Shaping the news from Israel:

“West Bank: Israeli Soldiers Quarrel With Diplomats” — New York Times headline on Reuters report.

“Israeli forces manhandle EU diplomats, seize West Bank aid — Reuters headline for the same report:

Israeli soldiers manhandled a European diplomat on Friday and seized a truck full of tents and emergency aid a group of diplomats had been trying to deliver to Palestinians whose homes were demolished this week in Khirbet al-Makhul, a community in the occupied West Bank. Soldiers reportedly threw sound grenades to drive away the diplomats, aid workers and residents, and yanked a French diplomat, Marion Castaing, out of the truck before driving it away… Diplomats from France, Britain, Spain, Ireland, Australia and the European Union’s political office, turned up on Friday with more supplies. As soon as they arrived, about a dozen Israeli army jeeps converged on them, and soldiers told them not to unload their truck.

The Times may be justified because the account only includes evidence of one diplomat being manhandled. The Israelis evidently defied and threatened the other diplomats. But then, why not make it diplomat? Thanks to Max Blumenthal.

Also, today’s Times appeared to soften a piece that highlighted Israeli intransigence on Iran. The original– visible at Google— had this headline and opening:

Netanyahu Scoffs at Iranian Overtures, Setting Stage for Showdown With U.S. By JODI RUDOREN JERUSALEM — Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, moved quickly to block even tentative steps by Iran and the United States to ease tensions and move toward negotiations to end the nuclear crisis, signaling what is likely to be a sustained campaign by Israel to head off any deal. Mr. Netanyahu’s office dismissed as “media spin” a flurry of statements by Iran’s new president, Hassan Rouhani, about the goals of his nation’s nuclear program and his willingness to engage in diplomacy regarding it. His remarks were made amid news that Mr. Obama had reached out to Mr. Rouhani with a private letter, and renewed discussion in Washington of negotiations that could lift sanctions against Iran.

Later the same link took you to an updated story, with a softer edge. No showdown now!

As It Makes Overtures to Iran, U.S. Strives to Reassure Israel

By MARK LANDLER and JODI RUDOREN WASHINGTON — As the Obama administration embarks on a highly visible diplomatic overture to Iran, White House officials are engaged in a quieter, behind-the-scenes effort to reassure Israel that they will not fall for the charms of Iran’s new president by prematurely easing pressure on his government to curb its nuclear program. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel arriving for a cabinet meeting in Jerusalem on Tuesday. His office dismissed Iranian suggestions of openness to diplomacy as “media spin.” In private conversations with Israeli officials and a few public statements, administration officials have emphasized that they remain skeptical of Iran’s intentions on the nuclear program, and that they will judge Iran by its actions, not by the conciliatory words of its newly elected president, Hassan Rouhani. In advance of his arrival in New York next week for a meeting of the United Nations General Assembly, Mr. Rouhani has signaled a willingness to negotiate an agreement over the future of Iran’s nuclear program. But the White House’s reassurances did not prevent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel from issuing a harsh condemnation of Mr. Rouhani this week, presaging a potential showdown with President Obama over how to deal with Iran, after a period in which the two leaders appeared finally to be in sync.

The Times got in trouble for this sort of legerdemain before. Three weeks ago, in revising a news story on its website, the New York Times deleted a reference to AIPAC as the 800-pound gorilla in the politics of attacking Syria. The decision prompted the Times to explain its actions to Politico, saying that it updates/revises stories that are posted on the web, and the original reference was still on its site, at a different url. Maybe Rudoren’s original is somewhere on the Times site, I couldn’t find it.