"Unfortunately, the article failed to provide sufficient information and lacked necessary context for the readers to be able to understand the nature of Israel’s actions. In particular, your article only notes the context of violence against Israelis, without noting the greater violence against Palestinians.
First, the article fails to mention that Israel’s raid on Aqabat Jabr refugee camp in Jericho took place after the city had been under an Israeli siege for more than a week, and was one of multiple attacks on residents.[2] Second, the raid took place just ten days after a large-scale Israeli attack on the Jenin refugee camp, where at least nine Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces, three being civilians including two children, marking the deadliest single day in the West Bank since 2005.[3] This attack was condemned by UN experts arguing that it contributed to “a dangerous trajectory of violence in the occupied West Bank.”[4]"
February 7, 2023
To:
Ali Sawafta, Journalist, Reuters
Aileen Donnelly, News Editor, National Post
Dear Mr. Sawafta, Ms. Donnelly,
I’m writing to you on behalf of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME, https://www.cjpme.org) to express our concerns regarding a Reuters news article titled “Israeli forces kills several armed militants in raid – army statement” which was published by the National Post on February 6, 2023.[1]
Unfortunately, the article failed to provide sufficient information and lacked necessary context for the readers to be able to understand the nature of Israel’s actions. In particular, your article only notes the context of violence against Israelis, without noting the greater violence against Palestinians.
First, the article fails to mention that Israel’s raid on Aqabat Jabr refugee camp in Jericho took place after the city had been under an Israeli siege for more than a week, and was one of multiple attacks on residents.[2] Second, the raid took place just ten days after a large-scale Israeli attack on the Jenin refugee camp, where at least nine Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces, three being civilians including two children, marking the deadliest single day in the West Bank since 2005.[3] This attack was condemned by UN experts arguing that it contributed to “a dangerous trajectory of violence in the occupied West Bank.”[4]
Further, while your article mentions that the attack on the refugee camp in Jericho takes place in the “occupied West Bank,” you do not specify who occupies the West Bank. The West Bank has been illegally and militarily occupied by Israel since 1967 which is necessary information in portraying an unbiased reflection of the events on the ground. Additionally, these attacks must also be reported on within the context of Israel’s new far-right government led by the most right-wing coalition in its history.[5]
We ask that you add the following paragraph to ensure that necessary context is provided to your readers:
“The Israeli raid on the Aqabat Jabr refugee camp took place a week after the city has been under an Israeli siege for more than a week, and just ten days after a large-scale Israeli attack on the Jenin refugee camp, marking the deadliest single day for Palestinians in the West Bank since 2005. These attacks were part of recent heightened tensions in the West Bank after the most right-wing Israeli government has been newly elected. The West Bank has been under a 55-year illegal and military occupation by Israel.”
Thank you for making these changes. Should you wish, you can contact me at 438-380-5410 for more information.
Sincerely,
Reem Majid
Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East
[1] Sawafta, Ali. "Israeli Forces Kill Several Armed Militants in Raid - Army Statement." (2023). https://nationalpost.com/pmn/news-pmn/israeli-forces-kill-several-armed-militants-in-raid-army-statement.
[2] "Israeli Forces Kill Five Palestinians in Jericho Raid." (2023). https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/2/6/israeli-forces-kill-palestinians-jericho-raid.
[3] McKernan, Bethan. "Israeli Forces Kill Nine Palestinians During West Bank Raid." (2023). https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jan/26/palestinians-say-nine-killed-in-israeli-raid-on-jenin-refugee-camp.
[4] Rights, UN Human. "Israel/Palestine: Un Experts Condemn Renewed Violence and Israeli Killings of Palestinians in Occupied West Bank." (2023). https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2023/01/israelpalestine-un-experts-condemn-renewed-violence-and-israeli-killings.
[5] Berg, Raffi. "Israel's Most Right-Wing Government Agreed under Benjamin Netanyahu." (2022). https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-63942616.