"The occupying power, Israel, is not legally permitted to transfer its population to the area it occupies, the West Bank. The selling of property in occupied territory, therefore, is illegal. To maintain journalistic standards of accuracy, I recommend that you refer to the West Bank as “occupied” and refer to Israeli settlements as illegal."
March 5, 2023
To:
Brendan Kelly, Reporter, CTV News Montreal
Marilena Lucci, Editor-in-Chief, CTV News Montreal
Dear Brendan Kelly,
I am writing on behalf of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East to express concern regarding your recent article, “Protestors object to real-estate fair at Spanish and Portuguese synagogue,” published on March 5 in the Montreal Gazette.
The beginning of your article, including the title, implies that the synagogue was the object of pro-Palestinian protest. Your first sentence reads: “Two rival groups faced off outside the Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue of Montreal in Snowdon…” The event was not hosted by the synagogue; it was rented by a real estate company for their event. Thus, the target of the pro-Palestinian demonstration was the real estate event, not the synagogue. While this distinction is made clear later in your article in a testimony provided by a member of Independent Jewish Voices, it should also be made clear for readers initially.
You also write that the legality of selling properties in the three Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank is the “subject of fierce dispute.” All settlements and outposts are considered illegal under international law. The occupying power, Israel, is not legally permitted to transfer its population to the area it occupies, the West Bank. The selling of property in occupied territory, therefore, is illegal. To maintain journalistic standards of accuracy, I recommend that you refer to the West Bank as “occupied” and refer to Israeli settlements as illegal.
Apart from these requested edits, I do appreciate your prioritization of pro-Palestinian perspectives, like Sarah Boivin from Independent Jewish Voices. Previous articles published by the Gazette have given pro-Israel lobby groups the first word before the pro-Palestinian demonstrators themselves, so I acknowledge and appreciate your deviation from this unfortunate pattern.
I hope you will edit your article accordingly and consider these recommendations in future reporting.
Sincerely,
Rose Mardikian,
Media Analyst, Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East