#SadSadIsrael Trends Mocking NYT Article

[additional-authors]

Aaron Bandler

November 4, 2021

Photo from Twitter

The hashtag #SadSadIsrael has been trending on Twitter as various users mock a New York Times article depicting Israel as a lachrymose place.

CAMERA’s [Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting and Analysis] Gilead Ini wrote that the Times’ October 26 front-page story from Jerusalem Bureau Chief Patrick Kingsley describes Israel as an “unwanted child” and “an ‘unsolvable’ puzzle of ‘incompatible’ factions burdened by ‘grievances’ and ‘consequences.’ And that’s only in the first seven paragraphs.” Kingsley’s article goes onto depict “underlying tensions and inequities,” “ethnic abuse,” “oppression” and “apartheid,” according to Ini.

Ini noted that Israel is consistently ranked among the happiest countries in the world in the World Happiness Report and polling data shows that the overwhelming majority of Israelis are “satisfied with their lives.” “In a country whose history of conflict makes all the more remarkable its resilience, vibrancy, and happiness, the New York Times, whose reputation of anti-Israel advocacy has grown in recent years, bends itself out of shape to curate malcontent,” he wrote. “It isn’t following where the Israeli roads leads, letting chance encounters eventually paint an accurate picture. Rather, it’s flipping a two-headed coin to get the intended result.”

The Times article prompted the #SadSadIsrael hashtag mocking Kingsley’s portrayal of Israel.

“In a recent article, @nytimes tries to falsely portray Israelis as sad and miserable,” StandWithUs tweeted. “Israel is now open for tourists, come see for yourself. Fun fact: According to the UN’s annual World Happiness Report, Israel was ranked 11th happiest country in the world. #SadSadIsrael.”

In a recent article, @nytimes tries to falsely portray Israelis as sad and miserable. Israel is now open for tourists, come see for yourself 🇮🇱

Fun fact: According to the UN's annual World Happiness Report, Israel was ranked 11th happiest country in the world. 😊 #SadSadIsrael pic.twitter.com/CfrWLJSCVU

— StandWithUs (@StandWithUs) November 3, 2021

Writer Sarah Tuttle-Singer tweeted, “We stay out all night and swim in warm sea water, or argue with our friends on crowded corners, or drink whiskey until sunrise or dance until our feet hurt and then stop for a minute and keep on dancing… we chose life with our arms and eyes wide open.”

We stay out all night and swim in warm sea water, or argue with our friends on crowded corners, or drink whiskey until sunrise or dance until our feet hurt and then stop for a minute and keep on dancing… we chose life with our arms and eyes wide open. #SadSadIsrael pic.twitter.com/HXSxWL4aQO

— (((TuttleSinger))) سارا تاتل سينجر שרה טאטל-סינגר (@TuttleSinger) November 2, 2021

Human rights lawyer Arsen Ostrovsky, who heads the International Legal Forum, tweeted out a photo of himself smiling in water. “Greetings from the Dead Sea! You should check it out @PatrickKingsley @nytimes. Beautiful place. Just beware all those happy people!”

Because it’s just so #SadSadIsrael!

PS, greetings from the Dead Sea! You should check it out @PatrickKingsley @nytimes. Beautiful place. Just beware all those happy people! 🤫 pic.twitter.com/uxoKORFiIs

— Arsen Ostrovsky (@Ostrov_A) November 3, 2021

Shlomi Ben-Meir, a researcher for CAMERA in Israel, tweeted out photos of children playing in school and wrote, “My kids’ schoolyard, this week. Look at all the shabbiness these Israeli kids experience! The horror!”

My kids' schoolyard, this week. Look at all the shabbiness these Israeli kids experience! The horror! #SadSadIsrael @nytimes @PatrickKingsley pic.twitter.com/TUjYQ51Jwx

— Shlomi Ben Meir (@shlomikliab) November 2, 2021

Journalist David Collier tweeted, “Just come back from a walk through Tel Aviv. Everywhere I went – pubs were full, restaurants were overflowing, kids were out playing – and the promenade was packed. Israel truly is a sad place. #SadSadIsrael.”

Just come back from a walk through Tel Aviv.

Everywhere I went – pubs were full, restaurants were overflowing, kids were out playing – and the promenade was packed.

Israel truly is a sad place. 😂 #SadSadIsrael @nytimes @PatrickKingsley

— David Collier (@mishtal) November 2, 2021

Writer Emily Schrader tweeted out a photo of Arab-Israeli activist Yoseph Haddad proposing to her and wrote: “Just two sad sad Israelis in the middle of a war, getting engaged. Look how sad we are! I guess @nytimes and @PatrickKingsley hate this since they want to portray Israelis as sad miserable people in their latest absurd article. #SadSadIsrael”

Just two sad sad Israelis in the middle of a war, getting engaged. Look how sad we are!

I guess @nytimes and @PatrickKingsley hate this since they want to portray Israelis as sad miserable people in their latest absurd article.#SadSadIsrael @YosephHaddad pic.twitter.com/luubozRqFH

— Emily Schrader – אמילי שריידר امیلی شریدر (@emilykschrader) November 2, 2021

Even Israel’s official Twitter account joined in on the #SadSadIsrael hashtag, sarcastically tweeting at the Times: “We’re sooo sad” with a photo of people eating what appeared to be shawarma.