PFP secures correction from New York Times
29 January 2005
PFP secures correction from New York Times
The New York Times issued the following correction today in response to a Partners for Peace letter and telephone conversations.
“Because of an editing error, an article yesterday about Condoleezza Rice’s first day as secretary of state referred incorrectly to her coming trip to the Mideast. She will meet Palestinian leaders in the West Bank, not in Israel.”
The Partners for Peace letter is reproduced here.
Dear Mr. Borders,
I am requesting an immediate correction for tomorrow’s New York Times in regard to Steven R. Weisman’s article this morning (Jan. 28, 2005) headlined “For Rice, Job Begins With Plans to Visit Europe and Israel.”
Mr. Weisman stated, “In Israel, he [State Department Spokesman Richard A. Boucher] said, Ms. Rice would meet with Palestinian leaders in the West Bank and would probably also meet with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and his team.”
I have checked the transcript and Mr. Boucher said no such thing that would suggest the U.S. regards the West Bank as part of Israel. He repeatedly referred to Israel and the West Bank. In a string of countries he referred to Israel without mentioning the West Bank, but repeatedly elsewhere he cited Israel and the West Bank without suggesting that the West Bank is in Israel.
Mr. Weisman’s statement is a serious misrepresentation of U.S. policy and of what Mr. Boucher in fact said. It also wrongly suggests to readers that the West Bank is part of Israel. It is not. Rather it is illegally occupied territory.
I look forward to hearing from you or seeing a correction in Saturday’s newspaper.
Sincerely,
Michael F. Brown
Executive Director
Partners for Peace
202-863-2951
http://www.partnersforpeace.org
