The Anti-Defamation League (ADL), which presents itself as a civil rights group, has been operating as an intelligence organization targeting critics of Israel. Despite this, the media continues to treat it as a credible source. The ADL works closely with the mainstream press, who accept its data and press releases without question. Recently, the ADL released a report claiming a surge in anti-Semitic incidents in the US following the war in Gaza, but it was revealed that many of these incidents were actually protests against Israel’s actions in Gaza. Former ADL staffers have also claimed that the organization has shifted its focus towards targeting pro-Palestine activism, undermining its credibility.
Even before the war in Gaza, many progressive organizations had expressed concerns about the ADL’s claims regarding anti-Semitism. Over 100 groups signed an open letter requesting that the progressive community not partner with the ADL due to its history of attacking social justice movements and aligning itself with right-wing leaders and perpetrators of state violence. Despite these concerns, mainstream outlets like The New York Times and PBS continue to promote the ADL without informing their audience about its shift towards silencing Israel’s critics or its history of deception and corruption.
The ADL has a long history of spying and illegal activities, working as a hostile intelligence organization. From the 1960s to 1997, Irwin Suall ran the ADL’s nationwide network of agents and informants, violating the civil rights of thousands of Americans. The organization collaborated closely with the Israeli government and its intelligence organizations, passing on information and meeting with Israeli officials. The ADL’s spying operations were exposed in 1992, but it faced minimal consequences and continued its activities with the support of Washington.
The media’s uncritical coverage of the ADL and its failure to investigate its ties to the Israeli government and its history of spying and corruption raise questions about its credibility. Instead of blindly accepting the ADL’s claims, the media should examine its hidden links to Israel and its ongoing attempts to silence critics of Israel’s actions. This would provide a more accurate and balanced portrayal of the organization and its activities.
