From: Ali Abunimah
To: morning@npr.org
Subject: Incitement by Linda Gradstein

August 9, 2001

Dear NPR News,

The following exchange occurred between host Renee Montaigne and NPR reporter Linda Gradstein on Morning Edition today in discussing the lethal and horrifying bomb attack in west Jerusalem this morning.

HOST: Is Israel likely to retaliate?

GRADSTEIN: I think Israel has to retaliate. Israel has been saying from now on it will retaliate for every attack. This is the second largest attack in the last ten months of violence--18 dead including six children. I think Israel has no choice but to respond.

It is absolutely shocking that Gradstein--and NPR--have now taken it upon themselves not only to define Israel's options but advise and goad Israel into attacking the Palestinians. I have never, ever heard Gradstein declare that Palestinians have "no choice" but to respond to Israel's attacks on them and to resist Israeli occupation. Gradstein emphatically did not advise Palestinians to retaliate for the string of Israeli attacks and extrajudicial executions in the last few weeks which have killed and maimed many Palestinians, including children. Gradstein has never said that Palestinians have "no choice" but to respond to Israel's mass demolitions of their homes and continued seizure of their land. Nor, in fact has Gradstein advised, for example, that Israel should end its occupation. It would be nice to hear Gradstein say that "I think Israel has no choice but to end its illegal occupation and respect Palestinian rights." But that is not Gradstein's role either.

Gradstein should be disciplined for this shocking statement which amounts to incitement to Israel to take reprisals against the Palestinian population for this morning's bomb attack.

Sincerely,

Ali Abunimah
http://www.abunimah.org