AP clashes with truth:

"Israeli forces clashed with Palestinians and peace activists"

This is how AP describes what happened Thursday, June 17, 2004, in the Ariel area, relating to the above picture:

An Israeli soldier scuffles with an Israeli peace activist during clashes, following a demonstration against Israel's separation barrier between the northern West Bank village of Iskaka and the Jewish settlement of Ariel, Thursday, June 17, 2004. Israeli forces clashed with Palestinians and peace activists for the second day as Israel has started the work to build a section of its separation barrier between the village and the settlement. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

Peace activists? Israeli forces clashed?

Take a look at the following pictures of the same event and you will conclude that the civilians clashed with the army and that the "activists" where not so peaceful.

(Reuters/Goran Tomasevic)

(Reuters/Ammar Awad)

(Reuters/Goran Tomasevic)

(Reuters/Ammar Awad)

(Reuters/Goran Tomasevic)

Write to AP on this issue!

Associated Press
Postal address	:	50 Rockefeller Plaza New York, NY 10020
Telephone	:	(212) 621 - 1610
Fax	:	(212) 621 - 7520
E-mail	:	feedback@ap.org
Jerusalem Office	:	(972) 253 - 85577

Here is our letter:

18.6.2004

To Associated Press,

Subject: Peace activists and violent clashes

Dear sir,

I strongly protest the way AP described the clashes initiated by protesters during Thursday, June 17, 2004, in the Ariel area, as presented by the website where AP pictures are shown.

First of all the clashes were organized and initiated by civilian protesters, so it was not the Israeli army that clashed, but the protesters.

Secondly, after looking at the pictures I wonder why you keep calling these people "peace activists". If this would happen at New York's Rockefeller Plaza, you would almost certainly call them "violent protesters".

Regards,

Y.M.