Almighty God! Let the Ashes of the Children incinerated in Auschwitz, rivers of blood spilled in Babbi Yar or Majdanek, be a warning to mankind that violence is destructive, hatred is contagious, while man has an unlimited capacity for cruelty.

Letter to The New York Times by Martin Kimel
The New York Times news stories have referred to the Westerners who voluntarily stayed with Yasir Arafat in his Ramallah compound to demonstrate their solidarity with him as "peace activists." This is difficult to understand. The object of this show of solidarity, the gun-toting Arafat, is certainly no Gandhi. He has openly supported jihad, "armed resistance," and the violent intifidah against Israel. How then are his supporters peace activists?

If Arafat sympathizers describe themselves as peace activists, it would be appropriate to identify them in news stories as "self-described peace activists" or something similarly qualified. I don't know whether they do in fact call themselves peace activists, as many of them are active in the anti-globalization movement, which is hardly known for its pacifism. Similarly, the NYT labeled as "peace activists" the Palestinian sympathizers who rushed into the Church of the Nativity with food and cigarettes to provide aid and comfort to Palestinian gunmen wanted by Israel for terrorism.

My point is not a trivial one. When the "newspaper of record" calls Arafat supporters peace activists in its news stories, it is asserting a fact that may incorrectly color the views of some of its readers.

MEDIA BIAS TABLES

BIASED REPORTING	OBJECTIVE REPORTING
On May 20, the NYT run first page headline: BOMBER DISGUISED AS ISRAELI SOLDIER KILLS 3 IN MARKET	PALESTINIAN TERRORIST DISGUISED AS ISRAELI SOLDIER KILLS 3 IN MARKET
Israel Says Papers Show That Arafat Paid 15 Militants By RICHARD BOUDREAUX Controversy: A Palestinian official, however, suspects that the displayed documents for disbursing $6,000 to wanted men are forged. LA TIMES April 5, 2002	Israel Says Papers Show That Arafat Paid 15 TERROSISTS By RICHARD BOUDREAUX LA TIMES April 5, 2002
Deal Ends Standoff in Bethlehem By MARK MAGNIER Mideast: 13 Palestinians heading into exile are the first to pass through a metal detector outside the church. Europe was key in resolving the 5-week impasse. May 10, 2002 LA Times	Deal Ends Standoff in Bethlehem By MARK MAGNIER Mideast: 13 Palestinians TERRORISTS heading into exile are the first to pass through a metal detector outside the church.
Church Deal Is on Hold By MARK MAGNIER Siege: Additional talks over the fate of 13 fighters(?) sought by Israel are needed, officials say. May 9, 2002 LA Times	Church Deal Is on Hold By MARK MAGNIER Siege: Additional talks over the fate of 13 TERRORISTS sought by Israel are needed, officials say. May 9, 2002 LATimes
Bombing Leaves Scars on Another Israeli Town By MARY CURTIUS Aftermath: A day after a suicide blast, the residents of a Tel Aviv suburb cope with pain. May 9, 2002 LA Times	Bombing Leaves Scars on Another Israeli Town By MARY CURTIUS Aftermath: A day after a TERRORIST ATTACK, the residents of a Tel Aviv suburb cope with pain. May 9, 2002 LA Times