The Times’ Israel abuse claims: Letters to the Editor — May 20, 2026

Pro-Israel demonstrators protest a New York Times op-ed story in front of the New YorkTimes headquarters on Monday, May 14, 2026 in New York City. Michael Nagle for NY Post

The Issue: Benjamin Netanyahu suing The New York Times for an alleged attack piece by Nicholas Kristof.

Nicholas Kristof’s column on the alleged sexual abuse of Palestinian detainees reads less like reporting than the application of a new journalistic standard: Believe All Israel Haters (“Left’s turn on Israel complete,” Michael Goodwin, May 17).

He leaned on circular sourcing, citing people embedded in the activist ecosystem of Hamas-governed Gaza while presenting overlapping NGOs, recycled testimony and mutually referential reports as if they constituted independent corroboration.

The piece appeared just before the release of an Israeli report documenting sexual violence committed by Hamas on Oct. 7.

Clearly, the goal was to manufacture moral equivalence between documented atrocities and allegations resting on contested sourcing.

Todd Pittinsky

Port Jefferson

While Kristof’s recounting may be anecdotal, not one of The Post’s readers seemed to believe there’s any possibility it could be true, despite many noted Israeli authors and historians, such as Omer Bartov, repeatedly condemning the apartheid taking place in Israel.

Somehow, this is all too reminiscent of how many Americans reacted to the atrocities of Lt. William Calley in Vietnam.

Just like Americans believed we were above that kind of behavior, many believe the IDF could not possibly engage in these atrocities.

Lou Maione

Manhattan

The New York Times has a history of championing monsters.

Its Berlin correspondent, Guido Enderis, wrote favorably about Hitler, and its reporter on Stalin and his henchmen, Walter Duranty, glossed over the Soviets’ murders and terrorizing of their citizens.

Now, the Times has sunk to a new low by publishing Kristof’s article, which the Israeli government describes credibly as a “blood libel.”

With the unacceptable, ever-increasing levels of antisemitism, the Times and Kristof must be sued.

Jack Weinberg

Manhattan

The Post’s objections to Kristof’s report of Israel’s abuse of Palestinians is surprising, given the graphic pictures The Post itself has shown of the absolute destruction of Gaza and the West Bank in the last two years.

There isn’t much space between this destruction and the Kristof report.

We need to object equally to the Hamas abuse of Israeli hostages as to any Israeli abuse of Palestinians.

Michael Scarlatos

Wurtsboro

Jonathan Turley’s article is an excellent legal opinion, written so that laymen, like me, understand the arguments (“Suit may dig into history of NYT ‘bias,’ ” May 18).

I hope all the truth and any liability is uncovered.

What is eminently clear is the bias of the majority of the population in the USA and around the globe against Israel and the Jewish people.

For example, the UN demanded cease-fires immediately after the Oct. 7 attack, instead of denouncing Hamas. It accused Netanyahu of inciting genocide.

Evidence should be used for or against Israel only when it’s appropriate to do so.

Larry Sylvester

Acton, Ontario

Goodwin describes the left’s turn on Israel as a process over time.

This is reminiscent of the 1930s in Germany when more and more rights were rescinded from the Jewish community, resulting in Kristallnacht, or the “Night of Broken Glass.”

Perhaps we can call the decision of the Times to print Kristof’s screed, “Kristofnacht,” the “Night of Broken Standards.”

Allen Schwartz

Manhattan

Only TDS sufferers believe what the Times publishes.

Printing a whole column with their views is exactly what they want.

The Post gave more air to this ridiculous story, allowing it to live longer than it should have.

Maybe when Israel sues the paper, it’ll be for a sum the Times can’t pay and bankrupt it into oblivion.

James Schwartz

Summit, NJ

So now the Times writes fictional stories about Israel.

Mad Magazine and the National Enquirer are more believable than The Gray Lady.

The funny part is, many Jewish people still read the pitiful publication.

Philip Vallone

Ossining

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