August 27, 2009

Israel can and should be forgiven its “overreaction” to a repugnant article appearing in a Swedish newspaper, reporting (we use the word ironically) the unsubstantiated claim that Israeli soldiers routinely “harvest” the organs of slain Palestinians for transplant in Israel. The original story, in the newspaper Aftonbladet, is a marvel of fact-free journalism. Its primary — and only — sources are Palestinians who heard “rumors” of such actions. The author makes no attempt to substantiate their wild charges, instead falling behind the lazy journalist’s defense that such claims “must be investigated.” Funny, we thought such investigations come before publication, not after.

Nevertheless, the story gained a foothold in the blogosphere, and Israel demanded that the Swedish government issue a condemnation. Sweden’s ambassador in Israel did condemn the article initially, but was forced to withdraw her comments, presumably by a government more committed to a free press than free speech.

Like Israel, some Jewish groups have made the reasonable argument that a free press does not mean that a government cannot criticize the malpractice of individual reporters or newspapers. The argument is logically sound, but tactically questionable. It turns the controversy into an argument over free expression and government interference, and distracts attention from the shoddiness of an article built on nothing but tall tales.

And yet the article remains a troubling sign of the ever-deteriorating conversation about Israel in liberal Europe. It seems no allegation is considered too outlandish when it comes to Israel, even when — especially when — the story traffics in age-old canards about Jewish ritual murder of gentiles. We’re less troubled by the politicians who seek safe cover behind the curtain of free speech than the newspaper editor who was willing to suspend all professional standards in defense of a story that must have “felt right” because it involved Israelis and atrocity.

If the politicians lacked the courage or courtesy to defend the truth or condemn its abuse, then perhaps it falls to journalists and their professional associations in Europe to fill the vacuum. And if they are unwilling to critique their peers, then the true nature of European media will have been revealed.

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