Examining NYT report alleging top US Embassy aide in Jerusalem suppressed Israel cables - editorial

The Jerusalem Post editorial examines a New York Times report alleging that David Milstein, a senior adviser to US Ambassador Mike Huckabee, suppressed or altered diplomatic cables to portray Netanyahu's government more favorably. The editorial scrutinizes the evidence, Huckabee's denial, and the Times' handling of his response, urging readers to distinguish evidence from interpretation.

The Jerusalem Post editorial examines a New York Times report published on Thursday alleging that David Milstein, a senior adviser to US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, suppressed or altered diplomatic cables to make Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government appear more favorable to Washington. The Times reported that Milstein delayed, blocked, or rewrote embassy communications about Israeli settlements, settler violence, and humanitarian conditions in Gaza, drawing on interviews with 15 US officials and dozens of internal documents. Ambassador Huckabee categorically rejected the allegations and challenged their factual basis, criticizing the newspaper's handling of his comments. The editorial raises a distinct question: whether readers received the substance of the ambassador's response or only excerpts that left important elements out. It notes that the Times discussed Milstein's connection to conservative commentator Mark Levin, his stepson, but argues that family ties do not establish that Levin directed Milstein's work. The editorial distinguishes ordinary internal editing from deliberately suppressing material information, noting that diplomatic cables are routinely reviewed and revised. It observes that the Times acknowledged uncertainty about whether the alleged interventions changed White House policy and how much Huckabee knew. The editorial concludes that serious charges require substantial evidence and that those accused deserve to have their answers represented accurately.