Netanyahu Criticizes NY Times for ‘Moral Confusion’

In his address to the United Nations General Assembly, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called out the pervasive “moral confusion” clouding the international perception of the conflict between Israel and Iran. Though he didn’t specifically mention the New York Times, his words about how “good is portrayed as evil, and evil is portrayed as good” could not have found a more fitting example than recent Times coverage of Iran.

A recent “news analysis” by the Times, headlined “Iran’s Dilemma: How to Preserve Its Proxies and Avoid Full-Scale War,” is a prime illustration of this confusion. The article approaches the situation from Iran’s perspective, suggesting that Israel is attempting to provoke Iran into war. This narrative is at odds with reality Israel is not trying to “goad” Iran into conflict but is simply fighting to defend its existence against a regime that has repeatedly called for its destruction.

Who are these “analysts” the Times relies on to explain Iran’s position? None other than Masoud Pezeshkian, Iran’s president. Pezeshkian, predictably, blames Israel for seeking to “trap” Iran in a wider war. Rather than challenge this blatantly self-serving claim, the Times presents it without question, as though it were a reasonable assessment. Meanwhile, the article gives little attention to Israel’s consistent calls for peace and defense against Iranian-sponsored terrorist organizations like Hezbollah and Hamas.

The Times goes on to describe Iran as being on “defense” against Israel, as if Iran’s proxies Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis are merely protecting the Iranian homeland. This depiction is absurd. These groups are not defending Iran; they are part of its aggressive strategy to wipe Israel off the map. The idea that Israel is the aggressor in this scenario is not just misleading, it’s dangerous.

The article further claims that Iran has not yet retaliated for the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, but conveniently leaves out the numerous attacks Iran has already orchestrated, directly or through its proxies. It’s not for lack of trying Israel’s defense forces have blocked or thwarted many of these efforts.

Even when the Times acknowledges Iran’s long-standing vow to destroy Israel, it downplays the severity of the threat. What’s more, the paper ignores Iran’s equally hostile stance toward the United States, where “death to America” is not just a slogan but a central theme at government-sponsored rallies.

The Times also quotes Suzanne Maloney, a former Obama administration official, who accuses Israel of attempting to “bait Hezbollah into an attack.” This kind of baseless rhetoric feeds into the moral confusion Netanyahu referenced. Israel, the nation that is constantly under attack by Hezbollah rockets, is portrayed as the instigator, while Hezbollah the aggressor is framed as a victim of Israeli provocation. The idea that Hezbollah needs to be “baited” into violence is laughable.

The second recent example of this bias comes from a Times article reporting on Pezeshkian’s U.N. speech, where he defends Iran’s support of terrorist groups like Hamas and Hezbollah, framing them as “popular liberation movements.” Yet the Times fails to mention that these groups not only attack Israel but have also targeted American military forces and international shipping.

The newspaper quotes Pezeshkian’s speech, claiming it had a “reconciliatory tone,” despite the fact that the Iranian leader went on to accuse Israel of “barbarism.” It’s difficult to understand how such incendiary rhetoric can be described as reconciliatory, but the Times bends over backward to soften Pezeshkian’s message, further contributing to the moral confusion Netanyahu decried.

Even the Times’ own readers aren’t buying it. One commenter, “BRJ” from New Jersey, pointed out the absurdity of the coverage, writing, “Iran is not the victim here. They are the world’s largest exporter of terror. If they are so concerned about Israeli attacks on Iranian soil, then perhaps they should stop vowing to destroy Israel and funding its proxy armies.”

This skewed coverage not only reflects a deep misunderstanding of the true nature of the conflict, but it also aligns with Netanyahu’s observation that many in the international community are suffering from a dangerous moral confusion. When media outlets present terrorist groups like Hamas and Hezbollah as victims and portray Israel as the aggressor, they embolden those who seek Israel’s destruction.

Netanyahu’s message is clear: the world must recognize the reality of this conflict. Iran and its proxies are not defending anything they are on a mission to spread terror and destroy the Jewish state. Israel is fighting to protect its people, its homeland, and its very right to exist.

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