Big Surprise; NPR airs another biased, anti-Israel story

I know I shouldn't be surprised any more, but the audacity of this NPR (motto: All Anti-Israel, All The Time) story on the deteriorating Palestinian economy gave me pause.

In short, the story highlighted the decline of the Palestinian economy since September, 2000. It specifically spoke about the difficulties faced by a Gaza Strip family in finding work, and laid the blame squarely on Israel for closing the border. However, the story did not make the obvious link that closing the border was a direct response to the terrorist attacks that had flowed through the border since the beginning of the most recent Intafada, which began in (surprise) September, 2000.

Finally, the article emphasized the economic troubles that would beset the Gaza Strip Palestinians once Israel pulled out. What chutzpah! Talk about damned if you do and damned if you don't; NPR criticizes Israel for occupying Gaza, and now criticizes Israel for pulling out.

Here are the facts, as I see them. Israel needs to control its borders against terrorists. It is not acceptable to allow terrorist thugs to kill innocent bystanders with suicide bombs or rockets. Israel is making a magnanimous gesture in pulling out of Gaza. Sharon is doing the right thing, and should be commended for it.

UPDATE: Visit CAMERA, the Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting, for more examples of egregious anti-Israeli reporting by NPR.