Dear Editors,
Regarding "Five Israelis Killed in Gaza Shooting ," published today, May 2, 2004 ( http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/international/AP-Gaz...), I would like to point out that the relentless bias against Israel of the world press flourishes among your pages.
In this latest Palestinian attack on Israeli civilians, the attackers killed a mother, in her seventh month of pregnancy, and her four little girls, ages 2-11.
However, your headline says "Five Israelis killed."
Compare this headline with another one, also published today in the very same "International" section of your newspaper,
"Palestinians Say Israeli Troops Killed 2, One of Them a Child"
(http://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/02/international/midd...)

I find it unacceptable that when it comes to Arab children, you seek headlines that bring attention to the death of children, but when it comes to Jewish children, you refrain from humanizing the victims.

Do dead Arab children sell more newspapers for you than dead Jewish children? Do Palestinian attacks against defenseless women and children not suit your preferred global narrative of weak and defenseless Palestinians facing Israeli aggression?

I suggest that in order to hang on to the last shreds of credibility, balance and professionalism that your paper may still possess, you might consider being consistent. Either it's "Two Palestinians Killed" and "Five Israelis Killed," or it's "Palestinians Say Israeli Troops Killed 2, One of Them a Child" and "Pregnant Israeli Mother and Her 4 Children Killed by Palestinians."

Rava Eleasari-Gelbetz
Tel Aviv