The Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations, Gilad Erdan, has publicly criticized the New York Times for rehiring a journalist who had previously praised Adolf Hitler. Erdan took to social media to express his disapproval, stating that the New York Times had essentially rehired a Nazi sympathizer. He further added that such actions actively encourage anti-Semitism and propagate the views of terrorist organizations like Hamas.
The journalist in question, Soliman Hidži, had been covering stories related to the conflict between Israel and Hamas after a two-year hiatus. Erdan accused the New York Times of spreading Hamas propaganda and re-engaging supporters of terrorism who glorify the Holocaust. This incident has raised serious questions about the editorial standards of the New York Times and its coverage of sensitive topics related to Israel and the Middle East.
In a related development, the New York Times had its verification badge removed by the social media platform X, following false reporting about Israel bombing a hospital in Gaza. This move was reported by The Daily Wire and has raised questions about the credibility of the New York Times in its coverage of Israel and the Middle East.
Moreover, comedian Amy Schumer criticized the New York Times along with CNN and BBC News for prematurely blaming Israel for an attack on a Gaza hospital. She called for the resignation of top editors for spreading what she termed as “terrorist lies.” This was reported by Breitbart, adding another layer of complexity to the ongoing debate about media coverage of Israel.
The @nytimes has just rehired a NAZI
Let that sink in.
Soliman Hijjy praises Hitler, and the NYT rehired him.
We all saw how the NYT immediately parroted Hamas’ lies regarding the al-Ahli hospital (which Hijjy contributed to) and still refuses to retract these fabrications.… pic.twitter.com/7WaCDm2YdX
— Ambassador Gilad Erdan גלעד ארדן (@giladerdan1) October 20, 2023
The rehiring of a journalist with controversial views and the subsequent public outcry have implications not just for the New York Times but also for the broader media landscape. It brings into focus the responsibility of news outlets in ensuring balanced and unbiased reporting, especially on sensitive issues like the Israel-Palestine conflict. The incident also highlights the role of public figures in holding media accountable for their actions.
Given the removal of the New York Times’ verification badge by X and the criticism from public figures like Amy Schumer, the newspaper faces a challenging path ahead in restoring its credibility. These developments add to the growing concerns about media bias and the need for ethical journalism, especially when covering topics that have global implications and can influence public opinion.
But, recently the blue verification tick has been restored by Elon Musk’s platform X after the controversy.
