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Commission and refute: The National Post celebrates Israel’s 60th by taking on its own writer
Posted on May 12, 2008 by Douglas Bell
My pal Jeet Heer wrote me last week to point out the strange treatment the National Post gave his op-ed on Israel, a piece the editors of the Post commissioned to help mark the 60th anniversary of the Jewish state. Knowing his views, Post editors specifically asked Heer to write a piece that would run contrary to the paper’s oft-stated position that Israel can do no (or very little) wrong. Jeet agreed—“reluctantly”—to write it in his own words. The op-ed came out last Tuesday, with preludes announcing that the “National Post editorial board” would be running an accompanying unsigned editorial “refuting Mr. Heer’s conclusions.”
To wit:
The National Post traditionally has voiced strong support for the welfare and legitimacy of the Jewish state. Thus, some readers may find it surprising that, on the pages that follow, we are publishing a column by Jeet Heer arguing that Israel was “founded through an act of ethnic cleansing.”….
Intellectuals have a habit of obsessing over Israel’s faults, even as they ignore the country’s success; the democratic freedoms its Arab, Jewish and Christian citizens enjoy; and the much greater sins of its totalitarian Arab neighbours. Mr. Heer’s article exemplifies this phenomenon all too well. We believe that shining light on such views serves as a good reminder that the true story of Israel should never get stale.
This as opposed to the “false” story of Israel, which the editors of the Post themselves commissioned knowing full well what they were likely to get. I wrote the commissioning editor, Jonathan Kay, asking why the Post reacted the way it did. He was quick with a candid and articulate response:
It was a natural concern—one shared by some very senior people in the National Post organization—that readers might see the publication of Jeet’s piece as a signal that we could be changing our stance on this important issue. To clarify that this was not the case—as well as to correct what we saw as serious and substantive deficiencies in Jeet’s argument—we ran the editorial on the same day.
I pressed, asking whether the Post needs to direct its readers to quite that extent, whether the whole point of running op-eds isn’t to let the reader decide.
As a general matter, the answer to your last question is yes. Moreover, it would be crazy for me to write an editorial every time I published an article containing something at variance with our editorial position. But there are a few issues that are so sensitive that special considerations apply…. I should also say that I did not know, at the time I commissioned Jeet’s piece, that I would be editorializing against it. It was only when I read it that I thought, “Oh man, this is not going to go over too well with a lot of my readers.” But I knew that I had to publish Jeet’s piece—because a lengthy series on Israel at 60 would simply not be complete without at least one full-throated defence of the pro-Palestinian position. And so I fought hard against the idea that it would be best to kill the piece entirely. And I’m glad I did. Jeet’s piece caused a lively and interesting debate in our letters column.
Fair enough. Still, the whole situation is more than a little odd. It points to the sorts of distortions that the Post’s ownership has built into their coverage of Israel. As the paper’s circulation numbers attest, it’s decisions like this that have the Post drawing more caveats than emptors.
• Jeet Heer on Israel’s creation: Ethnic cleansing by any other name [National Post]
• The National Post Editorial Board on Israel and ‘ethnic cleansing’ [National Post]
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Comments
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GravityLevity2 May 12, 2008 at 1:59 p.m.
What's the fuss about? Everyone knows The Post's pro-Isreal slant. The slightly surprising thing is that the Post commissioned a contrary piece, to provide some balance. The Post's unsigned editorial is quite restrained, and seems to concede that a little bit of genocide maybe did occur.
leaf May 12, 2008 at 2:46 p.m.
What's the fuss about exactly!
what's the difference with doug bell impersonating a bunch of posters here?
sheesh doug, quit acting mightier than thou, it gets tiring.
Casey May 12, 2008 at 3:05 p.m.
GravityLevity2 May 12, 2008 at 1:59 p.m.
" What's the fuss about? Everyone knows The Post's pro-Isreal slant. The slightly surprising thing is that the Post commissioned a contrary piece, to provide some balance. The Post's unsigned editorial is quite restrained, and seems to concede that a little bit of genocide maybe did occur."
These comments do not dignify comment but I feel compelled to say something in defense of Israel - your comments clearly indicate where Gravity?Levity2 stands vis a vis extermintion of Israel / its denial of a right to exist at all. Gravity? Your remarks reek....." a little bit of genocide "? Puhleeeease! Israel is fighting for her life and exists, as a democracy among a whole slew of neighbours who are not only dictatorships but also want the Jewish state annihilated. If you think that I have jumped to conclusions re your desire to see Irael wiped off the face of the map, please prove me wrong. Somehow I think that you will decline....
Casey May 12, 2008 at 3:15 p.m.
And for what it's worth, G/L2, Israel is a product and result of genocide. Or haven't you heard?
Casey May 12, 2008 at 3:18 p.m.
Casey May 12, 2008 at 3:15 p.m.
And for what it's worth, G/L2, Israel is a product and result of genocide. Or haven't you heard?
And please don't misunderstand or misread the above remarks - it was not Israel that committed the genocide - in case you think you can errr debate this issue....
Lit_200 May 12, 2008 at 4:48 p.m.
A little genocide, like a little pregnancy, goes a long way.
Barbara_in_BC May 12, 2008 at 5:34 p.m.
If the desert land surrounding Israel wasn't the world's richest source of oil, The American government wouldn't be supporting Israel militarily. America would be encouraging Jewish people to stay in North America, not emigrate.
Barbara_in_BC May 12, 2008 at 5:40 p.m.
It seems wobbly of The National Post to request a pro-Palestinian article, only to refute it in print afterwards. Oh well, controversy is what sells newspapers!
leaf May 12, 2008 at 5:56 p.m.
now do you understand why doug bell would "sabotage" his own blog, blondissima?
Barbara_in_BC May 12, 2008 at 6:11 p.m.
What you're saying leaf, is that Douglas Bell is pretending to be a foul-mouthed grandma who hates Conrad Black, so that he can attract the kind of posters who enjoy flame wars. I doubt this.
Casey May 12, 2008 at 6:48 p.m.
The only thing " wobbly " here, Barbara_in_Bc, is you - and that umm thing you call a brain. If this post of mine is considered " foul " as in " foul mothed grandma " ( fact is, you haven't a clue who OR what I am ), then so be it. I consider to whom my post is directed and then simply fire away. You do not deserve nice words or thoughts because you are not a nice person and I don't like you and what you stand for. You are that very worst sort of individual who speaks out of both sides of his/her mouth.
GravityLevity2 May 12, 2008 at 6:50 p.m.
from the National Post's unsigned editorial:
"If anything, in fact, Israel represents a relatively mild exhibit in the “ethnic cleansing” department. Local Arabs did die among the bloodshed attending Israel’s creation, as Mr. Heer argues. But the death toll was orders of magnitude lower than that in, say, south Asia, which divided between India and Pakistan during the same period."
I thought the Post was providing balanced coverage, while maintaining Israel's right to exist.
Barbara_in_BC May 12, 2008 at 6:52 p.m.
Casey said about me:
"You are that very worst sort of individual who speaks out of both sides of his/her mouth."
Ah, but this is exactly today's topic! If you substitute the words National Post for Barbara in BC.
Casey May 12, 2008 at 6:56 p.m.
Barbara_in_BC May 12, 2008 at 6:52 p.m.
Casey said about me:
"You are that very worst sort of individual who speaks out of both sides of his/her mouth."
Ah, but this is exactly today's topic! If you substitute the words National Post for Barbara in BC.
Ohhhhh Jeez - you are INcapable of rational thought unless it is backed up with the ideas and perceptions of others. Are you really so stupid that you absolutely cannot think for yourself or create an original idea? *sigh*. You simply prove that you are indeed leaf's soulmate after all....
Casey May 12, 2008 at 7:17 p.m.
Barbara_in_BC May 12, 2008 at 5:34 p.m.
" If the desert land surrounding Israel wasn't the world's richest source of oil, The American government wouldn't be supporting Israel militarily. America would be encouraging Jewish people to stay in North America, not emigrate. "
You AND your post(s) make me ill - you are ill informed, ignorant and a well of disinformation ( note to Gravity/Levity2 re my earlier typo of " disinformation ). Some posters here have nothing better to do than to ignore crucial issues but focus on dumb grammatical errors, typos, etc. Israel is the sole democratic country in the Midlle East and that is not because she is surrounded by oil, you dumb twit, Barbara_in_Bc.
Barbara_in_BC May 12, 2008 at 7:51 p.m.
There are people in Israel who would disagree with Casey about democracy there:
Gideon Levy writing in the Israeli Haaretz:
“What sort of democracy is this, if exactly half the state's residents don't benefit from it? Indeed, can the term "democratic" be applied to a state in which many of the residents live under a military regime or are deprived of civil rights? Can there be democracy without equality, with a lengthy occupation and with foreign workers who have no rights? …
Once Israel became an occupying state, it ceased to be a democracy. There is no such thing: Israel's claims about its democratic character are empty boasts. Just as there is no such thing as a partial pregnancy, there is no such thing as a partial democracy, either.”
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt...
Barbara_in_BC May 12, 2008 at 8:02 p.m.
American democracy has similar flaws to that of Israel - 1. the largest proportion of jailed citizens in the world, all who are barred from voting! 2. that it took 200 years for a female and a coloured person to be considered as Presidential nominees and most important of all, 3. the fact that the land was wrested from aboriginal inhabitants by force, as was Canada.
leaf May 12, 2008 at 8:17 p.m.
"What you're saying leaf, is that Douglas Bell is pretending to be a foul-mouthed grandma who hates Conrad Black, so that he can attract the kind of posters who enjoy flame wars. I doubt this."
that is exactly what i'm saying blondie. he's doing others as well- like jello - but his main squeeze is donna aka sandy aka casey. and you bet he's having fun doing it.
you doubt this but you know i'm barbara amiel?
i'll not comment on your judgement....
Casey May 12, 2008 at 8:21 p.m.
Barbara_in_BC May 12, 2008 at 7:51 p.m.
Barbara_in_BC May 12, 2008 at 8:02 p.m.
Forgive me, but where you are concerned, I effectively throw in the towel. Incidentally, Gideon is not THE truth or the last word - simply because you located one of Israel's dailies. Haaretz is also not the final arbiter of truth....have you ever visited Israel? Been to the Knesset? Met it's politicians? Toured the Gaza Strip, West Bank, Golan Heights, Northern Israel, Good Fence? etc., etc. NO? I did not think so.....
jade_lee May 12, 2008 at 8:37 p.m.
Why not comment leaf? We have all commented about your judgement!!!!LOL
leaf May 12, 2008 at 8:59 p.m.
jello.... my previous statement was comment enough, no?
did i miss something jellybean? what comment did you have about my judgement?
Barbara_in_BC May 12, 2008 at 9:37 p.m.
Casey said:
"Haaretz is also not the final arbiter of truth"
I am guessing you preferred The Jerusalem Post during the Conrad Black years... ironic, eh?
Barbara_in_BC May 12, 2008 at 9:46 p.m.
What leaf is insinuating when she says various poster here are the fabrication of Douglas Bell is that NOBODY besides me and Fintan and a few others bothered to post on the Conrad Black blog. And yet there was widespread interest in the Conrad Black trial...
Illogical leaf. I don't even think you believe your own statements.
Barbara_in_BC May 12, 2008 at 9:48 p.m.
correction: various posters
charley May 12, 2008 at 10:31 p.m.
The reference in the editorial to its "Arab, Jewish and Christian citizens" seems odd to me. I think most of the Christians in Israel- as in Palestine and Lebanon- are Arab.
jade_lee May 12, 2008 at 10:43 p.m.
I agree charley. Rather odd indeed.
leaf May 12, 2008 at 10:50 p.m.
whatever you do blondie, DO NOT, i repeat DO NOT attempt to explain MY posts.
DO NOT assume you understand what i'm insinuating.
why don't you go back to ignoring me? i'm sick of having to explain everything to you!
leafmold May 12, 2008 at 11:02 p.m.
leaf: "i'm sick of having to explain everything to you!"
dunno about that, but now it's clear to me that leaf is, well, sick ... ☹☹☹
leafmold May 12, 2008 at 11:03 p.m.
... very sick! ☺☺☺
Barbara_in_BC May 12, 2008 at 11:17 p.m.
As long as you don't pester me leaf, I'll gladly leave you alone. So far it's been like a badminton game...
Casey May 13, 2008 at 1:15 a.m.
leafmold May 12, 2008 at 11:02 p.m.
leaf: "i'm sick of having to explain everything to you!"
" dunno about that, but now it's clear to me that leaf is, well, sick ... ☹☹☹ "
Barbara_in_Bc is leaf's soulmate or haven't you noticed? And you you guessed right about leaf being sick.....That the twit in BC actually engages the other moron defies credibility but to each her own, I suppose - both individuals are prime examples of totally wasted lives........
jade_lee May 13, 2008 at 1:33 a.m.
I disagree casey, Barb is an intelligent woman and far superior to the typing vegetation claiming to have everything and everyone figured out here. Barb it's obvious the wilted wonder has never had a child of their own but that is a good thing no?
Casey May 13, 2008 at 1:49 a.m.
jade_lee May 13, 2008 at 1:33 a.m.
I disagree casey, Barb is an intelligent woman and far superior to the typing vegetation claiming to have everything and everyone figured out here.
Could not resist - the only " vegetation " typiing on this blog cannt do so unless she is regurgitsting the ideas of others. ( this, to me anyway, represents a form of vegetative thought ). That this prime example of vegetative existence also attempts to " figure out " who and what we are and in process of doing so hurls insults that are couched in racial and ethnic slurs is also worth mentioning. It is surprising that an obviously intelligent and original thinker such as yourself stoops to the level of actually praising someone like the individual you are presently defending.
leaf May 13, 2008 at 2:07 a.m.
jello & casey, posting together again, feeling no pain. right ladies?
jade_lee May 13, 2008 at 9:52 a.m.
In defense of wilted wonders.
They can't help themselves, they must spew their antisocial pro chaos views no matter what. If they feel others have a point of view unlike their own they have to hit below the belt, they have to be outrages to maintain their persona. One wonders about their ability to maintain relationships with others and suspects that they must be in charge at all times, power over others is of the utmost importance. When individuals are unable to bond with others unless those individuals are hateful themselves, it stands to reason that these people lead lives insulated from all outside joys- the byproducts of meaningful prosocial exchanges.
They are to be pitied these people for the wilting of soul they most certainly must be experiencing with utterly no positive reinforcement coming their way.
Casey May 13, 2008 at 11:11 a.m.
jade_lee May 13, 2008 at 1:33 a.m.
" I disagree casey, Barb is an intelligent woman and far superior to the typing vegetation claiming to have everything and everyone figured out here. "
jade_lee May 13, 2008 at 9:52 a.m.
Seems you are the poster here who appears to " have everyone figured out ". What must indeed be asked is what is it that allows someone of obvious smarts to be bullied and abused by individuals such as leaf. Kind of makes one wonder what post traumatic issues / syndrome the abusee has and is suffering to turn a taher blond eye to such unimaginable attacks on themselves as per leaf, Cory_Privatera, etc.
I would much rather assert myself and at very least take to task anyone who insults me, my ideas, my values, principles because they spring from my heart and soul and upbringing and I shall stand by and always defend them. I have little use for those who regurgitate the ideas of others, who hurl racial and ethnic insults disguised as truths and who always appear to 1) think their way is best 2) they speak only truth 3) whine about the abuses inflicted on minorities, the downtrodden, races, cultures and religions other than their own yet see no disgust in their attacks on those who bravely stand up to these bullies and have the downright chutzpah to claim that those who disagree with them are wrong, have never received " positive reinforcement " ( what a crock of b.s. ) and are unable " to mainatain relationships with others ". Come down off that pedestal you have claimed for yourself, jade-lee, and start looking at people not through the apparently trained eyes of a prison guard or criminal psychologist, etc.
Please note that although I disagree with almost everything you stated above, I shall defend to the hilt your right to say it - please allow me that same courtesy.
Casey May 13, 2008 at 11:15 a.m.
" to turn a taher blond eye " ( Freudian slip? ) = to turn a rather blind eye....sorry for typos
leafmold May 13, 2008 at 11:19 a.m.
Having read the comments by Jade_Lee and Casey, I must agree a lot with both of them. They differ because they are looking at something sick and unclean from different perspectives. Jade_Lee uses her personal expertise and experience to try and analyze the creature in question, Casey is just sick of it. Valid points in both cases. A question I suggest both of you ask yourselves is this: "What would that creature be if it ever had significant power? If it were ever in a position like that of prison or camp guard in a country with no democratic checks and balances?"
What a thought! ☹
Barbara_in_BC May 13, 2008 at 11:52 a.m.
leafmold asked:
"What would that creature be if it ever had significant power? If it were ever in a position like that of prison or camp guard in a country with no democratic checks and balances?"
I have to say, it was disturbing when leaf recently asked jade_lee what education it took to become a prison guard.
Casey May 13, 2008 at 12:02 p.m.
leafmold May 13, 2008 at 11:19 a.m.
Thank you, leafmold. Your opinions are appreciated and one hopes that you will continue to post on this terrific ( minus leaf ) and others. I truly am trying to understand why anyone engages the very profoundly disturbed poster who calls itself leaf. It is simply beyond anyone's capacity to comprehend what makes leaf " tick ". Sick and depraved leaf.
Casey May 13, 2008 at 12:05 p.m.
Casey May 13, 2008 at 12:02 p.m.
leafmold May 13, 2008 at 11:19 a.m.
Thank you, leafmold. Your opinions are appreciated and one hopes that you will continue to post on this terrific ( minus leaf ) and others. I truly am trying to understand why anyone engages the very profoundly disturbed poster who calls itself leaf. It is simply beyond anyone's capacity to comprehend what makes leaf " tick ". Sick and depraved leaf.
correction - *sigh* ( kind of rushing here )
.....one hopes that you will continue to post on this terrific BLOG ( minus leaf )....apologies
jade_lee May 13, 2008 at 2:37 p.m.
Wrong Casey, I have no one here figured out. There is not enough information provided by the blog entries to allow for that. But I most definitely continue to read what people write, some is informative, some is insulting and all is very entertaining.
Mr Dick Tater attitudes are interesting as they develop here.
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