In contrast, the Herald only gave minimal – and late – coverage to the abduction and massacre of the Israeli teens (one of whom was American). Why is that? As abhorrent as it is for any child to be murdered, look how these murders were treated in their respective societies. Was there coverage by the Herald of how the Palestinians were giving out candy, celebrating with three-fingered salutes and posting cartoons of three rats caught on hooks (representing the three Israeli teens) in the Palestinian state-run media? In contrast, the Israeli government condemned the murder of the Palestinian teen. No celebrations, no candies. Only the commitment to find the persons who murdered this teen.

But I ask the Herald: Why the sensational headlines when no proof whatsoever of who killed the Palestinian teen has been found? Does the Herald’s factless accusatory subhead, “Israelis kidnapped, burned Arab teen, Palestinians say,” reveal its political bias? When Muslims are killing Muslims every day, isn’t that news? Approximately 30 Palestinians, mostly children, have been killed in Gaza this year by errant rockets intended for Israel by Hamas. They landed back in Gaza. Isn’t that news to the Herald? Almost 3,000 Palestinians have been killed in Syria since that conflict began – many children. Is that news to the Herald? I haven’t read about it. Rockets are fired daily into southern Israel. Their intended targets? Women and children. Read about that in the Herald? Not unless Israel fires back in self-defense!

I abhor any civilian death. If the murderers of this Palestinian teen are found to be Jewish, may they receive the punishment the law allows. If it’s found that the Palestinian teen was killed under other circumstances, I’d hope the Herald will give ample space to what really happened. Misrepresenting the facts does not lead to peace but only creates more conflict. But that’s what sells newspapers.

Shelly Perlmutter

Durango