The New York Times explained today why it declined an invitation by the commission of inquiry into the Beirut refugee camps massacre in Jerusalem for its Beirut correspondent, Thomas Friedman, to give testimony before the panel.
A statement to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency by the Times’ foreign news editor, Craig Whitney said: “Thomas L. Friedman, Beirut correspondent of the New York Times, was invited to testify by the Israeli commission. Mr. Friedman has reported all the information at his disposal in the news columns of the New York Times.
“He and his editors decided to decline the commission’s invitation in keeping with the general policy of the Times to avoid participation in activities of official investigative bodies by reporters when this is not necessary.”
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