Unclear on the concept

New York Times’ reporter James Bennet filed a story from Ramallah about a Palestinian political scientist who was attacked by a mob because he had the temerity to present data showing that most Palestinians didn’t support the “right to return” as part of a peace settlement with Israel. Dr. Khalil Shikaki was roughed up and pelted with eggs; the mob then marched over to Yasir Arafat’s headquarters:

The rioters marched from Dr. Shikaki's office to Mr. Arafat's compound a few blocks away, where he received them, Palestinians here said. It was not clear if Mr. Arafat knew what they had done. [Emphasis mine]

Gosh, too bad there wasn’t a reporter nearby who could have ascertained what Arafat knew and when he knew it. Did Mr. Bennet even try to interview Arafat? Instead, the NYT unwittingly bestows Arafat with gift of plausible deniability.