Ruth Laufer Friedman

I am writing again to voice my outrage at the continued bias in your reporting on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Tonight, May 9, 2023, on the evening news, Geoff Bennett reported on the airstrikes into Gaza with the resulting killing of top Islamic Jihad terrorists and several civilians including children. Footage of the bombing strikes was shown and a funeral procession of Palestinians and the segment ended. Not one word of explanation for the Israeli strikes was given, no comment from the Israeli government or military was quoted. The viewer was left with the impression that the Israelis simply decided to kill Palestinians – civilians and militants. I find this segment to be dishonest, providing an unbalanced view of this continuing conflict. I have written many times to your program because this dishonesty is continuing. To what end is this biased reporting working? If your purpose is to discredit the Israelis recent polling suggests you are successful – fewer and fewer Americans sympathize with the Israeli victims of terror attacks and more and more with the Palestinians. Your viewers should know that the three men killed were top operatives of Islamic Jihad group who organized bombing attacks on Israeli civilians recently. There had been a barrage of 34 rockets fired by the Palestine Islamic Jihad into civilian neighborhoods. Was that not important to report? I suggest you send your research staff to review the history of the conflict; This conflict has continued since the UN declared the legitimacy of the State of Israel in 1948. All conflicts, terrorist attacks, wars were initiated by the Palestinian terrorist groups. These groups suppress freedom in the West Bank and the Gaza strip, no elections have been held in the West Bank for many years. It is the terrorists who are responsible for the misery of the Palestinians – these groups are funded by Iran (recently openly acknowledged by the Iranians). Do you not realize that these terrorists hate the United States as much as they hate Israel. Your reporting minimizes the guilt of the terrorists and vilifies the State of Israel. Your researchers should also learn that multiple peace offers have been offered over the decades to the Palestinians and all have been rejected. With all the research done you will hopefully realize that you are giving support to the terrorists.