August 23, 2005

DOES ANYONE EDIT THE TIMES?:

Israel Completes Evacuation of Gaza and West Bank Settlers (STEVEN ERLANGER, 8/23/05, NY Times)

Israeli soldiers and police completed the evacuation of 25 settlements in Gaza and the West Bank today and said that all settler homes would be reduced to rubble within the next 10 days.

The political battle to approve this pullout was intense. But it was done with little significant violence and considerable care on the part of the security forces. The Palestinians, too, largely held their fire, keeping a pledge from their president, Mahmoud Abbas, that the Israeli pullout would not take place under a hail of rockets and mortars.

Israeli officials and commanders insisted that the evacuation of nearly 10,000 Israelis people from all of Gaza and four settlements on the West Bank was providing "a hand to a brother," not warfare at all. But the evacuation's rapid conclusion in six days after predictions of three weeks or more took Israel by surprise and seemed a softer version of the famous Six-Day War of 1967, when Israel won a lightning victory over Arab foes.


What the heck is that comparison supposed to mean? Are the settlers really equivalent to Israel's enemies in the minds of Timesmen?

Posted by Orrin Judd at August 23, 2005 4:04 PM
Comments

Speaking as a former reporter, the last sentence in that paragraph is utterly subjective. It uses weasel words like "seemed" and makes claims that strain credibility "took Israel by surprise." Really? The entire nation was surprised? Who, specifically, was surprised? Your granny? These are the questions my editor would have skewered me with. I would not have done anything as stupid as hand him copy like this if I valued my life.

Posted by: George at August 23, 2005 5:37 PM

The answer to the question is simple:

YES!

Posted by: busybody at August 23, 2005 5:50 PM

I heard on NPR that after the Israelis bulldoze the homes, the Palestinians plan to build projects-style high rises.

Good luck to them. Anyone know how to say "Cabrini-Green" in Arabic?

Posted by: Foos at August 23, 2005 7:24 PM

I also heard (Juan Williams on Fox News last night) that Egypt will have a presence in Gaza. Anyone know what that means? He seemed chagrined after he said it, and kept his head down. No one picked up on it and no further mention was made.

Posted by: erp at August 23, 2005 7:33 PM

Egypt has always had a presence in Gaza--indeed, the Israelis asked them to play a role:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/3492328.stm

Posted by: oj at August 23, 2005 7:44 PM

erp - The Egyptians already have 750 troops in Gaza policing the Philadelphi corridor along the Gaza-Egypt border. They're worried about Gaza serving as a base for terrorism against Egypt - as in the recent Sinai terrorism - and Israel supports the move, as it fears terrorists entering Israel from Gaza via Egypt.

Posted by: pj at August 23, 2005 7:45 PM

Thanks. You guys are great. I feel a lot better.

Posted by: erp at August 23, 2005 9:52 PM
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