New York Times headquarters
New York Times headquartersReuters

A mock issue of The New York Times filled with anti-Israel articles and phony ads was distributed in Manhattan on Tuesday, prompting the ire of both the newspaper and American Jewish organizations.  

An unnamed pro-Palestinian group was behind the fake four-page supplement which appears to be on attack on the paper for, in the group's perception, its bias in favor of Israel. 

The faux Times boasts a "new editorial policy" regarding the paper's coverage of the conflict, insisting that until now it has been lax in not referring to Israelis as "instigators of violence" at the same rate as Palestinians. 

The New York Times' senior vice president of communications blasted the fake supplement asserting the paper objected to "this group (or any group’s) attempt to cloak their political views under the banner of The New York Times." 

"We believe strongly that those advocating for political positions are best served by speaking openly, in their own voice," Eileen Murphy added in the statement. 

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) was similarly disturbed by the group's attempt "to leave the impression that Israel is worthy of far more criticism that The Times usually allows." 

Arguing that the fake newspaper's creators were entitled to their view that The Times was pro-Israel, even in contrast to many of the paper's critics, the ADL stressed that "to do it in a surreptitious manner, as they have done, is deceptive."

"The diatribe, published anonymously, conveys false facts and themes consistent with anti-Israel advocates and supporters of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement," it added, welcoming The New York Times own objection to the "assault on their brand." 

Both the ADL and the American Jewish Committee announced Wednesday they are looking into who is behind the fake supplement.