New York, NY, October 24, 2000 … A survey of editorials of the nation’s largest circulation daily newspapers has found overwhelming support and sympathy for Israel’s position in the series of clashes that have erupted in the Middle East during the last few weeks.

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL), which historically has surveyed U.S. newspaper editorial stances in the wake of outbreaks of violence in the region, assessed 67 editorials in the two-week period September 30 through October 15. During this period of violence between Palestinians and Israeli defense forces in Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza, 19 newspapers expressed out-and-out support for Israel. Another 17 newspapers offered "even-handed" commentary on the situation, taking care to balance criticism of both sides in the conflict and emphasizing the importance for Israel and the Palestinian Authority to return to the peace process. Only seven newspapers ran editorials expressing support for the Palestinian cause and focusing blame on Israeli officials, especially Likud leader Ariel Sharon, for the increase of tensions in the region.

"Many of the newspapers understood that whatever the merits of Ariel Sharon’s visit to the Temple Mount, he was not to blame for the outbreak of violence initiated by the Palestinians and condoned by Yasir Arafat," said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director. "Others recognized that Israeli leaders had gone farther than ever before in attempting to reach a compromise at Camp David that would end the bloodshed and usher in a new era of peace."

Among the pro-Israel commentaries, which included 38 articles from some of the nation’s most widely read newspapers, including The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Chicago Sun-Times, Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Kansas City Star and USA Today, the predominant theme was that Yasir Arafat should be held responsible for controlling his people and failing to contain the rioting. The editorials also largely deflected the argument that Ariel Sharon’s visit to the Temple Mount was the root cause of the Palestinian violence. "In visiting the Temple Mount, Mr. Sharon was simply exercising his right to visit a site open to the public," stated The Wall Street Journal. "Surely, blame for the violence must fall squarely upon those who started it, which in every instance so far seems to have been the Palestinians."

Other newspapers pointed to a pattern in Arafat’s rhetoric, where the leader "finds a pretense to unleash mayhem," as the New York Daily News observed. "Make no mistake, it is the Palestinian leader’s refusal to restrain the rage that has led directly to days of pitched battles and scores of deaths in Israel, Gaza and the West Bank …. The blood is on his hands." The Boston Herald stated: "As for Arafat, he appears to be reaping the violence that he has long sown, the hatred he won’t let die even as he talks of peace." The Washington Post, writing after the desecration of Joseph’s Tomb in the West Bank by a Palestinian mob, editorialized that the incident called into question Arafat’s legitimacy as a peace partner. "After Mr. Arafat’s failure to protect Joseph’s Tomb, and its nearly immediate destruction by a mob, any responsible Israeli government will think more than twice before handing him sovereignty he demands over the Temple Mount … ."

Calling for a resumption of peace talks was the main message of 22 editorials that displayed a neutral tone in response to the events in Israel. Many called on Arafat and Ehud Barak to jointly call for an end to the violence, many without assessing specific blame on any party for the situation. "As usual, there is plenty of blame to go around," The Houston Chronicle stated in an editorial Oct. 12. "There are elements on both sides that have shown time and again, particularly when breakthroughs appear likely, that they will brook no peace settlement in any form … . We share the hope of both sides that a fair, just and peaceful accord that guarantees the security and dignity of Israel and a Palestinian state can be reached sometime in our lifetime."

Other editorials criticized both sides for not doing enough to end the current cycle of violence. On Oct. 3, USA Today opined that, "The forces of moderation on both sides are weakening, as protecting stakes in the peace process gives way to shortsighted political goals." Rather than assessing blame, The Boston Globe, in an article titled "Mideast Powder Keg," issued an appeal to each of the key leaders: "Yasser Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak must be made to understand not only that both sides will suffer if the violence is not stopped soon, but that each has an obligation to make it easier for the other to issue orders for his people to stand down…."

Pro-Palestinian editorials tended to focus blame for the unrest on Ariel Sharon and his Sept. 28 visit to the Temple Mount. Several papers emphasized the image of stone-throwing Palestinian protestors being overpowered by an aggressive Israeli military machine. "At this point, the stone-throwing Palestinian youths have nothing to lose," stated an Oct. 11 editorial in the Denver Post. "The peace process has not given them an independent homeland. It has not delivered jobs, economic prosperity or the liberty to walk through their towns without police interference." The Los Angeles Times blamed Sharon for the upsurge in violence, calling his visit to the Temple Mount "recklessly provocative."

"Sharon is not naïve," added the Oct. 3 Times editorial. "He knows his reputation among Palestinians, and he knew that his well-publicized and heavily protected visit to Islam’s third holiest shrine would offend Muslim religious sensibilities and incite political passions."

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.