NYT reports US Embassy Jerusalem aide altered cables on West Bank; Huckabee denies
The New York Times reported that David Milstein, a senior adviser to US Ambassador Mike Huckabee, suppressed or rewrote embassy cables on the West Bank and on slain Palestinian Americans. Huckabee and ex-ambassador David Friedman rejected the report.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2The New York Times reported on Thursday 8 October 2026 that David Milstein, a senior adviser to US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, suppressed, delayed or rewrote internal diplomatic cables to present the Netanyahu government favourably to Washington. Anadolu AgencyN “has systematically suppressed, delayed, and rewritten internal diplomatic cables to shield the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from scrutiny by Washington” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ The Jerusalem PostRC “"to present the Netanyahu government in a favorable light" to Washington” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ Mixed · 2According to Anadolu Agency's summary of the report, it is based on interviews with more than a dozen US officials and a review of internal State Department records; the Jerusalem Post says it rests on 12 anonymous sources who work or interact with Milstein in Jerusalem and Washington. Anadolu AgencyN “based on interviews with more than a dozen US officials and reviews of internal State Department records” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ The Jerusalem PostRC “The report is based on 12 anonymous sources that either work or interact with Milstein in both Jerusalem and Washington” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ Centre · 1Anadolu reports that after Israel approved large West Bank land measures in late March, embassy staff drafted an alert warning of a possible breach of President Trump's red line against annexation; Milstein is said to have quashed it and sent a revised text describing the move as a domestic matter addressing humanitarian needs. Anadolu AgencyN “Embassy personnel drafted an alert warning that the move risked violating US President Donald Trump's explicit red line against annexation.” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗
Mixed · 2Both outlets relay the allegation that Milstein blocked reporting that Israel was failing to act against violent settlers and instead sent a cable praising Israel for 'cracking down' on the attacks. The Jerusalem PostRC “praising Israel for 'cracking down' on the attacks” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ Anadolu AgencyN “an embassy cable authored under his name praised Netanyahu's initiatives and claimed authorities were actively combating the unrest” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ Mixed · 2The report also alleges that a detailed embassy inquiry, prepared after requests from members of Congress, into the deaths of Palestinian Americans was suppressed; Anadolu puts the number at nine and says an alternative letter claiming cooperation with Israeli authorities was sent instead. Anadolu AgencyN “suppressed a detailed embassy inquiry into the killings of nine Palestinian Americans by Israeli forces and occupiers” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ The Jerusalem PostRC “a detailed report, written by embassy staff in response to a request by members of Congress to look into the death of Palestinian-Americans, was suppressed” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ Centre · 1Anadolu adds that Milstein allegedly edited cables on the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation's aid distribution, removing warnings that it was 'chaotic, deadly' and risked 'mass casualty events'. Anadolu AgencyN “removing diplomatic warnings that the process was "chaotic, deadly," and risked "mass casualty events."” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗
Mixed · 2Sources told the Times that Milstein insisted on approving embassy communications after arriving in 2025, and that cable volume fell sharply; Anadolu says Palestinian affairs reporting dropped from several cables a week to a few a month and some officials bypassed official channels. The Jerusalem PostRC “Milstein insisted on approving communications from the embassy upon his 2025 arrival in Jerusalem” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ Anadolu AgencyN “reporting from the embassy's Palestinian affairs section to drop from several weekly cables to a few per month” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ Right · 1Huckabee rejected the report on X, calling it lacking in fact, criticising its reliance on anonymous sources, saying he had given a full statement the Times did not use, and suggesting the paper consult its attorneys about defamation. The Times said Huckabee declined interview requests. The Jerusalem PostRC “The Times report, however, said that Huckabee declined interview requests.”“You should consult your attorneys as to whether publishing such drivel could subject the Times to litigation for defamation.” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ Mixed · 2Former ambassador David Friedman, for whom Milstein worked for several years, called the report a 'hit piece' based on anonymous sources and said the Times never contacted him. The State Department said its personnel remain focused on advancing the administration's foreign policy priorities. The Jerusalem PostRC “David worked for me for several years when I was the US Ambassador to Israel.” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ Anadolu AgencyN “The US State Department said its personnel remain focused on advancing the administration's foreign policy priorities.” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗
Right · 1Milstein was an aide to Sen. Ted Cruz from 2013 to 2018 and then to Friedman until 2021, and returned to the embassy in 2025 under Huckabee. The allegations are unverified; neither outlet reviewed the cables independently. The Jerusalem PostRC “Milstein served as an aide to US Senator Ted Cruz from 2013 to 2018 before becoming an assistant to Friedman until 2021.” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- Anadolu presents the NYT allegations largely as established, leading with the claim that cables were suppressed to shield the Netanyahu government.
- Emphasis
- Detailed allegations on annexation, settler violence, slain Palestinian Americans and Gaza aid; Huckabee's rebuttal appears only in the last paragraph.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention the anonymity of sources, Friedman's defence, the defamation threat or Milstein's background.
- Charged language
- “occupation expansions”“occupiers”“shield Netanyahu government”
- For example
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“A top adviser to the US ambassador to Israel has systematically suppressed, delayed, and rewritten internal diplomatic cables” — Anadolu Agency
“record-breaking occupation expansions across the occupied West Bank” — Anadolu Agency
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- The Jerusalem Post frames it as an NYT allegation ('NYT alleges') and gives much space to rebuttals from Huckabee and Friedman and the reliance on anonymous sources.
- Emphasis
- Huckabee's full X statement, the defamation threat, Friedman's defence and Milstein's career.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Omits the Gaza aid cable allegations and the specific figure of nine slain Palestinian Americans, and gives less detail on the annexation-alert allegation.
- Charged language
- “hit piece”“NY Slimes”“drivel”
- For example
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“Huckabee decries NYT report, cites lack of sources” — The Jerusalem Post
“Ex-ambassador Friedman: NYT report on Milstein is a 'hit piece'” — The Jerusalem Post
What every side reports
- The NYT reported on 8 October 2026 that Milstein, adviser to Ambassador Huckabee, suppressed or altered embassy cables on West Bank matters.
- The report alleges a suppressed embassy inquiry into the deaths of Palestinian Americans, requested by members of Congress.
- Huckabee rejected the report.
Where accounts differ
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Whether the report is credible
- Centre
- Relays the allegations as the findings of an investigation of more than a dozen officials and State Department records; includes Huckabee's denial.
- Right
- Stresses that the sources are anonymous; Huckabee and Friedman call it baseless, and Huckabee threatens defamation action.
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Whether Huckabee was given a chance to comment
- Centre
- Not addressed.
- Right
- Huckabee says he gave a statement the Times did not use; the Times says he declined interview requests.
US Embassy in Jerusalem organisation
Ambassador Huckabee categorically denies the allegations and calls the report baseless; the State Department says staff remain focused on administration priorities.
“The US State Department said its personnel remain focused on advancing the administration's foreign policy priorities.” — Anadolu Agency
“I personally and categorically refute the elements of your proposed 'story'” — The Jerusalem Post
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre1 article
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Critical Reports the NYT investigation's allegations in detail, in the outlet's own voice, as shielding Netanyahu's government.
Right1 article
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Top US Embassy aide in Jerusalem suppressed reports on Israeli actions, NYT alleges - report
Mixed Attributes the claims to the NYT and foregrounds the denials and attacks on the paper by Huckabee and Friedman.
- 8 Oct 14:51 First Anadolu AgencyN Senior US Embassy official in Jerusalem suppressed diplomatic cables to shield Netanyahu government: Report
- 8 Oct 20:24 +5h 33m The Jerusalem PostRC Top US Embassy aide in Jerusalem suppressed reports on Israeli actions, NYT alleges - report
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.