NYT Says Hamas and Fatah Are Trying To Do What??
We're thinking of starting a new game called "Where's the Rank Bias"? It's kind of like the "Where's Waldo" book games that kids play, where a distinctive stripe-shirted traveler named Waldo is painted into an overcrowded painting, and you have to pick him out. Except instead of Waldo, you have to find the rank bias hidden in paragraphs published by a major news outlet. And instead of it being a game, it's totally depressing.
These are the first two paragraphs of this morning's NYT piece by Hassan M. Fattah, about Hamas-Fatah unity talks. Somewhere in these two paragraphs, we've hidden an instance of rank bias. Can you find:
Mr. Hamad made the announcement to reporters in this Saudi city, where top leaders of the two political groups, Hamas and Fatah, held their second day of emergency talks today. The leaders have promised to stay here and keep negotiating until they agree on a new joint government that can end a wave of violence in Gaza and the West Bank and salvage the moribund Israeli-Palestinian peace effort.
Of course, it's the part about how these talks are aimed at "salvaging the moribund Israeli-Palestinian peace effort." Which, of course, have absolutely nothing to do with these talks. Quite the opposite - months ago Abbas was explicitly saying that recognizing Israel is not required. And of course, Hamas has never once even considered recognizing Israel, which one presumes would be a prerequisite for making peace with it. Now what possible motive would the NYT have for misleading readers about the Palestinians' willingness to make peace?
References:
* Hamas Says Deal on Palestinian Cabinet Is Close [NYT]
* Abbas: Recognizing Israel Not Required [MR]
Previously:
* Did The NYT Just Admit That The Defensive Fence Works?
* NYT: Just Because You Were Forced at Gunpoint to Convert To Islam Doesn't Mean You Were Harmed In Any Way
* NYT LAT: Hamas Popularity is Israel's Fault
