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When publishers and writers clash over "Blood Libels"
March 23, 2001

It is a rare event for a publisher to intervene in his publication to chastise a writer. But this is what Conrad Black, publisher of The Spectator, did earlier this month in response to an anti-Israel and anti-Jewish attack by columnist Taki Theodoracopulos that appeared in the pages of his own publication.

israelinsider is pleased to represent this passionate controversy for the consideration of its readers. We have excerpted at length from the relevant comments of each, deleting only personal and historical remarks deemed tangential to the issues under discussion.

The debate was triggered by Theodoracopulos' unsubstantiated allegations concerning the Mossad's alleged role in tipping off Jewish financier Marc Rich that the US Air Force was about to force down his plane. He goes on to accuse the Spectator of censoring his anti-Israel remarks, insinuating that this was because the magazine is published in heavily Jewish New York. He implies that "Tel Aviv" ultimately controls the US government's decisions.

Black responds with a personal remark about his long-time relationship with Theodoracopulos, a brief discussion of his role in other editorial controversies involving accusations against Jews, specific responses to the columnist's allegations, and then a broader discussion of the roles of the media and the government, with particular reference to the British, in covering Israel and its neighborhood.

Answering attacks on Jews who have committed crimes, or Israeli soldiers who confront attackers with lethal force, inherently puts the respondent on the defensive. Even if some or all of the accusations are wholly baseless, or scurrilous, something is bound to stick. The reader is invariably left with the impression that there is a kernel of truth in the anti-Jewish or anti-Israel claim.

The classic approach of the racist is to generalize from the alleged sins of a particular individual to the alleged sins of an entire people or nation. Readers may judge for themselves whether the publisher's rejoinder to the writer in his magazine was justified and effective.

israelinsider is committed to allowing our intelligent readers to critically compare sharply dissonant perspectives for themselves. We will encourage the presentation and engagement of divergent voices and views about this country to find unrestrained expression here.