HuffPost's anti-Semitic, pro-jihadist bias -- Christmas edition

.

Most people honor the days leading up to and following Christmas as a time of peace and goodwill, and make an extra effort to be civil to others.

Two groups, however, decided to behave in a diametrically opposite manner: (a) Militant Islamist terror groups, and (b) HuffPost --- which now have what amounts to a symbiotic relationship in their shared hatred of Israel and Jews.

The purpose of this report is to document a number of shocking acts and omissions by HuffPost --- which has repeatedly claimed to be a "nonpartisan" source of "news" --- that could only serve to advance the global cyber-jihad. Specifically, these acts and omissions include:

• HuffPost gave uncritical, front-page coverage to Hamas's claim that it is "committed to a cease-fire" with Israel, yet...

• HuffPost completely ignored the savage attacks and genocidal threats that Hamas and other militant Islamists had perpetrated against Israelis and others in recent days and weeks. These acts resulted in scores of dead and injured adults and children.
  

• HuffPost completely ignored reports of Israeli soldiers saving Muslims from injury or death --- including a mentally ill teenager --- as the result of actions by militant Islamists. This stands in stark contrast to the fact that HuffPost gives top-line coverage to incendiary accusations of wrongdoing by Israelis soldiers, even when there's no supporting evidence... then quickly removes these stories when exculpatory evidence emerges.

• HuffPost instead decided to devote its front page and the top of its World page to nonsensical junk stories --- including pictures of Nazis celebrating Christmas, chimpanzees opening gifts, celebrity gossip, etc. Some of these items it has left posted in prominent positions for up to six or more days straight.
  

Combined, these acts and omissions set the stage for HuffPost to continue its long, documented history of acting as an anti-Semitic, pro-militant Islamist shill in the future, by:

• Ignoring or downplaying the growing threat facing Israel, Jews and civilized people everywhere, by militant Islamists.
  

• Vilifying and publishing inflammatory libels against Israel, and particularly its military, when it finally is forced to act in its defense. Many of these libels originate from, or echo allegations by Hamas, al Qaeda, and other militant Islamist terror groups.
  

• Posting an endless variety of "news" stories that depict Israel and Jews in the worst possible light, often based on demonstrably untrue allegations --- while doing the exact opposite for Muslim groups
  

• Enabling, protecting and emboldening cyber-jihadis to violate its rules at will, by publishing comments containing anti-Semitic slurs, conspiracy theories and even threats --- while censoring and banning users who attempt to stand up to them.
  

Why is this such a serious and potentially dangerous matter? Because HuffPost the #1 most-read blog on Earth, and is considered a legitimate "news" organization. It clearly now has the ability to help shape global perceptions of vital issues. HUFF-WATCH contends the massive documentation we've constructed gives strong credence to our allegation that HuffPost is now the Western world's largest inciter and tolerator of anti-Semitic and anti-Israel hatred on the Internet.

Why would HuffPost engage in this behavior? Perhaps one day, someone in a position of influence will ask HuffPost to explain itself. With your help, that day will arrive sooner than it ordinarily would.

If you're as concerned as we are about how HuffPost uses its global reach and influence, you might consider making your voice known to (a) its senior management and investors, and (b) its major advertisers.

---

ITEM 1: HuffPost gave front-page coverage to Hamas's claim that it is "committed to a cease-fire" with Israel --- but completely ignored Hamas's violent attacks and genocidal threats in recent days.

On Christmas Eve, HuffPost published the following story on its front page :

Judging from this headline, a reasonable person might conclude Hamas is seeking peace --- and that the ball is in Israel's court.

Yet HuffPost made no mention whatsoever anywhere on its site, today or in previous days, that throughout December Hamas has (a) perpetrated and attempted numerous violent attacks on Israelis, and (b) made repeated, genocidal threats against them. For example:

HuffPost completely ignored this December 8, 2010 video and story by Palestinian Media Watch. It shows official Hamas TV calling for Allah to kill Jews, Christians and Communists... to "count them and kill them to the last one, and don't leave even one." Although you may not know PMW, it is among the most well-known and respected Hamas watchdogs --- and this video popped up across the conservative blogosphere in early and mid-December:

HuffPost also completely ignored this December 14 story from Reuters, one of the news sources upon which it often relies, and a more explicit one by Al-Manar (Lebanon), which it cites on occasion:

Hamas leader says group will never recognize Israel
(Reuters) Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, whose group runs the Gaza Strip, said the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) headed by Western-backed President Mahmoud Abbas had made a "historic mistake" by recognizing Israel. "We said it five years ago and we say it now ... we will never, we will never, we will never recognize Israel," Haniyeh told the gathering which some organizers said was attended by around 250,000 people.

(Al-Manar) "In a message distributed to media Tuesday morning, Hamas said it remains committed to destroying Israel, bringing back Palestinian refugees and seizing control of Jerusalem's holy sites."

[Ed. Hamas's official Charter calls for the destruction of Israel, and the mass murder of Jews.]

HuffPost also completely ignored this December 21 story from Haaretz, one of the news sources upon which it often relies for news from the Middle East:

Israeli teen hurt as Qassam strikes meters from Ashkelon kindergarten
A Qassam rocket struck the Ashkelon beach early Tuesday, exploding in an open field near a kindergarten and lightly wounded a a teenage girl in a nearby building. The girl, who was cut by flying glass in the shower, was treated by Magen David Adom paramedics and then taken to hospital for further evaluation; two other people, include a propane delivery man, were suffering from shock. A number of buildings in the area sustained light damage. [...]
Some 13 rockets have struck the western Negev over the last two days.

HuffPost also completely ignored this December 22 follow-up story on the rocket attack from YNetNews, another news source upon which it often relies for news from the Middle East. Hat-tip to our friends at HuffPostMonitor for catching and providing superb commentary on this.

HuffPost also completely ignored this December 25 story from Haaretz:

Hamas: Israel has two options - death or leaving Palestinian lands
The head of Hamas' armed wing warned Israel on Saturday against launching any new military action in the Gaza Strip, accusing Israel of attempting to escalate the situation. The statement came after days of renewed rocket fire on Israeli communities and Israel Defense Forces strikes in Gaza.

Going back only slightly further, to November 6, HuffPost also completely ignored this story by Jerusalem Post --- another source it cites regularly --- quoting a viciously anti-Semitic, threatening tirade by the head of Hamas, Mahmoud Zahar:

Zahar claimed that Jews were expelled [from France, Britain, Belgium, Russia and Germany] in the past “because they betrayed, stole and corrupted these countries.”

"[Jews] have no place here amongst us because of their crimes. They will soon be expelled from here and we will pray at the Aqsa Mosque [in Jerusalem].”

So what types of stories did HuffPost decide to feature on its front page and World page on December 24-25, instead of any of those listed above?

Here's a sampling (clockwise, from upper left): (1) A story about pictures of Nazis at Christmas --- which it'd been running on both pages for four days straight; (2) Chimpanzees opening Christmas presents; (3) David Letterman driving a go-kart; (4) A story about Gwenyth Paltrow's dating history --- which it'd been running for three days straight, on its front page. You get the idea.

Analysis

If HuffPost were one's only source for news, he would be convinced that Hamas is sincerely seeking peace with Israel, that it has stopped its barbaric threats and violence, and that Israel is the impediment to peace.

And just as in the past, this is exactly this kind of upside-down "reporting" that sets the stage for HuffPost to incite global hatred of Israel when it does finally respond to Hamas's attacks. For as we documented, during Operation Cast Lead, and most recently, the Hamas-supporting "Flotilla of Terror," HuffPost's "news" coverage was crafted and presented in such a way that mirrored the militant Islamist narrative, fed by the "PallyWood" propaganda machine.

As we have thoroughly documented, rather than being an isolated incident, HuffPost's willingness to present this upside-down version of reality, with a narrative written entirely by Hamas, has continued and intensified over a period of more than two years. We contend this is one of the reasons why Hamas's propaganda chief recently granted HuffPost's Middle East "correspondent" a fawning, exclusive interview with him --- which it played up on its front page for days. (More from HuffPostMonitor on HuffPost's correspondent, and the fact that she is an ardent Hamas admirer, here)

Hamas's fondness for HuffPost may also have something to do with the fact that when it sends out demonstrably bogus messages of "peace," as shown at left (more), HuffPost invariably puts them on its front page . Yet when Hamas goes on a mass-murder campaign targeting Israelis civilians --- then openly celebrates its murder of a Jewish mother of six who was nine months pregnant --- HuffPost ignores or buries this information, as we thoroughly documented here.

While it continuously ignore Hamas's attacks and genocidal threats against Israelis, and acquisition of highly advanced weaponry from Iran, it publishes front-page stories of what it claims are "outlandish statements" by Israeli officials (right, here).

What makes this all so incredibly dangerous is that HuffPost is the #1 most-read blog on Earth, and is viewed as a quasi-legitimate "news" vehicle by leaders within our government, and others around the world. Given its unrivaled reach and influence, HuffPost clearly is able to help shape global perceptions of vital public affairs. And it is incidents like this, and all those that lead to and grow from it, that embody more than journalistic anti-Semitism; they are nakedly pro-terrorist.

Do you think HuffPost's major advertisers are aware of what they're really supporting, and enabling? If not, you might consider contacting them here.

You might also consider voicing your thoughts to HuffPost's senior management, and its investors, here.

* * *

Continue to 1 2 3 4 5

Update, Dec. 27: HuffPost ignored more attacks on Israel by militant Islamists in Gaza, celebrates 'Flotilla." Instead of publishing this story, or any of those listed above, HuffPost used its front page to post an uncritical story of the Gaza 'Flotilla,' without referencing videos showing savage, violent attacks on IDF by "peace activists."

Update, Dec. 28: HuffPost ignored another story about Hamas brutality --- against liberal youth activists. From HuffWatcher "KJ," we're alerted to this story from The New Statesman., It documents allegations that an 18 year old girl was beaten by Hamas "policemen," and 20 others were arrested, for participating in a pro-democracy, pro-liberalism, pro-gender equality rally in Gaza.

Update, Jan. 3: HuffPost ignores news of dramatic new threat to Israel from longer-range Iranian, Hezbollah missiles. GatewayPundit, a one-man conservative blog, breaks story from JTA that Iran's missiles can now reach Israel within 12 minutes, and has provided Hezbollah with 40,000 missiles that can hit any point on Israeli soil. After both nations' endless genocidal threats against Israel, this is clearly a major development. HuffPost however, makes no mention of any of this. Instead, it devotes its front page to items such as Dubai hotel worker jailed for sex with guest; Brazil's 27 year old second lady; Macauley Culkin splits from girlfriend.

.