The point is there is a concerted effort by an organization funded by the Israeli foreign ministry to manipulate wikipedia.
Moreover, when Hasbara Fellowships asks people to "join the team" I read it as indicating not that a team of POV-pushers is about to descend on wikipedia but that they are already here and have been for some time.
Anyone even casually familiar with articles on Israel, the Palestinians and their conflict has seen concerted POV pushing and edit warring by a small group of editors and it's completely logical to assume that some of these editors are with Hasbara or some other pro-Israel lobby group.
It's also quite logical to assume that a more skilled lobbyist trying to manipulate and influence wikipedia would learn how to play the game and rise to a position such as Admin or higher and use his or her position to his employer's advantage.
The clear leader of the pro-Israel group of editors on Wikipeida is Jayjg, an admin who has been "reminded" or "admonished" on several occasions for edit warring and an admin who recently got another editor, PalestineRemembered, banned based on a false accusation.
As a security precaution shouldn't we be asking Jayjg to state whether or not he is associated with Hasbara Fellowships, AishHatora, AIPAC or any other pro-Israel lobby group? Given his track record of edit warring shouldn't someone review his use of Oversight and CheckUser to ensure he hasn't used these features for political reasons? Should someone who has been warned, "reminded" or admonished on several occasions for edit warring continue to hold these administrative positions indefinitely without review?
If it comes out that Jayjg is Hasbara Fellowship's "team leader" on wikipedia or is associated in some way with an organized and funded lobby it will be yet another scandal of essjay like proportions that will shake confidence in Wikipedia. We should take preventative measures now rather than look the other way and let the media uncover our skeletons for us.
On 7/29/07, Meg Ireland megireland99@gmail.com wrote:
Two wrongs don't make a right.
-- http://www.myspace.com/meg99
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