UPDATE: The Times has published a letter by Jodi Magness, one of the historians cited in their article. She writes to clarify that there is NO DEBATE among scholars that the temples were located on the Temple Mount and most likely where the Dome of the Rock now stands. She says:
I know of no credible scholars who question the existence of the two temples or who deny that they stood somewhere on the Temple Mount.
Anti-Israel media bias is not only misleading, it can be downright dangerous.
A recent article in the New York Times shows just how deadly bad journalism can be.
Originally, the Times questioned whether the First and Second Ancient Jewish Temples existed.
Realizing the mountains of evidence that point to their existence, the Times issued a correction.
But even the corrected version lent credibility to those who question the very existence of the Temples.
Many Palestinians, suspicious of Israel’s intentions for the site, have increasingly expressed doubt that the temples ever existed — at least in that location.
But the precise spot within the contested site that the Temples stood is not at issue. The New York Times, one of the most prominent news publications in the world, gave credibility to those who doubt the Temples’ very existence. This is about much more than an archaeological debate, it speaks to the legitimacy of the Jewish connection to Jerusalem. Since far more people will see the original story than the correction, the damage has been done.
Arab leaders have made the charge that the Temples never existed on the Temple Mount repeatedly. Here is one of the headlines from the Times of Israel.
These are not just words. The primary motivation behind the recent wave of terrorist attacks is that Israel is trying to change the status quo on the the Temple Mount. That charge resonates more deeply if the Jewish connection to the area is questioned. When the media gives credibility to positions like Zoabi’s, they add more fuel to the fire. Here is what the Times says:
The Israeli authorities share security responsibilities with the Waqf and maintain a ban on non-Muslim prayer at the site. But pressure by nationalist religious Jews for access, including some calls for building a new temple, has aggravated Palestinian fears that the Israelis will change the current arrangement, an assertion the Israeli government denies.
For years, there have been Jews who advocate the building of a third temple at the site. Yet the Israeli government not only does not endorse this position, but has clearly and consistently stated that there will be no changes to the status quo. Yet this has not stopped the Palestinian Authority and Hamas from spreading rumors that Palestinians need to “defend” the Temple Mount.
Last year, we published an article in which we cited the importance of the media in clarifying the background of the Temple Mount. With a debate that often sparks violence, the press has a critical role to fill in providing factual background and analysis. Objective journalism could actually calm the situation.
On the other hand, the Times article will be used to fan the flames even more, something that is very dangerous in the current situation.
Featured image: CC BY-NC marielinden4 via flickr with additions by HonestReporting
Featured image: CC BY-NC Jeremy Piehler via flickr with additions by HonestReporting
