Staff editor for The New York Times opinion section Matt Seaton. Photo: Twitter.

Matt Seaton, staff editor for The New York Times opinion section, told a Twitter activist on Tuesday that the publication will not scrutinize Palestinian racism until Palestinians have a sovereign state of their own.

His comments were made in response to Tamar Sternthal, an analyst at the Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in America (CAMERA) who sarcastically mocked Seaten after he posted a link to a Times column accusing Israel of racism.

She wrote, “no kidding! @nytopinion hasn’t devoted a piece to Israeli racism in a whole month!” to which Seaton replied: “it’s equal opportunity opinion over here; aim to give voice to all sides of a debate over time.” Sternthal then asked, “So we can expect two hit pieces in the next month about Palestinian racism?”

“Sure,” Seaton said, “soon as they have sovereign state to discriminate with. Meanwhile, expect piece from cabinet min. on why they won’t.”

Other Twitter users chimed into the conversation, with one asking if the New York Times will also refrain from covering ISIS militants because they also don’t have a sovereign state.

Cif Watch, which monitors and combats anti-Semitism at The Guardian and its “Comment is Free” section, wrote, “Matt was well trained in the racism of lower expectations at the Guardian,” referring to his former position as an editor for the UK newspaper.