Hen Mazzig Blasts New York Times Over 2 Israel Pieces as Eurovision Headline Was Softened
Updated
Updated · Hollywood Reporter · May 12
Hen Mazzig Blasts New York Times Over 2 Israel Pieces as Eurovision Headline Was Softened
2 articles · Updated · Hollywood Reporter · May 12
Hen Mazzig accused The New York Times of unfairly targeting Israel after it published two major May 11 pieces—one on Eurovision and one on alleged abuse of Palestinian prisoners—on the same day.
The front-page Eurovision investigation said Israel spent more than $1 million promoting entries, but Mazzig noted the article itself found no bots, vote manipulation or rule violations, and its online headline was later toned down.
Nicholas Kristof’s opinion column alleged systematic sexual violence against Palestinian detainees, including a claim about dogs raping prisoners; Mazzig said the piece relied on a Hamas-sympathetic advocacy group and lacked evidence of any ordered policy.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry called the column a blood libel, Deborah Lipstadt questioned the paper’s journalistic responsibility, and the Times said there was no truth to reports Kristof’s piece would be retracted.
Both articles appeared as a 300-page report on Hamas’s Oct. 7 sexual violence—based on 430 interviews and more than 10,000 photos and videos—was released without Times coverage, sharpening Mazzig’s charge of distorted editorial judgment.
Why did the Times amplify a 'blood libel' while ignoring a major Hamas atrocities report released the same day?
When a newspaper's own reporting debunks its headline, is it an error or a deliberate framing of the story?