s legitimate security needs. They should do better.”
This tweet is sensationalist. It is irresponsible that the @nytimes buried the important story about Israel's military developing innovative responses to #COVID19 beneath demonizing language that seems to question Israel's legitimate security needs. They should do better. pic.twitter.com/PM38RKKu4O
— Jonathan Greenblatt (@JGreenblattADL) May 8, 2020
American Jewish Committee CEO David Harris similarly tweeted, “What a vile @nytimes statement! And on [the] 75th [anniversary] of [the] end of World War II & Holocaust, no less.”
He suggested that the Times’ tweet should have stated: “Israeli Defense Ministry’s research-and-development arm is best known for pioneering cutting-edge ways to defend #Israel since 1948 from annihilation by state/non-state actors.”
What a vile @nytimes statement! And on 75th anniv. of end of WW2 & Holocaust, no less.
Should read:
Israeli Defense Ministry’s research-and-development arm is best known for pioneering cutting-edge ways to defend #Israel since 1948 from annihilation by state/non-state actors. https://t.co/4dKjXfvRgr
— David Harris (@DavidHarrisNY) May 8, 2020
The Simon Wiesenthal Center asked in a tweet, “Would @nytimes describe [the] Pentagon or US Military researchers as developers of cutting ways to kill people or to protect their nation?”
Would @nytimes describe Pentagon or US Military researchers as developers of cutting ways to kill people or to protect their nation? pic.twitter.com/LrDO5hazUi
— SimonWiesenthalCntr (@simonwiesenthal) May 8, 2020
Journal contributor and Israel-based writer Hen Mazzig also tweeted, “The @nytimes is best known for pioneering anti-Semitic headlines like suggesting that Jews are always finding new ways to kill people. Now it is turning on Israel.”
Mazzig added in a subsequent tweet: “Like how can you turn any positive news from Israel into blood libel? Is it really the time for [the] New York [Times] to bash Israel about COVID19?”
The @nytimes is best known for pioneering antisemitic headlines like suggesting that Jews are always finding new ways to kill people.
Now it is turning on Israel. pic.twitter.com/7YzIINnb3A
— Hen Mazzig (@HenMazzig) May 8, 2020
Like how can you turn any positive news from Israel into blood libel? Is it really the time for New York to bash Israel about COVID19?
— Hen Mazzig (@HenMazzig) May 8, 2020
The Times did not immediately respond to the Journal’s request for comment.
In April 2019, the Times issued an apology for publishing a cartoon depicting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a dog leading President Donald Trump, who is depicted as a blind man in the cartoon. Greenblatt and Harris condemned the cartoon as anti-Semitic.
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