World · Middle East · 6 hrs ago
Israel’s US ambassador says Times Gaza coverage could endanger Jews
Israel’s ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, criticized The New York Times at a Jewish emissaries’ gathering in Edison, New Jersey.
He said the newspaper’s coverage of Israel’s actions in Gaza was a “blood libel” and could help prepare the way for violence against Jews.
Leiter said he had met with Times editors and answered accusations of genocide and starvation with information about aid entering Gaza and steps to limit civilian deaths.
He also challenged the paper’s coverage of a malnourished child, whose photo appeared on its front page in July 2025.
The Times later acknowledged that the child had pre-existing health problems affecting his brain and muscle development.
Leiter argued that accusations against Israel can fuel the demonization of Jews, which he said has preceded past violence.
He urged people to identify and fight what he sees as this danger, but did not outline specific next steps.
Israel’s ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, accused The New York Times of publishing a “blood libel” about Israel’s actions in Gaza.
He said the coverage could help prepare a future genocide of Jews.
Leiter made the remarks at the closing ceremony of Chabad’s annual Kinus Hashluchim gathering in Edison, New Jersey.
He said he had met with 21 Times editors and challenged their accusations of genocide and starvation.
He also criticized the paper’s coverage of an emaciated child, noting that it later acknowledged the child had pre-existing health problems.
- Who
- Yechiel Leiter, Israel’s ambassador to the United States, and editors of The New York Times.
- What
- Leiter accused the Times of publishing a “blood libel” about Israel’s Gaza actions and said such accusations could endanger Jews.
- When
- Leiter spoke on Sunday. He said his meeting with Times editors took place on November 10 last year.
- Where
- The closing ceremony of Chabad’s Kinus Hashluchim in Edison, New Jersey.
- Why
- Leiter said the Times had accused Israel of genocide and starvation and had published misleading coverage of a child’s health.
Yechiel Leiter
The New York Times editors
Accusations against Israel
Yechiel Leiter
Leiter said not everyone believes Israel is committing genocide and argued that Israel’s actions and humanitarian measures were being misrepresented.
The New York Times editors
Leiter said the editors accused Israel of genocide and starving people to death.
Coverage of the child
Yechiel Leiter
Leiter said the Times’s reporting on an emaciated child omitted pre-existing health problems and amounted to a “blood libel.
The New York Times editors
An editor asked whether Leiter was making too much of a “misappropriation”; the article says the Times later acknowledged the child had pre-existing health problems.
The Times published a front-page photograph of Mohammed Zakaria al-Mutawaq and described him as severely malnourished.
The Times acknowledged that the child had pre-existing health problems affecting his brain and muscle development.
Leiter said he met with 21 Times editors and was challenged over accusations of genocide and starvation.
Leiter made his remarks at the closing ceremony of Chabad’s Kinus Hashluchim in Edison, New Jersey.
Footage of Leiter’s speech was posted by Yeshiva World News reporter Moshe Schwartz.
- Ambassador
- Yechiel Leiter
- Editors at meeting
- 21, including six who joined remotely
- Event location
- Edison, New Jersey
- Child in Times coverage
- Mohammed Zakaria al-Mutawaq, about 18 months old
- Times acknowledgment
- July 30, 2025
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🔥MUST WATCH: Dr. Yechiel (Michael) Leiter — Israel’s Ambassador to the United States - speaks at Kinus Hashluchim and tells an insane story about him meeting the vile anti-Semitic editorial board of the NY Times.