Aaron Klein
Aaron Klein is an American journalist and author who is the Jerusalem Bureau Chief for the online news website WorldNetDaily and writes a weekly column for The Jewish Press. His articles are republished in various newspapers and internet sites, including The New York Sun [2] and Israel's Ynetnews.
Klein has been a co-host for ABC Radio's John Batchelor show. He has regular segments and commentary on American talk radio programs.[citation needed]
Interviews
Aaron Klein has interviewed many Middle East newsmakers, including government officials and terrorist leaders. His first interview with terrorists was in 1999 when, at age nineteen, he spent time with members of Al-Muhajiroun, a group reportedly connected to al-Qaeda. His article about the experience,[3] "My Weekend with the Enemy," was published in The Jerusalem Post.
Book
Klein's book, Schmoozing With Terrorists: From Hollywood to the Holy Land, Jihadists Reveal their Global Plans - to a Jew! is scheduled for release in September 2007.[4]
According to the NY Post, the book includes terrorist leaders "dishing on American celebrities. ... America's sworn enemies tell Klein who they'd like in the White House, kvetch over showbiz types like Madonna, Britney Spears, Steven Spielberg, Mel Gibson, bigmouths Jane Fonda and Sean Penn and conservative talkers Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity, plus Richard Gere, who did a commercial urging Palestinians to vote. Well, they did. And elected Hamas." [1]
Controversy
- Visa
In December 2005, Klein was denied a journalist visa to broadcast with ABC Radio in Syria. Officials from Syria's embassies in Washington, D.C. and Amman, Jordan were quoted as saying Klein's Jewish faith was a problem.[5] Some leaders in Lebanon, including Druze leader Walid Jumblatt and parliamentarian and former Prime Minister Michel Aoun, condemned Syria for its refusal to admit Klein.[6]
- Elections
Before the 2006 U.S. midterm elections, Klein conducted a series of interviews with senior Middle East terrorist leaders who urged Americans to vote for Democrats.[7][8] al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades leader Jihad Jaara told Klein a Democrat win would ensure victory for worldwide jihad, explaining the Democrats policy of withdrawal from Iraq would "enhance the resistance." Klein also read to the terror leaders statements from prominent Democrats such as House minority leader Nancy Pelosi claiming a withdrawal from Iraq would end the insurgency there. All terror leaders interviewed rejected the claim. Islamic Jihad leader Muhammad Saadi said an American withdrawal would "prove the resistance is the most important tool and that this tool works." Jaara declared a U.S. withdrawal from Iraq would "mark the beginning of the collapse of this tyrant empire (America)."
- Pelosi
In April, 2007, when House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Syria and called for dialogue with Damascus against the stated recommendations of the White House, Klein conducted interviews with Mideast terror leaders whose headquarters are in Syria. The terrorists called Pelosi's visit "brave" and "very appreciated" and said it could bring about "important changes" to America's foreign policy, including talks with "Middle East resistance groups," Iran and Iraqi insurgents. One terror leader, Khaled Al-Batch, a militant and spokesman for Islamic Jihad, expressed hope Pelosi would one day become U.S. president, explaining the House speaker's Damascus visit demonstrated she understands the Middle East.
Audio clips of Klein's interviews with terrorists were played on Fox News.[9]
Student career
Klein is a graduate of Torah Academy Boys High School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where he founded and edited The T.A. Times, the school's monthly newspaper. After high school, Klein enrolled the University of Pennsylvania, later transferring to Yeshiva University in New York City, where he edited the undergraduate bimonthly student newspaper, The Commentator.
Some of Klein's critical investigative pieces for The Commentator provoked administrative ire.[10] In December 1999, The New York Times reported that issues of the student newspaper had repeatedly been removed from the campus at the administration's behest during Klein's tenure as editor-in-chief, prompting Klein to threaten to sue the University. The conflict attracted additional media attention. Yeshiva University later signed a contract in which it agreed to discontinue the practice and reimburse The Commentator for the confiscated issues.[11]
References
- ^ November 11, 2005 - Radio host Rusty Humphries holds court with terrorist leaders in Israeli refugee camp. "A Straightforward Interview Amidst M-16s and Tea" (html). Talk Radio Network.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ The New York Sun. "Aaron Klein — Archive" (html).
- ^ Aaron Klein (30 May 2000). "My Weekend with the Enemy" (html). Jerusalem Post. Free Republic.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Schmoozing With Terrorists: Interviews With Terrorist Leaders and Aspiring Suicide Bombers … Conducted by an Orthodox Jew. Aaron Klein. WND Books, September 2007. ASIN 0979045126 (includes book cover image). Hardcover: ISBN 0-97904-512-6, ISBN 978-0979045127.
- ^ John Batchelor (15 December 2005). "'Ministry of Fear '- Part II" (html). The New York Sun.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Joseph Farah (11 December 2005). "Jewish reporter denied entry to Syria" (html). Ynetnews.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Investor's Business Daily Editorial (16 February 2007). "Unparalleled Perfidy" (html). Investor's Business Daily.
{{cite web}}:|author=has generic name (help); Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Deroy Murdock (7 November 2006). "Terrorists for Democrats: They both want us out of Iraq" (html). National Review.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Transcript edited for clarity (5 April 2007). "Palestinian Militants Praise Pelosi?" (html). Hannity & Colmes.
{{cite web}}:|author=has generic name (help); Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Karen W. Arenson (15 December 1999). "Yeshiva Students Say the University Is Behind Removal of Campus Paper" (html). The New York Times.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Aaron Klein and Alex Traiman. "University Pays Commentator in Censorship Case" (html). The Commentator, V. 64, #2 (undated).
External links
- World Net Daily archive of articles by Aaron Klein.
- "Implications Have Consequences" Terry Krepel, November 2006, ConWebWatch website.