AP Edits Palestinian Suffering Out of Obama’s Speech
An alert KABOBfest reader noted that an AP transcript of Obama’s speech “as provided by CQ Transcriptions” left out the President’s comments on the suffering of the Palestinians.
The AP’s version has him jump from his moving description of Nazi crimes against the Jews to a warning against the dangers of a nuclear armed Iran:
Six million Jews were killed, more than the entire Jewish population of Israel today. Denying that fact is baseless. It is ignorant, and it is hateful.It’s about preventing a nuclear arms race in the Middle East that could lead this region and the world down a hugely dangerous path.
In the transcripts posted on the White House’s website, the President’s words on the Palestinian experience are posted:
On the other hand, it is also undeniable that the Palestinian people — Muslims and Christians — have suffered in pursuit of a homeland. For more than 60 years they’ve endured the pain of dislocation. Many wait in refugee camps in the West Bank, Gaza, and neighboring lands for a life of peace and security that they have never been able to lead. They endure the daily humiliations — large and small — that come with occupation. So let there be no doubt: The situation for the Palestinian people is intolerable. And America will not turn our backs on the legitimate Palestinian aspiration for dignity, opportunity, and a state of their own. (Applause.)
Given the accolades for that being the greatest presidential summary of Palestinian victimization under Israeli rule ever, it is shocking it was selectively excised from the transcripts.
Looking at the AP’s version, which is hosted on Yahoo, it is clear the transcripts are abridged. First, they do not acknowledge that. Second, why remove such an important point? I cannot help but think it was motivated by pro-Israel bias.
The AP or Congressional Quarterly Transcriptions (or Yahoo) must account for this.
[tarboush tip: Nouf]
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