How Haaretz concocted a conflict

Israel Resource Review
Kalman Liebskind
Investigative Reporter, Maariv
Nov. 12, 2010

-- On July 10, 2008 Ha’aretz’s main section contained a small story. Not small, tiny. 93 words to be precise. “The district committee,” stated the article, “has approved for public hearing the establishment of 920 housing units in the Har Homa neighborhood of Jerusalem.” The industrious journalist also included the city’s reasons for having chosen to promote the project: “this will serve as a housing alternative for young couples, after the controversial Safdie project was struck down.” Back then Ha’aretz did not believe that construction in East Jerusalem was a major story. This article was not even referenced in the front page, which was devoted to a kindergarten teacher who had abused children, a doctor who had been admitted to a psychiatric hospital and then committed suicide, and the important legal ruling that “prostitutes will receive minimum wage from their pimps.”

More than two years have passed since this meeting of the district committee in Jerusalem. The committee’s members, who, as reported by Ha’aretz, approved the plan, have not held a single meetings since 2008. Since that time, the plan has gone through several technical changes. It took nearly two years for the Housing Ministry to approve changes sought by the committee, such as changing the entrance level into the houses, the height of the supporting walls, and parking places.

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